how often should i take my curly or wavy-coated dog to the groomer?
The honest answer is: it depends. But there's a clear logic to it — and once you understand it, you can work out the right rhythm for your specific dog.
This guide is written for owners of curly and wavy-coated breeds — Poodles, Portuguese Water Dogs, Lagotto Romagnolos, Bichons, and similar. If your dog has a straight or double coat, the intervals will be different.
The first question: long or short?
The single biggest factor in how often your dog needs professional grooming is not breed, age, or lifestyle — it's the length you want to maintain the coat at. A long coat and a short coat on the same dog require completely different grooming schedules, for one simple reason: the longer the coat, the faster mats form and the more maintenance it requires between appointments.
So before anything else, decide what you're working toward.
If you want your dog's coat long
A long coat on a curly or wavy breed is beautiful — but it requires a genuine commitment at home. The coat needs to be brushed all the way to the skin, not just on the surface, at least two to three times per week. A slicker brush followed by a metal comb is the correct tool combination: the brush works through the outer coat, the comb confirms there's no compaction forming at the skin level.
How often you need professional grooming depends on two additional factors: how consistently you brush at home, and whether your dog gets wet regularly.
If you brush at least three times a week and your dog doesn't get wet often, a professional appointment every eight weeks is a reasonable baseline.
If you brush at least three times a week but your dog swims, gets caught in rain regularly, or generally has an active outdoor life, move that to every six to eight weeks. Wet curly coats mat faster, and the combination of moisture and movement accelerates tangling significantly.
If you brush one to two times a week and your dog doesn't get wet often, aim for every six to seven weeks. The reduced brushing frequency means mats will begin forming sooner, and a professional groom every six to seven weeks catches them before they become a welfare issue.
If you brush one to two times a week and your dog does get wet regularly, every four to five weeks is the appropriate interval. This combination — reduced home maintenance and frequent moisture — is where matting happens fastest.
And if you brush rarely? We need to have an honest conversation. A long coat on a curly breed without consistent brushing will mat, reliably and quickly. The grooming appointments become longer, more uncomfortable for your dog, and more expensive — and at a certain point the kindest option becomes cutting the coat shorter to a length that's manageable with your actual routine, not the routine you're planning to start.
There's no judgement in that — life is busy and dogs are unpredictable. But the coat length you choose should match the home maintenance you can realistically commit to.
One additional note for long coats: regardless of your brushing routine, book an appointment as soon as you notice the first mats forming — don't wait for the next scheduled slot. Early-stage mats are quick to resolve; mats that have had weeks to develop are a much bigger problem.
If you want your dog's coat short
A short coat is significantly more forgiving. The reduced length means less surface area for tangles to form, faster drying after getting wet, and less demand on home brushing routines.
The grooming interval still depends on whether your dog gets wet regularly and how often you brush at home — but the ranges are wider.
If your dog gets wet often and you brush two or more times a week, every eight weeks works well. The brushing keeps the coat in good condition between appointments, and the short length manages the moisture risk.
If your dog gets wet often but you brush less than twice a week, move to every six weeks. Without regular brushing, even a short coat can begin to compact in high-friction areas — behind the ears, in the armpits, under the collar.
If your dog rarely gets wet and you brush two or more times a week, you have the most flexibility — every ten weeks is a reasonable interval.
If your dog rarely gets wet and brushing is infrequent, every eight weeks keeps things manageable without putting too much pressure on the coat between visits.
Again: if you notice any matting beginning before your scheduled appointment, come in sooner. A short coat that's starting to mat is much easier and quicker to resolve than one that's been left.
A note on what "brushing" actually means
This is worth clarifying because it's one of the most common sources of misunderstanding we encounter. Brushing, for the purposes of mat prevention, means working through the entire coat all the way to the skin — not smoothing the surface. Curly and wavy coats can look perfectly neat on the outside while being fully compacted underneath.
The correct technique is to part the coat in sections and work from the skin outward, using a slicker brush first and then confirming with a metal comb. If the comb moves freely from skin to tip with no resistance, the coat is genuinely mat-free. If it catches anywhere before reaching the skin, there is matting forming that needs attention.
A brush that only touches the top layer of the coat is not preventing mats — it's just styling the surface.
What about grooming packages?
At Wag, we offer grooming packages designed to make it easier to maintain the right rhythm for your dog's coat. Regular clients benefit from consistent handling by the same groomer, which makes the experience less stressful for the dog over time — particularly for anxious or sensitive dogs who need to build trust gradually.
If you're not sure what interval is right for your dog's specific coat, we're happy to assess it at your first appointment and give you a personalised recommendation.
Book your appointment at wagcollective.com
frequently asked questions
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Run a metal comb through the coat from skin to tip in sections. If it moves freely all the way through with no resistance, the coat is mat-free. If it catches before reaching the skin, there is compaction forming underneath. A slicker brush alone is not a reliable indicator — it can glide over the surface while matting develops underneath.
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Start with very short sessions in a calm environment, using treats and positive reinforcement. Focus initially on areas your dog tolerates well and work gradually toward more sensitive areas. A groomer who uses low-stress handling techniques can also help build positive associations with grooming over time. If your dog's coat is getting ahead of you, a shorter trim may be the most practical solution while you work on building tolerance.
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For curly and wavy coats, a slicker brush and a metal comb are the essential tools. Pin brushes are less effective at penetrating the coat fully. Avoid rubber brushes for mat prevention — they're useful for short coats but don't reach deep enough into a curly coat to be effective. Your groomer can recommend specific tools based on your dog's coat type and density.
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A hygiene trim typically covers the areas that need most frequent attention for comfort and cleanliness — paws, face, ears, and sanitary areas — without a full coat trim. It's a useful option between full grooms for dogs with faster-growing coats, or for owners who want to extend the interval between full appointments while keeping the dog comfortable.
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Curly and wavy coats are particularly prone to surface-level presentation that doesn't reflect what's happening underneath. The outer coat can look neat and fluffy while the undercoat is fully compacted against the skin. This is why groomers assess the coat by parting it and working through to the skin — not by looking at the surface. It's not a reflection of how well you've been caring for your dog; it's simply a characteristic of this coat type.
