Many dogs require attentive daily grooming to keep their cover-pet looks. Instead of falling in love at first sight, find out how much maintenance your dog needs to look and feel her best, and make sure you can devote the grooming time she needs.
And remember, you can’t rely on a puppy’s looks to forecast her adult coat. Puppies have shorter, thinner fur, so learn about the grooming needs of adult dogs of the same breed before you make your choice.
Shampoo and style, please
The flowing, silky fur of Afghan, Shih Tzu, and Maltese breeds looks incredibly elegant. And Collies, Sheepdogs, Malamutes, and Chows boast dense undercoats that almost beg to be snuggled.
But their good looks come at a cost. Such longhaired beauties need daily brushings, regular shampoos, and detanglers, and meeting their grooming needs will take up a chunk of your free time—and may cut into your pocketbook.
Those dog lovers who cherish a pampered coif without the daily upkeep will adore poodles. They just need to be brushed once or twice a week—but they do need a trim every four to six weeks. Bonus: Poodles’ short coats rarely shed.
Maximum looks for minimal fuss
If you’re not up for regular doggy hairdressing, consider the wash-and-wear ease of shorter coats. Some examples: Dalmatians, Beagles, Labrador retrievers, and many mixed breeds. Your trade-off: Many short-coated dogs shed a lot.
If you want to avoid the grooming hassle altogether, consider boxers, smooth-coated Dachshunds, or Chihuahuas. They’re low shedders and never need trims.
One warning: A short coat doesn’t always get you off the hook for daily grooming. Such “wrinkled” shorthaired breeds as Chinese Shar-Peis and Pugs need attentive care to keep their skin clean and healthy.
Facing the elements
Climate can play a huge role in your pup’s happiness. A long-coated arctic breed happily tromps through the snow, but she’s going to feel miserable in warm climates.
She can adapt, however, if she spends most of her time in an air-conditioned home and takes bathroom and exercise breaks during the cooler mornings and evenings. You also can give her a summer trim to help keep her cool.
Dogs with very short coats don’t tolerate extremely cold climates well, either. Minimize your shorthaired beauty’s exposure to cold by keeping her inside, and wrap her in a dog sweater when she ventures outdoors.
Antihistamine, anyone?
Many people develop allergies to pet saliva, dander, or fur. If you get the sniffles around certain breeds, you may have better luck with such short-coated, low-shedding breeds as Poodles, Chihuahuas, or terriers. The key: Expose yourself to potential pets first if you think allergies may crop up.
