Dog grooming planner: a grooming schedule for your dog's coat type

How often should I groom my dog?

It depends on the coat. Short and smooth coats: brush about once a week, more when shedding. Double coats: two to three times a week, and daily in shedding season. Long and silky coats: daily or every other day. Curly coats: every one to two days, all the way to the skin, with a clip every four to eight weeks. Wire or rough coats: one to two times a week. For mixed breeds, follow the longer or thicker coat.

Fill in the coat profile first, then write your own rhythm next to the typical one in the grooming calendar. Brush in small sections with the lie of the coat, and never shave a double coat unless your vet advises it.

Grooming calendar and year planner

The calendar lists typical tasks – brushing, nail checks, ear and teeth care, baths, paw checks and groomer visits – so you can tick them off as you go. A 12-month year planner has space for baths, nails, groomer appointments and coat or season notes.

Calm nail trims, step by step

Many dogs dislike nail trims, but most can learn to accept them. The planner's steps go from holding a paw for a treat, via resting the tool against one nail without cutting, to trimming just the tip of one nail and building up over several days. Take off only small slivers, avoid the quick, and ask a groomer or your vet clinic for help if trims stay stressful.

Ears, teeth and baths

There are fill-in logs for ears and teeth, with a gentle multi-week approach to teeth brushing. Most dogs only need a bath every one to three months, or when they are dirty or smelly. Brush out tangles before the bath, rinse until the water runs clear, and dry thick coats fully while keeping your dog warm indoors.

Autumn shedding and wet, muddy walks

Many dogs, especially double-coated ones, shed heavily in spring and autumn. The planner has a shedding-season plan and an eight-week shedding tracker: brush more often, work in sections from head to tail, and use an undercoat rake gently. Bald patches, very itchy skin or heavy shedding outside the usual seasons: contact your vet.

For dirty autumn walks there is a bath planner plus winter paw care: rinse paws with lukewarm water after salted or gritted paths, dry between the pads, and keep the hair between the pads short so ice balls do not form.

Grooming kit checklist and groomer visits

A home grooming kit checklist covers brushes, an undercoat rake, nail tools, ear and teeth care, towels and paw balm. Groomer and vet pages help you note appointments and what to ask, so you can take them along.

FAQ

How often should I groom my dog?

It depends on the coat. Short, smooth coats need a brush about once a week, double coats 2–3 times a week (daily in shedding season), long and silky coats daily or every other day, curly coats every 1–2 days and wire coats 1–2 times a week. The planner's coat-type guide helps you set your dog's own routine.

How often should I bathe my dog?

Most dogs only need a bath every 1–3 months, or when they're dirty or smelly. Bathing too often can dry out the skin, so brush more instead, and always brush out tangles before the bath.

Why is my dog shedding so much in autumn?

Many dogs, especially double-coated breeds, change coat in spring and autumn. Brush more often, daily in the heaviest weeks, and work in sections from head to tail. Bald patches, very itchy skin or heavy shedding outside the usual seasons: contact your vet.

What's included?

A 23-page printable A4 PDF with a coat-type guide and coat profile, a grooming calendar and year planner, a calm nail-trim step plan, logs for brushing, nails, ears, teeth and baths, a shedding-season plan, a grooming kit checklist and groomer and vet pages. In English, Norwegian, Danish, Swedish and German (5 versions), downloaded right after purchase. General grooming guidance only, no medical advice.