High maintenance dog hairdos

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Do you have a dog with a “high-maintenance ‘do?’” Some breeds may not need a lot of primping and preening to keep their coat in tip-top shape, while others need a regular trip to the groomer and daily brushing or combing to keep their locks looking luscious. 

 

 

1. Afghan hounds have a silky, luxurious coat, bringing glamour to every swishing step! This breed requires daily brushing and regular bathing to keep its flowing locks mat and tangle free. Start the daily brushing routine when your Afghan is a puppy. Several hours per week of brushing with a pin brush are crucial to keep an Afghan's glorious coat looking its best.
2. Old English sheepdogs have a double coat with shorter, softer hair near the skin and an outer coat of longer, weatherproof hair. A sheepdog’s shaggy coat needs daily brushing, which can consume from four to six hours each week. It’s worth all that time to prevent knots, matting and your sheepdog from storing leaves and other debris picked up during walks!
3. Bichon Frise coats must be brushed and combed out every day to avoid tangles and matting, which can be painful to undo. As Bichons shed, the hair gets caught up in their undercoat. The shed hair must be brushed out to prevent mats. Bathing and trimming are recommended at least once monthly. Bichons are relatively hypoallergenic and with all their charm and intelligence, the time spent grooming is well worth it! 
4. Portuguese water dogs are also known to be somewhat hypoallergenic and shed very little. Having hair rather than fur, they require regular brushing, bathing and trimming. Brushing and combing at least twice a week keeps them free of tangles and mats. This breed has webbed feet (to help with swimming), so care must be taken when trimming their nails to avoid injury to the delicate skin. 
5. Puli and Komondor breeds are known for their thick, corded coat and need considerable grooming not only to help the cords form, but also to prevent them from becoming matted, tangled and dirty. Allowing the coat to cord (cords are essentially long, shaped mats) requires work. The cords must be separated at least weekly as they form. Once corded, their coat doesn’t shed but does tend to collect leaves, twigs and other debris. Be prepared to spend a full day bathing and drying your dog—truly a day at the spa! Be sure to rinse out all the shampoo, as dried shampoo residue can lead to skin irritation. 
6. Kerry blue terriers don't shed, so they must be thoroughly brushed and combed at least once a week. They need bathing and trimming every month or so—a professional grooming may be best, but be sure to clean their wavy beard daily to remove food crumb cling-ons!