A fluffy dog can steal your heart in seconds, but that gorgeous coat comes with chores. Some breeds shed like snowstorms, while others need regular haircuts to stay comfy.
Knowing the brushing, bathing, and trimming each coat needs can save you time, money, and plenty of tangled frustration. Here is a friendly look at what these popular pups really ask of their owners every week.
Golden Retriever
Sunshine in dog form, the Golden Retriever greets everyone like an old friend. That flowing double coat, though, sheds all year and drops even more fur each spring and fall.
Plan on brushing two or three times a week with a slicker brush and an undercoat rake. Pay extra attention to the feathery hair behind the ears and legs, where knots love to hide.
A bath every month or so keeps that golden shine bright.
Samoyed
Ever seen a cloud with a grin? Samoyeds were bred by Siberian people to herd reindeer, and their thick white coat kept them toasty in brutal cold.
Here is the catch. Twice a year, they blow their undercoat, and your home may look like it snowed indoors.
Brush deeply at least three times weekly, daily during shedding season. Never shave one, since that fluff protects against both heat and sunburn.
Rough Collie
Thanks to the classic Lassie films, many families dream of owning a Rough Collie. That lion-like mane looks majestic, yet it hides a dense undercoat underneath.
Set aside time for a thorough brushing two or three times a week. Use a pin brush and work in layers down to the skin.
Behind the ears and under the legs, the hair is soft and mats fast. A little daily check prevents painful tangles later.
Pomeranian
Small dog, giant attitude, and even bigger fluff. A Pomeranian looks like a walking puffball, and keeping it that way takes steady effort.
Their double coat needs brushing around three or four times weekly. Try line brushing, which means parting the fur in sections and brushing outward from the skin.
Fun fact: early Pomeranians weighed up to 30 pounds! Queen Victoria loved smaller ones, which helped shrink the breed to today’s pocket size.
Cocker Spaniel
Those soulful eyes and silky ears melt hearts, but they also collect burrs, food, and dirt like magnets. Cocker Spaniels have a fine, wavy coat that tangles quickly.
Brush every other day if you can, focusing on the ears, belly, and leg feathers. Most owners book a professional trim every six to eight weeks.
Clean those floppy ears weekly too. Moisture trapped inside can lead to stinky infections.
Shih Tzu
Once pampered in Chinese royal palaces, the Shih Tzu still expects a little royal treatment. Its long coat grows nonstop, much like human hair.
Keeping it long means brushing daily to stop mats. Many families choose a short puppy cut instead, which cuts brushing down to a few times a week.
Either way, plan on grooming visits every month or so. Wipe around the eyes daily to prevent tear stains.
Yorkshire Terrier
Believe it or not, Yorkies were first bred to catch rats in English mills. Today they are more likely to ride in a handbag.
Good news for allergy sufferers: their silky hair sheds very little. Still, it knots easily, so brush gently every day or two.
Many owners keep a shorter trim to make life easier. Regular haircuts every four to six weeks help that silky coat stay neat.
Siberian Husky
Picture this: you brush your Husky and end up with enough fur to build a second dog. Welcome to shedding season!
Siberian Huskies are surprisingly clean and barely smell, so baths are rare. Their double coat, however, needs brushing about twice weekly with an undercoat rake.
When they blow their coat in spring and fall, brush daily. A high-powered vacuum might become your new best friend, too.
Bernese Mountain Dog
Swiss farmers once relied on these gentle giants to pull carts full of milk and cheese. Their heavy tricolor coat kept them warm on chilly mountain mornings.
Expect plenty of shedding all year. Brushing two or three times a week helps control the fur tumbleweeds around your house.
Big dogs mean big bath time, so many owners visit a groomer. Keep them cool in summer, because that coat holds lots of heat.
Australian Shepherd
Here is a surprise: Australian Shepherds were actually developed in the American West, not Australia. These busy herders love a job, and their coats keep up with the action.
Their medium-length double coat sheds moderately, with bigger seasonal drops. Brushing once or twice a week usually does the trick.
Check the fluffy pants and behind the ears after outdoor adventures. Sticks and burrs often hitch a ride there.
Standard Poodle
Fancy show haircuts give Poodles a fussy reputation, but this breed is athletic and super smart. Those pom-poms once protected joints while they retrieved ducks from cold water.
Their curly coat barely sheds, which makes it popular with allergy sufferers. Loose hair gets trapped in the curls instead, so brush several times a week.
Budget for professional clips every four to six weeks. Skipping them leads to tight, painful mats.