Grooming your dog is a necessary part of their care, and knowing what shampoos and conditioners to use on your dog is an important aspect of ensuring their health and well-being. Using the wrong shampoos and conditioners can result in your dog’s coat looking poorly, but more importantly, can lead to hot spots, unnecessary matting and possible bacterial infections.
Different dogs need different shampoos: How to pick the right one
Posted by PetDirect on 13th Oct 2020
There are many dog coat types so, to keep things simple, we have listed 7 of the most common categories along with the associated shampoos and conditioners to use accordingly. The 7 coat types below are the most common, however, the list is by no means exhaustive and many breeds will fall into more than one category:
- Smooth Coat
- Short Coat
- Long Coat
- Wire Coat
- Double Coat
- Wooly / Curly Coat
- Combination Coat
Depending on the breed of dog you have (you may have a cross breed) you will find that they don't fit any of the coat types mentioned. In this instance (a mixed coat scenario), it’s up to you to pick which coat mix your dog has and apply the appropriate grooming choices. Before grooming your dog, please take the time to know which coat they have and which shampoos and conditioners to use.
The Smooth Coat
The smooth coat, is one of the easier coats to maintain, however, they do tend to shed quit a lot. This coat is very short and lies flat on the skin, making it very smooth and with little or no texture. It is also a very shiny coat. Examples of dog breeds with smooth coats are: Greyhound, Boxer, Bull Terrier, English Bulldog, Boston Terrier, Doberman, Whippet, Great Dane, Dalmatian, Weimaraner, German Shorthaired Pointer and French Bulldog.
Which shampoo and conditioner to use:
For smooth coat breeds, use a shampoo that doesn't include a conditioner, as their coats don't knot or tangle. Some smooth coat dogs will have a much oilier coat, and will need a stronger cleanser.
Because a smooth coat is short and tends to lack protection from the elements, it makes sense to insure that the shampoo that you choose has a moisturising aspect to it.
As a smooth coat is short and doesn’t matt, a conditioner is not necessary. However a grooming spray can give the coat a nice shine and smell to it.
The Short Coat
The short coat has two layers, making it very dense and textured. Unlike the smooth coat, you can run your fingers through a short coat. Designed to protect your dog from the elements, the short coat tends to be oily and can trap air and water that becomes smelly. This coat requires more regular grooming to avoid oil and dirt build-up. It is also a shedding coat. Examples of dog breeds with short coats are: Basset Hound, Pug, American Bull Terrier, Beagle, Rottweiler, Australian Cattle Dog, Shar-Pei, Mastiff, Fox Terrier.
Which shampoo and conditioner to use:
Because of the oil and dirt build-up, you need a good deep cleansing shampoo that removes the odours. At a groomers, they typically wash your dog once with a deep cleanser and then wash a second time with a de-shedding shampoo.
Conditioner is not essential, however, use a weak / diluted conditioner to soften the coat and give it a great shine.
The Long Coat
A long coat requires high maintenance but, when groomed, the coat looks amazing. Long coats are susceptible to matting and as such, need to be brushed at least 3 times a week as part of the grooming regimen – this makes life so much easier when it comes to bathing and drying. Examples of dog breeds with long coats are: Afghan Hound, Collie, Shih Tzu, Yorkshire Terrier, Old English Sheepdog, Maltese, Bearded Collie.
Which shampoo and conditioner to use:
Use a shampoo that includes moisturiser and nutrients for nourishment is essential. Any other type of shampoo will make the coat harder to brush and manage tangles. ALWAYS follow up a wash with a conditioner.
You want this coat to be weighed down and lie close to the skin, so conditioner is a must. It also adds strength and shine whilst protecting the coat from the elements and brushing. At the groomers, they typically will condition your dog and then brush or comb the coat through to untangle the coat. This is repeated after we rinse off the conditioner.
Wire Coat
A typical wire coat has a soft dense under coat and a bristle like top coat or ‘guard coat’. It is very unique and requires special attention. Unless you know how to deal with a wire coat, it’s better left to the professionals to groom. A wire coat is a very low shed coat with the dead hairs typically getting trapped rather than falling out. Both under coat and guard coat are prone to matting and knotting and need to be brushed regularly. Examples of dogs breeds with wire coats are: Wire-haired Fox Terrier, Border Terrier, West Highland Terrier, Brussels Griffon, Scottish Terrier, Welsh Terrier, Otterhound, Mini Schnauzer.
Which shampoo and conditioner to use:
You will want to use a volumising shampoo for this coat as you don’t want it weighed down. It maintains the coat texture as well as making it easier to hand strip for your groomer. This type coat seldom needs any conditioner and is only suggested if the coat becomes brittle or your dog’s skin becomes dry. Conditioning makes it hard to hand strip your dog.
The Double Coat
The double coat can be found in many of the other coat types and essentially refers to the fact that some breeds have 2 coats – an under coat and a top coat or Guard Coat. The double coat is very functional in protecting your dog from the elements. As with the short coat, the double coat traps odours and tends to be oily. It is also a shedding coat. Examples of dog breeds with double coats are: Golden Retriever, Labrador, Husky, Malamute, Corgi, German Shepherd, Saint Bernard, Samoyed, Burmese Mountain Dog.
Which shampoo and conditioner to use:
This coat demands premium quality products; use a good quailty deep cleansing shampoo which may need to be repeated before using a light conditioner.
Too much conditioner can build up on your dog’s coat and cause more matts and knots. Use a light or diluted conditioner and after brushing through the coat, make sure you rinse all the conditioner off the coat.
The Combination Coat
The combination coat is another unique coat and has a combination of long silky coat and shorter smooth coat in specific areas on your dog. The two types of coat are distinct and easy to tell apart. Typically, the shorter coat is on the body and the longer coat in areas like ears, legs, tail, chest, ruff and the skirt area. This is a medium shed coat and generally not oily. Examples of dog breeds with combination coats are: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Australian Shepherd, Borzoi, Papillon, Border Collie.
Which shampoo and conditioner to use:
Use a nourishing shampoo to make the coat easier to brush and stay protected.
The shorter coat areas don’t need regular conditioning, so focus on the longer coat areas. It will help weigh the coat down and add strength and shine. Depending on the breed, we will sometimes apply conditioner very precisely to the longer areas.
The Wooly / Curly Coat
This coat is generally very thick and curly with a lot of volume and being one of the hardest coats to maintain, requires regular grooming. These breeds are deemed to be non-shedding, however, every dog breed sheds; in this case it’s just very slow. The dead hair gets stuck in the coat making your dog more prone to knots and matts. Examples of dog breeds with wooly or curly coats are: Poodle, Bichon, Labradoodle, Spoodle, Cavoodle.
Use a mild, light shampoo with no added conditioner as this will weigh down the coat and make it difficult to clip or scissor. Dirt is best left to dry and then brushed out.
You generally don’t need to condition this coat, however, some groomers will use their experience to decide on whether the coat is lacking conditioner to look healthy. If you want to get volume in the coat, use a spray-on conditioner or a very diluted conditioner.
There are so many shampoos and conditioners available on the market. If you need helping identifying your dog's coat type or picking the perfect shampoo and conditioner, don't hesitate to reach out to one of our Customer Service Experts on 0800 200 240.