Curly-Coated Retriever grooming: brushing, bathing and shedding
A practical grooming routine for the Curly-Coated Retriever: coat care, baths, nails and ears.
Here is the counterintuitive part: do not brush a Curly's body coat. After a muddy walk, rinse with clean water, towel lightly and let the curls re-form as the coat dries naturally. During the seasonal shed, which usually comes once or twice a year, dampen the coat and work loose hair out with your fingers or a wide-toothed comb used sparingly. A bath with a mild shampoo every six to eight weeks is plenty.
Use scissors to trim fluffy tufts on the ears, tail and around the feet so the outline stays tidy. Check the ears weekly, especially after swimming, since water sitting in the canal can cause trouble, and trim nails every two to three weeks. Some Curlies develop patchy thinning on the thighs, neck or back; this is often inherited, but have your vet examine it to rule out other causes.
Curly-Coated Retriever grooming in numbers
This is an illustrative schedule based on our editorial grooming score, not a breed-specific care protocol. Coat condition, skin problems and professional advice may call for a different routine.
| Task | Planning example |
|---|---|
| Brushing | Once a week |
| Bathing | Every 2 to 3 months, or when dirty |
| Shedding | Light |
| Nail trim | Every 3 to 4 weeks |
| Ear check | Every 2 weeks |
| Teeth | Daily brushing; introduce gently and ask your vet if the mouth seems painful |
Coat
A mass of small, tight, crisp curls over the body that shed water, with short, smooth hair on the face and front of the legs.
Grooming needs
Shedding
Drooling