Straight from the grooming table — a groomer's honest take
People ask me all the time: "Is my dog hard to groom?" Sometimes I have to be honest — yes, your dog is a lot of work. Not because they're bad dogs. In fact, most of the breeds on this list are wonderful. But their coats tell a different story.
After years of grooming, I've learned which breeds walk in and which ones I have to plan my whole day around. This list isn't meant to scare you — it's meant to help you understand what your dog actually needs so you can set them up for a healthy, comfortable life.
— Venus 🐕 · Fancy Pet Grooming Salon · Lynchburg, VA
I'll be real with you: an Afghan Hound in full coat is one of the most labor-intensive dogs I have ever worked with. That long, flowing silk needs to be brushed section by section, carefully, with the right tools — and if you've gone more than a few days without brushing, you're already dealing with tangles.
Afghan owners who keep the full coat are committed people. I have a lot of respect for them.
Poodles are brilliant, joyful dogs. They're also the breed I see come in most often in a state that breaks my heart — completely matted because their owners didn't realize what they signed up for. "He doesn't shed" is true. What's also true is that all that hair curls back into itself and becomes a solid mat if you skip brushing.
Doodles — Goldendoodles, Labradoodles, all of them — are Poodle mixes. Their coats are just as demanding, and sometimes more unpredictable.
One of the most popular breeds I work with, and one of the most demanding. The Shih Tzu's double coat mats fast — especially behind the ears, under the armpits, around the collar, and in the sanitary areas. I've seen coats that look fine on top and are completely felted underneath.
Their face is also a daily responsibility. Those big eyes need to be wiped every single day to prevent staining and the skin infections that come from trapped moisture.
Yorkie hair is basically human hair on a tiny dog — silky, fine, and it tangles just as easily. Owners often tell me they didn't brush this week because the dog "seemed fine." Then I get in there with my comb and find knots they couldn't feel from the outside.
Their small size doesn't make them easier to groom — tiny mats in delicate areas require extra patience.
White, silky, and delicate — the Maltese coat is as high-maintenance as it looks. It shows every speck of dirt and picks up tangles from almost nothing. The area under the eyes is prone to tear staining and, if not kept dry and clean, painful skin irritation.
Maltese owners who keep the long show coat are doing serious work at home. For most families, a shorter trim makes everyone happier — especially the dog.
That big shaggy dog from the cartoons. Beautiful? Absolutely. Easy? Not even close. The Old English Sheepdog has a massive double coat that mats deeply and quickly — especially around the rear, under the arms, and behind the ears. And because they're big dogs, there's a lot of coat to manage.
I always appreciate when Old English Sheepdog owners call ahead. I set aside extra time for them.
I have a deep respect for Komondor owners. Those white cords are natural to the breed — but they don't just happen on their own. Every single cord has to be hand-separated regularly to keep them from fusing into one giant, painful mass. And bathing? Plan your whole day around it.
A wet Komondor can take 8+ hours to fully dry. Skip that step and you're looking at mildew growing next to the skin.
The Puli is like a smaller Komondor — same corded coat, same level of commitment. Their dreadlock-style cords are their signature, but underneath those cords, the skin still needs to breathe and stay healthy. You can't just ignore the coat and hope for the best.
Some Puli owners choose to keep the coat brushed out instead of corded. It's more work to maintain that way, but it's an option.
That lion mane is stunning. It's also a lot. The Chow Chow's dense double coat requires real work at home between appointments, and during shedding season it feels like the coat is trying to leave the dog entirely. They also have a reputation for being stubborn about being groomed — start handling habits early if you have a Chow puppy.
Bichons look like little clouds and I adore them — but that fluffy white coat mats constantly. I've said before that the Bichon is basically a mat machine in a cute package. Their face also needs daily attention. Skip a few days of face wiping and you'll see why tear staining is such a common complaint in this breed.
The Havanese has a long silky double coat that looks gorgeous when it's maintained — and rough when it isn't. Their coat is especially prone to matting at the elbows, armpits, and behind the ears. Because they're a small, happy-go-lucky dog, it's easy to underestimate how much work their coat actually takes.
Cocker Spaniels are beautiful dogs with those long silky ears — and those ears are exactly where most of the trouble starts. Their heavy, floppy ear flaps trap moisture and restrict airflow, which means ear infections are extremely common in this breed. On top of that, the feathering on their legs and belly mats quickly and needs regular maintenance.
These little dogs were bred as monastery guard dogs in Tibet, and they still carry that independent streak today. They can be opinionated about being handled — which makes grooming more interesting. Their long, dense coat was designed to protect them from harsh mountain cold, and it does its job so well that tangles hide underneath the outer layer.
The Pekingese walks in like they own the place — and honestly, I respect that energy. Their long double coat and flat face create two separate grooming challenges at once. The face folds need daily cleaning or they develop painful infections fast. The body coat needs at least weekly brushing to stay manageable.
Named for their cotton-soft coat, the Coton is a sweet, cheerful little dog. I see quite a few of them here in the Lynchburg area, and I love working with them — but I'm always upfront with owners: that fluffy coat mats quickly. The softness that makes it so touchable is the same reason it picks up tangles so easily.
The Silky Terrier looks a lot like a Yorkie and shares many of the same coat challenges — long, fine, silky hair that mats at the slightest neglect. The neck area and legs are the worst offenders. Skip a few brushing sessions and those tangles become tight and painful to remove.
Active, shaggy, and absolutely full of personality — the Bearded Collie's coat collects whatever it runs through. Burrs, mud, leaves, grass seeds — it all gets stuck. Their beard is like a food collector, which is endearing but requires cleaning after every meal. Their double coat needs to be worked through completely, not just brushed on the surface.
A large French herding breed with a long wavy coat and a big beard — the Briard is a wonderful dog that most people in the US don't know much about. Their coat requires multiple brushing sessions every week, and the beard is a constant project. I love meeting Briards in the salon; they're always interesting characters.
The Giant Schnauzer's wiry double coat, beard, and eyebrows are part of what makes them look so distinguished. That same coat requires either regular clipping or hand-stripping to stay correct — and the beard needs daily cleaning because it holds water and food like a sponge.
Low-shedding, athletic, and smart — the Portuguese Water Dog became a household name when the Obama family had them at the White House. Their curly or wavy coat requires consistent upkeep. The curly variety mats more readily; the wavy is a little more forgiving, but both need regular professional grooming.
One of the most beautiful dogs in the world, and one of the heaviest shedders I've worked with. That gorgeous tricolor double coat was made for Swiss mountain winters — and in a Virginia home, it sheds year-round, with two serious "blowout" seasons in spring and fall where it seems like the coat is coming off in blankets.
The Bedlington looks like a small lamb — soft, fluffy, gentle-looking — but underneath that exterior is a determined terrier. Their coat is a distinctive mix of hard and soft fibers that grows in a specific pattern, and achieving that breed-standard clip takes real skill. Not every groomer is familiar with the Bedlington cut.
One of the rarer breeds I see, but when a Skye Terrier comes in I know to give the session extra time. Their long, flat coat falls from a center part that runs the entire length of the body — it's a distinctive look that requires careful handling. Blow-drying must be done with the part in mind, not just fluffed out.
The mostly-hairless Chinese Crested might look like the low-maintenance option on this list — but exposed skin has its own needs. It sunburns. It gets dry and flaky. It's prone to acne-like breakouts. And the Powderpuff variety — fully coated — has all the same coat demands as the silky-haired breeds above.
Both varieties share one common challenge: they're very prone to dental problems, which means teeth cleaning is part of their grooming routine too.
Bulldogs have a short, simple coat — so why are they on this list? Because the coat is the easy part. Those wrinkles and facial folds are where infections develop if moisture and debris aren't cleaned out daily. Tail pockets, the fold above the nose, between the toes — all of these need attention that goes well beyond a weekly brush.
I see Bulldogs come in with painful skin infections that could have been prevented with consistent daily cleaning. It's one of the most common things I talk to Bulldog owners about.
The PON isn't well-known in the US, but those who have one are usually serious dog people — and they know what they're in for. This shaggy double-coated herding dog looks like a smaller, shaggier version of a Bearded Collie, and the coat demands are very similar. Their hair also grows over their eyes, which must be kept trimmed for their safety and vision.
Every dog on this list is a lot of work — and every one of them is worth it. None of these breeds are on the list because they're problem dogs. They're here because their coats need more from their owners and their groomers.
The most important thing I can tell you: don't wait until there's a problem to come in. Regular appointments, consistent home brushing, and catching small issues before they become big ones — that's the difference between a dog who loves being groomed and a dog who dreads it.
If you're in Lynchburg or the surrounding area and you have one of these breeds, I'd love to help you build a grooming routine that works. I specialize in dogs with difficult coats and anxious temperaments — and I work one dog at a time, which means your pup gets my full attention the whole visit.
— Venus 🐕
Let's build a grooming plan that works — for both of you.