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Dog Breeds with High-Maintenance Grooming Needs

Lisa Selvaggio
by Lisa Selvaggio
Published:  April 28th, 2025

All dogs need to be groomed on a regular basis. This includes bathing them, brushing their coat, trimming their nails, cleaning their ears, and brushing their teeth. But certain breeds are more complicated than others. For example, some dogs also need to have their wrinkly skin cleaned and kept dry, while others can have tear stains that need to be wiped away, and many breeds have coats that need to be clipped often.

Olexandr Taranukhin/Shutterstock

Here are just four of the many dog breeds considered high-maintenance when it comes to their grooming requirements.


Poodle


Poodles come in three sizes (standard, miniature, toy), and what’s appealing about this breed is the coat doesn’t shed much. Regardless of size, though, they have high grooming requirements compared to many other canine breeds, as they need to be brushed, bathed, and clipped.


You could keep the coat short by having a professional groomer trim it on a schedule. Of course, you could learn how to do this yourself so you can do it at home without the help of a groomer.


If you let your Poodle have a longer coat, it’s best to brush them every day, making sure to get down to the skin so you can smooth the coat all the way through and prevent mats. When mats develop, you may need to have a groomer shave them off to allow the fur to grow back, and then you’d have to comb it daily to prevent the mats from happening again.


Bichon Frise


The super cute Bichon Frise needs quite a bit of grooming to look their best. This is another breed that doesn’t shed much. However, the hair which doesn’t end up falling into the environment can get stuck in the dog’s undercoat, leading to unsightly and uncomfortable mats. Therefore, brushing their coat daily at home is ideal. 


In addition to bathing them regularly to keep the coat clean and white, you need to trim their coat roughly every month—this includes trimming carefully around the eyes and paws. You may need to hire a professional groomer to get the job done if you don’t know how to do it all yourself.


Shih Tzu


A Shih Tzu can be groomed to have a short or long coat. The shorter coat, dubbed a “puppy cut” can make things easier. If you don’t know how to clip the coat yourself, you’ll need to hire a professional groomer, but even if you let your Shih Tzu’s coat grow long, a groomer can ensure they’ll look great.


One thing to keep in mind is the hair on their head needs to be tied into a topknot if it isn’t trimmed, as it can get into your dog’s eyes.


In addition to bathing this dog every few weeks, brush their body and face every day, and make sure you get down to the skin to prevent matting, especially if their fur is long. After brushing, you can take this time to clean around their eyes with a damp cloth, too.


Cocker Spaniel


The coat of a Cocker Spaniel can become tangled and matted, so combing them at least several times a week is necessary—be gentle around the delicate ears. Also, to keep the coat looking lovely, you’ll need to bathe your pooch every few weeks. Plus, you’ll need to trim their fur.


These dogs have long ears, so checking and cleaning their ears gently should be part of their grooming routine as well. Ask your veterinarian or a groomer to show you how to properly clean the ears, and learn about the symptoms to look for that would indicate there’s a problem like an infection requiring vet care. These professionals can also direct you to the best ear cleaners made specifically for dogs so you can choose a product that’s safe and effective. 


Grooming Your Dog at Home Requires the Right Tools


Once you get the hang of things and have the right tools, you might be able to take care of all of your dog’s grooming needs at home. Here are a couple examples of what you can purchase affordably to get started:


The Horicon Pet 6 in 1 Premium Dog Brush Set contains combs and brushes for removing loose hair, tangles, and mats. You can store them all in the matching drawstring bag to keep them clean and organized.  

If you’re planning on trimming your dog’s coat at home, look into clippers like the Oneisall 676 Dog Clipper for Thick Coats. It’s low vibration and low noise, cordless, waterproof, and strong enough to get through thick dog coats with ease.

A Breed’s Grooming Needs Should Always Be Considered


Because grooming is a necessary part of taking proper care of a dog, it’s something you should research before deciding on a breed to bring into your family, especially if you’re looking for a purebred or designer dog. Consider the amount of time you’ll need to dedicate to grooming your pet, and if you’re too busy or you just don’t want to have to worry about complicated grooming needs, stick with breeds that are low-maintenance in this regard.


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Lisa Selvaggio
Lisa Selvaggio

Lisa Selvaggio is a freelance writer and editor, and our resident cats-pert, with certifications in pet nutrition and pet first aid. She enjoys producing content that helps people understand animals better so they can give their pets a safe and happy home.

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