How often should I brush my dog?

A Labrador or Boxer with a smooth, single layer coat sheds constantly in small amounts and rarely mats, so once a week with a rubber curry brush keeps things tidy. A German Shepherd or Golden Retriever carrying a dense double coat needs more attention: three to four short sessions a week most of the year, rising to daily during a seasonal blow. Curly coated dogs like Poodles and Bichons do not shed loose hair the same way, so their coat traps dead fur against the skin and needs brushing every one to two days or it felts into mats within a couple of weeks.

Skip brushing on a double coated dog for two or three weeks and you will usually find small knots forming behind the ears, in the armpits, and around the collar area, the spots where friction and moisture build up fastest. On curly or wire coats, missed brushing shows up as felted patches close to the skin that a comb can no longer pass through, which often means a shorter cut is the only fix.

Pick a consistent time, after a walk works well since the coat is warm and loose, and work in sections: legs, chest, back, then the tail and ears last. A five to ten minute pass with a slicker brush or comb, done on a set number of days each week, prevents the kind of matting that turns into a much longer job later.