Wire
A coarse, weatherproof jacket of a coat, plus, in most wire breeds, a beard with a rich inner life. Two decisions define the routine: how the coat gets shortened, and how honest you are willing to be about the beard.
Stripping or clipping, honestly
Hand-stripping keeps the texture and colour crisp; it takes a groomer who offers it and costs more. Clipping is easier and cheaper, and over time the coat gets softer and lighter. Neither is wrong. Pick one on purpose instead of drifting into clipping and mourning the texture later.
The rhythm
- Slicker on the furnishings (legs, eyebrows, skirt) 2 to 3 times a week; comb after.
- The beard: rinse after wet meals, comb daily, dry it. An unmaintained beard smells like last Tuesday and drips on every guest.
- Bath every 3 to 6 weeks. Strip or clip on your groomer's cadence, usually every 6 to 8 weeks.
Honesty
Wire coats need less shampoo than you think and more combing than you hope. Spend the difference on a proper comb.
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.