Long & silky
This is hair, not fur. It grows continuously, it tangles at every friction point, and it does not forgive neglect quietly. The good news: five honest minutes a day beats one heroic hour on Sunday.
The rhythm
- Comb daily, 5 minutes, with a wide-tooth steel comb, in lines, down to the skin. Behind the ears, the armpits, under the collar, the trousers: mats are born exactly where you skip.
- Detangle before water ever touches the coat. A wet tangle tightens into a mat you will have to cut out.
- Bath every 2 to 4 weeks. Long coats collect the world.
- Face and eye hair trimmed or tied up, so seeing remains part of the lifestyle.
The mistake everyone makes
Brushing the top layer and calling it done. The comb is the truth-teller: if it does not pass to the skin without catching, you are not finished.
Honesty, twice
One: this is the coat type where conditioner genuinely earns its keep. We do not make one yet. When we do, it will be because of you people. Two: a puppy cut is not a failure. A short, combed, happy dog beats a long, matted, miserable one every single week of the year.
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.