How to Groom Long Hair on Dogs: Styles

Long hair on an active pooch can sometimes be difficult to maintain. It can easily become tangled, matted and almost impossible to groom. Stying long hair on a dog can help keep your dog's beautiful long hair manageable. Usually, you'll want to start out by taking your dog to the groomer and acquiring a style that is recommended for your breed. Standard Poodles will need a different cut for their body type than a Komondor or a Puli; Retrievers will need a different cut than an English Cocker. Choose whichever style is easy to maintain and suits your breed best.

Things You'll Need

  • Flat-toothed steel comb
  • Dematting comb
  • Slicker brush
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Instructions

    • 1

      Instruct your groomer to trim your dog in a short puppy cut when it is younger. This enables your dog to get used to the idea of being groomed and will keep its coat manageable when it is the most active. It is an even cut that keeps the fur close to the skin and easy to brush and comb.

    • 2

      Have your dog cut in the "lion style." This style is popular with dogs that are very small and whose owners prefer them to look rather fluffy. This is a rather stylized cut and requires that the back half of the dog is nearly shaved, with a large pom pom on the tail. This is popular among Pomeranian owners and is sometimes used on Standard Poodles.

    • 3

      Try a "teddy bear" trim for your canine. A teddy bear trim keeps the dog's fur at a length that is longer than normal and gives the dog a bit of an all-over fluffy appearance. This trim can be a good choice for the winter months when your dog needs a bit more warmth from its coat.

    • 4

      Arrange your dog's hair into dreadlocks. This is a very popular alternative for dogs who have notoriously long coats such as the Kormondor or the Puli. Although it can be difficult to tell which end of a dreadlocked dog is which, deadlocks can be fun and eye-catching and easier to maintain than a coat that must be brushed every day. Of course, dreadlocks for certain breeds are considered the standard cut and will be expected at dog shows and events.

    • 5

      Try an non-standard cut on your dog if you don't see any styles that you like. Instruct your groomer to trim the dog according to your own specifications. For example, on a Cocker Spaniel, you may want the coat on the sides and on the legs left long but the tail and the stomach trimmed short. You can always change your dog's long-haired style at a later date.