Poodles and teddy bear cuts
For our easy-care Simply Cute style, we recommend a groom every 4–6 weeks. For the rounder, fluffier Asian Fusion teddy bear look, come in every 4 weeks. If you keep the coat 1 inch long or longer, every 2–4 weeks works best.
Bichons
Bichons are on about the same schedule as Poodles and teddy bear cuts: every 4–6 weeks for a simple style, every 4 weeks for a fuller, rounded look.
Maltese, Schnauzers, Shih Tzus, Yorkies and Doodles
Straight-coated breeds like Maltese, Schnauzers, Shih Tzus and Yorkies also do best every 4–6 weeks. You can stretch it to 8 weeks at most; after that, the coat almost always tangles and gets dirty. Doodles are bigger dogs with a lot of coat, so we recommend every 4 weeks.
What happens if you wait too long
- The coat starts to smell and gets dirty faster.
- Tangles turn into mats, and heavy mats often mean the only safe option is a short shave (here's why).
- Trapped dirt and moisture can lead to skin problems.
Brushing at home between visits
Brushing every day is ideal, and at least 3 times a week. Use a slicker brush first to open up the coat, then follow with a metal comb to make sure it runs through smoothly all the way to the skin.
Quick answer
- Is it OK to wait 8 weeks?
- For straight-coated breeds, 8 weeks is the maximum. For Asian Fusion styles, we recommend no more than 6 weeks, or the shape and coat become hard to maintain.