That answer would depend on what kind of dog you have and if you want its hair kept medium to long or perhaps in a more precise or breed specific cut. For cats, there a a different set of question to ask which will determine how often you cat needs to be groomed.

Long haired dogs

If you want to keep the hair long on your dog, you should comb and brush your dog daily and bring it to the groomer every 4 weeks to have its nails filed, ears plucked and cleaned, and potty and pads trimmed. If you can’t maintain combing and brushing daily you would then bring your dog to the groomer weekly to bi-weekly to keep the skin and coat in a healthy condition.

Short to medium haired dogs

If you don’t want to mess with long hair on your dog, then a short cut to a shave down might work for you. Then you should bring your dog to your groomer every 6-8 weeks. Every dog should be bathed once a month at least to maintain a healthy skin and coat.

How often should I wash my dog?

The arguments against washing your dog too often are generally about stripping the coat of natural oils. The more often you wash something, the more often the sebum (oil) is going to be removed. Think about your own hair. If you don’t wash it, what happens? It gets oily. Is the oil good for your hair? Probably, but we wash our hair everyday anyway so that it’s clean!

There are several factors you should consider when deciding how often to wash your dog which include:

1. Does your dog live indoors or outdoors, and does your dog sleep in your bed?

If your dog lives in your house with you and more importantly, if he/she sleeps in your bed, then you are probably going to wash your dog regularly–depending on the breed anywhere from once a week to once a month. I know this is radical thinking, but, if your dog sits on your sofa, you probably don’t want him dragging in dirt, poop, insects and other grime onto your sofa.

2. Breed of dog

Dogs that have dry skin can be bathed less frequently than dogs with oily skin. Harsh-textured coats repel dirt pretty well so they don’t get as dirty as a soft-coated dog. Dogs like Maltese, Yorkies, Afghans and Shitzus should be bathed once a week. Harsh-coated breeds, like Shelties and Collies, can be bathed once a month. If you’re not sure, remember, a clean dog is a happy dog!

3. Is anyone in your household allergic to dogs?

If so, you SHOULD groom & bathe them as often as possible. According to the American Lung Association, doing so will help remove the dander that accumulates on a pet’s fur.

4. What activities does your dog partake in?

Do you take your dog to the dog park? Does you dog play in the sand or dirt? Does your dog roll in the grass or go swimming or hiking? What about sniffing butts, eating poop or drooling? Well, if you have a normal dog, she probably partakes in several of the above activities– all of which warrant regular bathing.

5. Does your dog suffer from itchy skin?

Unlike humans who absorb most environmental allergens through their noses and mouths, dogs tend to absorb allergens through the skin. Weekly bathing can prevent itchiness , washing allergens away before they get a chance to penetrate the skin.

How often should I groom my cat?

How often you groom your cat depends ona number of differnt things. In general, cats with long hair need much more frequent grooming, often on a daily basis. Cats with short hair can be brushed several times a week. Cats who are overweight or ill often have less ability or desire to groom themselves. Older cats who may have arthritis may also tend to groom less. These cats should be groomed on a more frequent basis. The amount your cat sheds varies throughout the year. When your cat is shedding less, especially if she’s a “shorthair,” you may brush or comb your cat and remove very little hair. Other times, it may seem to come out in handfuls. The more a cat is shedding, the more often you should groom her. This will also greatly decrease her risk of developing hairballs. An lastly, consider your cat’s tolerance to grooming. Some cats love being brushed, other really really don’t.

Don’t forget about your dogs nails, they should be kept short to keep healthy feet.