Curly & low-shed
Low-shed is not low-work. Curly coats hold on to the hair they drop, and held hair plus friction equals felt. The mats form close to the skin, invisible under a fluffy surface, until one day the groomer says the word shave-down and everyone is sad.
The rhythm
- Brush to the skin every other day, in sections, with a slicker. Then run a metal comb through: if the comb does not pass, the brushing did not happen, whatever the surface says.
- Professional groom every 4 to 6 weeks. Non-negotiable line item, like rent.
- Bath every 3 to 4 weeks, usually at the groom. Always fully brushed out first, always fully dried after.
The mistake everyone makes
Fluffing the surface over a forming mat pad. Feels productive, changes nothing underneath.
Honesty
A standing appointment with a good groomer will do more for this coat than any bottle on this shelf. Including ours. Budget for the groomer first, the products second.
What we use at home
floof it Gentle Cleanser. Salon grade, made for us by our manufacturing partner, used on both of us every second Saturday. Two pumps for Alfie. Four for Tara.
Short smooth coat? You need less of everything on this page. Including this bottle. Half doses go a long way.
Honest answer: if your dog has fleas today, you need a vet, not a shampoo. Ours included. Go. Come back after.
This is grooming guidance from people who live with dogs, not veterinary advice. Itching that keeps returning, flakes, bald patches, redness, or a smell that comes back within days is a vet conversation, not a bath. Your vet and groomer outrank this page.