28/09/2026
๐๐พ SMP EDUCATES: Does my dog need MORE grooming as the weather gets colder? ๐
As we head towards colder weather, I often hear:
โI want to leave their coat longer now to keep them warm.โ
And thatโs absolutely fine for many dogs โ but a longer coat doesnโt mean we can stop maintaining it.
In fact, depending on the coat type, leaving more length can mean more grooming is needed, not less.
๐ชฎ Why?
A longer coat has more opportunity to tangle, particularly once we add autumn rain, muddy walks, harnesses and coats into the mix.
Friction areas such as the armpits, behind and underneath the ears, legs, chest and anywhere a harness or dog coat sits can knot particularly quickly.
If those little tangles arenโt removed, they can develop into matting close to the skin โ sometimes while the coat still looks perfectly fluffy on top.
โ๏ธ Keeping them fluffy doesnโt mean avoiding the groomer.
You can absolutely ask for a longer style through autumn and winter, providing your dogโs coat is suitable and youโre able to maintain it comfortably between appointments.
Regular grooming can still include bathing, thorough drying, brushing and combing, nail care, hygiene areas and a tidy-up without taking the coat short.
And importantly, a clean, dry, well-maintained coat is much more useful to your dog than a long coat thatโs wet, tangled or matted.
๐ค There isnโt one winter grooming schedule that suits every dog.
Breed, coat type, lifestyle, age, health and how much maintenance your dog comfortably tolerates all matter.
At Shekinah Muddy Paws, Iโd much rather help you find a manageable length and grooming routine for your individual dog than simply say every dog needs the same haircut.
So yes โ keep them fluffy if youโd like! ๐ถ๐
Just remember that more coat usually means more maintenance.
๐ KNOWLEDGE โข GUIDANCE โข WELFARE
