If you’re a new puppy parent — congratulations! 🎉
Bringing home a dog usually comes with big plans: good food, regular walks, training, and lots of love. Grooming is often on that list too - but many people don’t realize something important early on:
👉 Your dog’s coat type affects almost every part of their care.
This article is the introduction to my Master Coat Guide series, created to help puppy parents understand their dog’s coat, set realistic expectations, and make grooming easier and less stressful for everyone involved. Incorrect coat maintenance can damage your dog’s coat and make it more prone to matting.
This guide is the foundation for understanding how different coat types behave, and why grooming advice that works for one dog may fail for another.
Two dogs can look similar on the outside yet require completely different care. Your dog’s coat type influences nearly every part of their grooming routine, including:
How often the coat needs to be brushed, which technique to use, and what type of brush is appropriate
How frequently professional grooming is recommended and setting realistic expectations for the coat — for example, expecting a wire coat to feel silky like a Yorkshire Terrier will only lead to frustration for both the owner and the groomer
Which products support coat health — and which can contribute to matting, excessive shedding, or skin issues
Which haircuts are suitable for your dog’s coat type and lifestyle
When coat type isn’t well understood, it often leads to frustration and confusion:
“I brush every day — why is there still matting?”
“Why doesn’t my dog look fluffy like the photo?”
“Why does this coat feel harder to manage over time?”
In most cases, the issue isn’t effort or neglect — it’s simply a matter of understanding how the coat behaves.
Coat types are based on how the hair grows and behaves, not just how it looks.
These coats grow continuously and don’t shed much, but they can tangle and mat easily.
Some curly coats are springy and predictable, while others are soft and cottony and behave very differently.
Straight coats may look low-maintenance, but they vary widely.
Some are silky and delicate, while others are coarse and textured. Each requires a different approach to brushing and grooming.
Wire coats are functional — designed to repel dirt and protect the dog outdoors.
When cared for correctly, they are surprisingly easy to maintain. When cared for incorrectly, they can become difficult and frustrating and require more maintenance than necessary.
Double-coated dogs have two layers: a soft underlayer and a protective top layer.
These coats shed, sometimes heavily, and require proper brushing and drying — not shaving.
Short coats still shed (sometimes quite a bit) and still need care.
Skin health is especially important for smooth-coated dogs, even though their grooming looks simple.
Many people assume a dog’s breed tells them everything they need to know about care and grooming.
In reality, mixed breeds can have unexpected coat types — for example, doodle coats can vary widely from dog to dog.
That’s why coat education focuses on coat texture and layering - not just what the dog is called
Once you understand your dog’s coat type, everything you’ve read so far starts to come together. With the right grooming routine in place: :
You avoid unnecessary stress for both you and your dog
You protect your dog’s coat health in the long term
You can make informed grooming choices instead of guessing
Most importantly, it helps prevent the common cycle of:
“I thought I was doing everything right — why is this still so hard?”
This article is the starting point.
In this Master Coat Guide series, we’ll take a deeper look at how different coat textures and layering affect everyday care, grooming routines, and long-term coat health.
Each article will focus on helping puppy parents understand what their dog’s coat needs, why certain challenges happen, and how informed grooming choices can make life easier for both dogs and owners.
The goal isn’t to overwhelm — it’s to replace guesswork with clarity
If grooming feels confusing right now, that’s okay.
Most people were never taught how different dog coats actually work.
Learning your dog’s coat type is one of the kindest things you can do for their comfort and well-being — and it makes caring for them much easier over time.