Pawfile Breed Guides

Illustration of a freshly groomed double-coated dog
How Often Should a Dog Be Groomed? A Schedule by Coat Type and Breed
How often your dog needs a professional groom depends on the coat. Here is a grooming schedule by coat type with the breeds in each group, what to do at... Read more...
Illustration of a small silky-coated dog with a clean, freshly groomed face
Dog Bad Breath: Causes, What Helps and When to See the Vet
Why does your dog's breath smell like fish, poop or worse? The most common causes of bad dog breath, what each smell can mean, what actually freshens it, which home... Read more...
Illustration of a curly-coated dog with a fresh, rounded haircut
Types of Dog Haircuts: Names, Styles and What to Tell Your Groomer
Puppy cut, teddy bear, kennel cut, lion cut: here's what each dog haircut name means, which coats it suits, which cuts double-coated dogs should skip, and exactly what to tell... Read more...
Illustration of a calm long-haired dog, ready for a gentle grooming session
Senior Dog Grooming: How to Groom an Older Dog Gently
Older dogs need gentler, more frequent grooming. Here's how to brush, bathe and trim nails on a senior dog comfortably, what to ask a groomer and which changes to show... Read more...
Illustration of a long-haired, light-colored dog, the kind of coat where tear stains show most
Dog Tear Stains: Causes, How to Clean Them and When to See the Vet
Reddish-brown stains under your dog's eyes? Here's what causes tear stains, a safe daily routine to clean them, which home remedies to avoid and when to call the vet. Read more...
Dog coat illustration for choosing the right brush
Best Brush for Your Dog: How to Choose by Coat Type
The best brush for your dog depends on the coat. Here's which brush to use for short, double, curly, long and wire coats, how to brush down to the skin... Read more...
Curly / wool coat illustration (Cockapoo)
Cockapoo Grooming Guide: Haircuts, Brushing & How Often to Groom
Cockapoos, a Cocker Spaniel and Poodle mix, are cheerful, affectionate dogs that come in toy, miniature and standard sizes and fit easily into apartment and family life. Read more...
Short coat dog illustration for the how to brush your dog's teeth guide
How to Brush Your Dog's Teeth (Even If They Refuse): Step-by-Step Guide
How to brush your dog's teeth step by step, even if your dog refuses: what toothpaste and brush to use, a 2-week training plan, how often to brush, why never... Read more...
Short coat dog illustration for the dog-friendly Boca Raton guide
Dog-Friendly Boca Raton: Dog Parks, Bark Beach and Where to Walk Your Dog
Where to take your dog in Boca Raton: Bark Beach at Spanish River Park, Mizner Bark, Canine Cove and leashed lake walks, with hours, permits and rules from the official... Read more...
Silky coat dog illustration for the anxious dog grooming guide
My Dog Hates Being Groomed: How to Help an Anxious Dog (At Home and at the Groomer)
Why some dogs hate being groomed, the stress signs to watch for, and step-by-step tips to brush, trim nails, brush teeth and prepare a nervous dog for the groomer. Plus... Read more...
Double coat dog illustration for the why does my dog smell guide
Why Does My Dog Smell? 8 Common Causes (and Why It Still Stinks After a Bath)
Why your dog smells bad, even right after a bath: a damp coat, dead undercoat, ears, breath, paws, skin folds or anal glands. How to find the cause, what to... Read more...
Short coat dog illustration for the dog nail trimming guide
How Often to Trim Dog Nails (and How to Do It Without Cutting the Quick)
How often to trim your dog's nails, the signs they're too long, how to find the quick on white and black nails, grinder vs. clipper, and what to do if... Read more...
Double coat dog illustration for holiday dog grooming guide
Holiday Dog Grooming: When to Book, How to Prep and How Much to Tip
The holidays are the busiest weeks of the year for grooming salons. Here's when to book, how many days before to groom by coat type, how to keep the groom... Read more...
Curly / wool coat illustration (Aussiedoodle)
Aussiedoodle Grooming Guide: How Often to Bathe, Brush & Groom
Aussiedoodles, an Australian Shepherd and Poodle mix, are smart, energetic, people-loving dogs that come in mini to standard sizes, often in eye-catching merle colors. Read more...
Short, heavy shedder coat illustration (Great Dane)
Great Dane Grooming Guide: How Often to Bathe, Brush & Groom
Great Danes are gentle giants: calm, affectionate and often taller than their owners when they stand on their hind legs. Read more...
Short, light shedder coat illustration (Boston Terrier)
Boston Terrier Grooming Guide: How Often to Bathe, Brush & Groom
Boston Terriers, the 'American Gentleman', are small, friendly dogs with a tuxedo coat and big, expressive eyes. Read more...
Short, heavy shedder coat illustration (Cane Corso)
Cane Corso Grooming Guide: How Often to Bathe, Brush & Groom
Cane Corsos are powerful, calm and protective Italian mastiffs, often over 100 pounds as adults. Read more...
Short, light shedder coat illustration (Doberman)
Doberman Grooming Guide: How Often to Bathe, Brush & Groom
Dobermans are sleek, athletic and deeply loyal dogs, and their short, glossy coat is one of the easiest to keep clean. Read more...
Short, light shedder coat illustration (Pit Bull)
Pit Bull Grooming Guide: How Often to Bathe, Brush & Groom
Pit bulls, a name that usually covers the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier and similar mixes, are strong, loving, people-focused dogs. Read more...
Silky / long coat illustration (English Springer Spaniel)
English Springer Spaniel Grooming Guide: How Often to Bathe, Brush & Groom
English Springer Spaniels are energetic, affectionate sporting dogs with a medium-length coat, feathered legs and long, heavy ears. Read more...
Wire coat illustration (Westie)
Westie Grooming Guide: How Often to Bathe, Brush & Groom
West Highland White Terriers, or Westies, are confident little terriers with a bright white, harsh coat and a rounded, chrysanthemum-shaped head. Read more...
Double coat illustration (Shiba Inu)
Shiba Inu Grooming Guide: How Often to Bathe, Brush & Groom
Shiba Inus are small, bold, fox-like dogs from Japan, known for being clean and almost cat-like. Read more...
Double coat illustration (Samoyed)
Samoyed Grooming Guide: How Often to Bathe, Brush & Groom
Samoyeds are friendly, smiling working dogs with a brilliant white, stand-off coat. Read more...
Curly / wool coat illustration (Sheepadoodle)
Sheepadoodle Grooming Guide: How Often to Bathe, Brush & Groom
Sheepadoodles, an Old English Sheepdog and Poodle mix, are big, fluffy, easygoing family dogs, often in a striking black-and-white coat. Read more...
Double-coated dog illustration for the Florida dog shedding season guide
Dog Shedding Season in Florida: Why Your Dog Sheds Year-Round and What Helps
In colder states, double-coated dogs blow their coat twice a year in big, predictable waves. Read more...
Curly doodle coat illustration for the doodle haircut styles guide
Doodle Haircut Styles: Teddy Bear, Puppy Cut, Lamb Cut and More
Goldendoodles, Labradoodles, Bernedoodles, Cavapoos and Maltipoos have coats that keep growing, so every doodle owner eventually faces the same question at the grooming counter: what cut do you want? The... Read more...
Curly-coated dog illustration for the guide on removing mats from dog hair
How to Get Mats Out of Dog Hair (and When to Stop and Call a Groomer)
A mat is a dense clump of tangled hair that tightens against the skin. Read more...
Short-coated dog illustration for the how to bathe a dog at home guide
How to Bathe a Dog at Home: A Groomer-Style Step-by-Step
A good home bath is mostly preparation and drying, with the washing in between. Read more...
Short-coated dog illustration for the dog grooming cost guide
How Much Does Dog Grooming Cost? What Affects the Price
Dog grooming prices vary a lot, and two dogs can get very different quotes at the same salon. Read more...
Short-coated dog illustration for the dog teeth cleaning guide
Anesthesia-Free Dog Teeth Cleaning in Boca Raton: What It Is and Who It's For
Bad breath, yellow buildup on the back teeth and a dog who chews on one side are all common signs that your dog's mouth needs attention. Read more...
Double-coated dog illustration for the mobile dog grooming guide
Mobile Dog Grooming in Palm Beach County: How It Works and Who It's For
Mobile dog grooming brings the salon to you: a van with a grooming table, a tub, warm water, dryers and clippers parks in your driveway, and your dog is groomed... Read more...
Curly-coated dog illustration for the teddy bear cut guide
Teddy Bear Cut for Dogs: What It Is and How to Ask for It
The teddy bear cut is the haircut that makes a doodle, Shih Tzu or Maltipoo look like a stuffed animal: plush body, round face, soft muzzle and fluffy feet. Read more...
Silky-coated dog illustration for the Boca Raton dog grooming guide
Dog Grooming in Boca Raton: What to Expect and How to Choose a Groomer
Boca Raton is a dog town. Read more...
Curly-coated dog illustration for the puppy cut guide
What Is a Puppy Cut? The Easy-Care Dog Haircut Explained
The puppy cut is one of the most requested dog haircuts in the country, and for good reason: it is short, even, easy to brush and makes adult dogs look... Read more...
Silky coat dog illustration for how often to bathe a dog guide
How Often Should I Bathe My Dog? A Schedule by Coat Type
There is no single number for every dog. How often your dog needs a bath depends mostly on coat type, then on lifestyle (swimming, rolling, dog parks), skin and any... Read more...
Curly coat puppy illustration for puppy first grooming guide
Puppy's First Grooming: When to Start and What to Expect
A puppy's first grooming experiences shape how it feels about baths, brushes, nail trims and dryers for life. The goal of a first groom is not a perfect haircut; it... Read more...
Double-coated dog illustration for can you shave a double coat guide
Can You Shave a Double-Coated Dog? What Groomers Want You to Know
Every summer, owners of Huskies, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Pomeranians and Great Pyrenees ask the same thing: wouldn't my dog be cooler and shed less if I shaved it? In... Read more...
Short-coated heavy shedder dog illustration for deshedding guide
How to Deshed a Dog at Home: The Complete Deshedding Guide
Shedding is normal: dogs constantly replace old hair, and double-coated breeds release large amounts of undercoat, especially during seasonal coat changes. You cannot stop shedding, but you can remove loose... Read more...
Double coat dog illustration, one of the 7 dog coat types
Dog Coat Types (With Pictures): Which One Does Your Dog Have?
Your dog's coat type, more than its breed name, decides how often it needs a bath, how much it sheds, whether it needs haircuts and which brush actually works. Mixed... Read more...
Double coat illustration (Border Collie)
Border Collie Grooming Guide: How Often to Bathe, Brush & Groom
Border Collies are brilliant, high-energy herding dogs. Most have a medium-length 'rough' coat, some a short 'smooth' coat, and both are double coats that shed and benefit from regular brushing.... Read more...
Curly / wool coat illustration (Maltipoo)
Maltipoo Grooming Guide: How Often to Bathe, Brush & Groom
Maltipoos, a Maltese and Poodle mix, are small, playful companions with soft coats that can be straight, wavy or curly. They shed little, so their hair keeps growing and needs... Read more...
Curly / wool coat illustration (Bichon Frise)
Bichon Frise Grooming Guide: How Often to Bathe, Brush & Groom
The Bichon Frise is a cheerful little dog with a white, powder-puff coat. That coat sheds very little, but it needs regular brushing and haircuts to keep its rounded shape... Read more...
Double coat illustration (Great Pyrenees)
Great Pyrenees Grooming Guide: How Often to Bathe, Brush & Groom
Great Pyrenees are large, calm guardian dogs with a thick white coat built for mountain weather. Their coat is surprisingly dirt-resistant, but they shed heavily and need regular brushing, plus... Read more...
Silky / long coat illustration (Cocker Spaniel)
Cocker Spaniel Grooming Guide: How Often to Bathe, Brush & Groom
Cocker Spaniels are cheerful, gentle dogs with silky coats and long, feathered ears. They are one of the higher-maintenance breeds to groom, but a steady routine keeps their coat beautiful... Read more...
Curly / wool coat illustration (Bernedoodle)
Bernedoodle Grooming Guide: How Often to Bathe, Brush & Groom
Bernedoodles mix the Bernese Mountain Dog with the Poodle, and they come in mini, medium and standard sizes. Their coats are fluffy, often wavy or curly, and they need consistent... Read more...
Double coat illustration (Newfoundland)
Newfoundland Grooming Guide: How Often to Bathe, Brush & Groom
Newfoundlands are giant, gentle water dogs with a heavy, water-resistant coat. Grooming a Newfie is a real commitment: there is a lot of coat to brush and dry, and they... Read more...
Curly / wool coat illustration (Labradoodle)
Labradoodle Grooming Guide: How Often to Bathe, Brush & Groom
Labradoodles, a Labrador Retriever and Poodle mix, are friendly, energetic family dogs. Their coats can be hair, fleece or wool, and knowing which one your dog has makes grooming much... Read more...
Curly / wool coat illustration (Cavapoo)
Cavapoo Grooming Guide: How Often to Bathe, Brush & Groom
Cavapoos, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Poodle mix, are small, affectionate companions with soft coats that range from wavy to curly. They are often marketed as low-shedding, and that... Read more...
Short, light shedder coat illustration (Boxer)
Boxer Grooming Guide: How Often to Bathe, Brush & Groom
Boxers are playful, muscular and famously goofy, and their sleek coat is one of the easiest in the dog world to maintain. Grooming a Boxer is mostly about short weekly... Read more...
Short, light shedder coat illustration (Chihuahua)
Chihuahua Grooming Guide: How Often to Bathe, Brush & Groom
Chihuahuas are tiny dogs with big personalities. They come in smooth and long coats, and both are relatively easy to care for. Their small size makes nail and dental care... Read more...