Breed family
Smooth-coated dog breeds: brushes, nails and skin care
Smooth-coated breeds need a weekly mitt or bristle brush, regular nail trims and skin-fold care rather than rakes or clippers. What AKC says, breed by breed.
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Short answer
Every breed in this family carries AKC's Smooth coat-type tag. Most need only a weekly once-over with a rubber grooming mitt, hound glove or medium-bristle brush to lift loose hair, though AKC asks for two or three short sessions a week for the Bulldog. Nails and skin folds take more attention than the coat. Core tools: rubber mitt or bristle brush, nail clippers or grinder. Keep drying cool: AKC says flat-faced breeds do poorly in heat, so we'd skip heated dryers.
What they share
Watch out for
- Skin folds: AKC says food or moisture trapped in a Bulldog's wrinkles can cause irritation or infection, and that a Frenchie's facial folds should be kept clean and dry.
- Heat: Cornell says flat-faced breeds such as Pugs, Bulldogs and Boxers can't pant as efficiently and are at higher risk in hot or humid weather. Our inference: towel-dry and use cool air only.
- Short isn't always low-shedding: AKC rates the Pug 4 of 5, though AAHA lists pugs among breeds that tend to shed less.
- Check the variety: Dachshunds and Chihuahuas also come in long coats, and Dachshunds in a wire coat, which need more brushing (AKC).
What fits
Product details below are the seller's own description unless a source is shown. Pick the variant named for each item.
Nail grinder
Two-speed rechargeable pet nail grinderChoose the white grinder.
Short coats are less likely to snag a grinder than long ones; VCA suggests 1-2 second touches so the nail doesn't heat up.
Sold by Pawsh Living Store
Nail clipper
Scissor-style pet nail clipper with LED lightChoose the gray clipper.
Scissor-style, with a light. On dark nails, VCA suggests a series of small clips of 1-2 mm each.
Sold by Shop1105233629 Store
Breeds in this family
- French Bulldog Frenchie
- Dachshund Dachsie
- Beagle
- Pug
- Rottweiler Rottie
- Bulldog English Bulldog
- Boxer
- Chihuahua Chi
Weekly: a rubber mitt, hound glove or bristle brush over the whole body; AKC says brushing removes shed hair and spreads skin oils through the coat. Check folds, ears and nail length at the same time. In heavier shedding (spring for the Beagle, spring and fall for the Rottweiler), brush more often.
No catalog pick yet for a rubber curry mitt, hound glove or bristle brush, the tools AKC names for these coats; AKC's home-grooming guide describes rubber curry combs as polishing smooth coats and removing loose hair. The catalog picks that fit are nail tools: see how to trim dog nails and nail grinder vs nail clipper.
VCA's typical nail baseline is about once a month, and nails that click on hard floors are too long, a cue AKC uses too.
Questions
What brush is best for a short, smooth coat?
AKC's breed pages name a rubber grooming mitt or curry brush, a hound glove or a medium-bristle brush for breeds such as the French Bulldog, Beagle, Pug and Boxer. VCA likewise suggests flexible grooming gloves or short-bristle brushes for smooth-coated dogs.[5][3][6]
Should I shave a short-coated dog in summer?
No. AKC says single-coated dogs such as Boxers should not be shaved down to the skin. The Beagle's AKC text describes a dense double coat, and AKC advises against shaving double coats too.[7][8][9]
Do flat-faced breeds need special care when drying?
Cornell says brachycephalic breeds can't pant as efficiently and are at higher risk in hot or humid weather, and AKC's drying advice is to avoid heat and use a dryer made for dogs. Putting those together, we suggest towel drying and cool air only for these breeds.[10][11]