Professional grooming appointments are the cornerstone of your dog’s coat health — but what you do between those appointments matters just as much. At Robin’s Groomingdales, we see the full spectrum: dogs who come in looking great because their owners have maintained a solid home routine, and dogs who need hours of extra work because nothing was done in the weeks since their last visit. The difference isn’t always breed or coat type. It’s the daily and weekly habits of the owner. Here’s a practical guide to home grooming maintenance that works for Dunwoody dogs of every coat type.

Why Home Maintenance Matters

A professional grooming appointment every 6–8 weeks handles the deep work: bathing, drying, haircuts, nail grinding, ear cleaning, and deshedding. But in between visits, your dog’s coat continues to grow, shed, and tangle. Georgia’s heat and humidity accelerate mat formation. Pollen season means allergens in the coat and ears. Without consistent home care, the work your groomer did at the last appointment can unravel within two or three weeks.

Home maintenance isn’t about doing the groomer’s job — it’s about preserving the results of each professional appointment and keeping your dog comfortable in between.

Brushing: The Foundation of Everything

No other home grooming habit has more impact than consistent brushing. Brushing removes loose hair before it mats, distributes natural skin oils throughout the coat, and gives you a chance to spot skin issues early. How often you need to brush depends entirely on coat type:

• Curly and wavy coats (Goldendoodles, Labradoodles, Poodles, Aussiedoodles): Brush 4–5 times per week minimum. Daily during Georgia’s humid summer months or peak shedding season in spring and fall.
• Long, silky coats (Shih Tzus, Maltese, Yorkshire Terriers, Cocker Spaniels): Daily brushing is necessary. These fine coats tangle at the root quickly, especially in friction zones.
• Double coats (Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Bernese Mountain Dogs): 3–4 times per week. Daily during heavy shedding season to manage the undercoat before it mats.
• Short, smooth coats (Beagles, Boxers, Bulldogs, Pugs): Once or twice a week is enough to remove loose hair and keep the coat shiny.

How to Know If You’ve Brushed Thoroughly

Here’s the groomer’s test: after brushing, run a metal comb through your dog’s coat from skin to tip. If the comb passes through without catching, the coat is truly mat-free. If it snags, there’s a tangle you missed. This simple check — the comb test — is the most reliable way to verify your brushing was complete, especially in doodle and poodle coats that look smooth on the surface but may have dense tangles close to the skin.

Weekly Ear Checks

Dogs with floppy ears (Cocker Spaniels, Basset Hounds, many doodles) are prone to ear infections because their ear canals have limited airflow. Even upright-eared dogs need regular monitoring. Once a week, gently lift your dog’s ear flap and look inside the canal:

• Normal: Pale pink skin, a small amount of light brown wax. No odor beyond a faint earthy smell.
• See your vet or groomer: Dark brown or black discharge, strong or sour odor, redness or swelling, your dog shaking their head frequently, or scratching at their ears.

Do not insert anything into the ear canal at home. If you see debris in the outer ear, a cotton ball moistened with a vet-approved ear cleaner can gently wipe it away. Leave anything deeper to professionals.

Nail Monitoring Between Trims

Overgrown nails cause posture problems, joint stress, and discomfort with every step. The easiest way to know if nails need attention: listen for clicking on hard floors. If you hear your dog’s nails on the tile or hardwood, they’re due for a trim.

Regular walks on pavement help wear nails down naturally — a 20–30 minute walk on concrete several times a week can meaningfully reduce how often nails need trimming. For dogs who avoid pavement or live in mostly grassy environments, you’ll need to schedule nail trims more frequently.

If you’re comfortable trimming nails at home, use a sharp pair of dog nail clippers or a rotary grinder and trim small amounts at a time, staying well away from the quick (the pink blood vessel visible in light-colored nails). If your dog has dark nails where the quick is invisible, or if they’re anxious about nail trims, leave it to your groomer.

Paw Care: A Dunwoody Must-Have

In the greater Atlanta area, paw care is especially important from late spring through summer. Pavement in Dunwoody can reach temperatures that cause burns in just a few seconds — if the asphalt is too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for paw pads. Walk dogs in the early morning or evening during summer, or stick to grass and shaded paths.

After every walk, make it a habit to:

• Wipe paws with a damp cloth to remove allergens, pesticides, and debris
• Check between the toes for debris, foxtails, burrs, or signs of irritation
• Look for cracking, redness, or swelling on the pads
• Check for matting in the fur between the toes — especially in doodles and spaniels

Paw balm (dog-formulated, not human products) can help prevent cracking and protect pads from hot surfaces and dry winter conditions.

Quick Rinse vs Full Bath: What to Do at Home

Most dogs don’t need a full bath between professional grooming appointments unless they’ve gotten into something (mud, a skunk, creek water). Over-bathing strips natural skin oils and can cause dryness and irritation. However, quick targeted cleanups are often helpful:

• Paw rinse: A quick rinse of the paws after outdoor activities is fine and beneficial, especially during pollen season
• Spot cleaning: A damp cloth or dog wipe can clean a muddy belly, a dirty face, or a messy rear without a full bath
• Full bath at home: If needed, use dog-formulated shampoo, rinse thoroughly (leftover shampoo causes skin irritation), and dry completely — especially in ear canals and between skin folds. A damp coat left for hours is a recipe for hot spots and skin irritation in Georgia’s summer heat.

If your dog needs a full bath and they have a longer or curly coat, brush before and after bathing. Bathing a tangled coat sets the tangles — and brushing a damp curly coat while it air dries can prevent the spiral curl that leads to matting.

The 5-Minute Full-Body Weekly Check

Once a week, run your hands slowly over your entire dog — nose to tail, including under the belly, inside the legs, and around the ears. You’re feeling for:

• Any new lumps, bumps, or swellings
• Areas of pain or sensitivity (dog flinches, pulls away, or vocalizes)
• Unusual coat changes: thinning, dryness, oily patches
• Skin changes: redness, flaking, hot spots, or unusual odor
• Signs of parasites: flea dirt (black specks that dissolve red on a wet paper towel), ticks, or mites

Five minutes of this weekly check means you catch developing issues early — when they’re simplest to treat. Many skin conditions, tumors, and parasitic infestations are caught first by observant owners, not during veterinary exams.

Tell Your Groomer What’s Changed

When you bring your dog in, mention anything you noticed during your home checks. Groomers are often the first to spot early signs of skin conditions, ear problems, or parasite activity — but your observations between appointments add valuable context. If you noticed a new lump, an area of sensitivity, or unusual scratching, tell us at drop-off.

Home Maintenance Makes Grooming Appointments Easier (and Cheaper)

Dogs who come in well-maintained require less time on the table, which means less stress for the dog and often lower grooming fees. Matted dogs require dematting or shaving — work that takes extra time and causes discomfort. A consistent home routine between visits keeps your dog in the best possible condition and makes every professional appointment a positive experience.

Book Your Next Appointment at Robin’s Groomingdales

Located at 2482 Jett Ferry Rd in Dunwoody, GA, Robin’s Groomingdales provides professional grooming for dogs of all breeds and coat types. We’re happy to give you personalized at-home care advice for your specific dog at every appointment — just ask.

Book online at robinsgroomingdales.us or call (770) 396-8902. We’re open Monday through Saturday, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM.

Great grooming starts at home — and we’re here to help with the rest.