Hi all,

I went down a pretty deep rabbit hole reading AKC and veterinary grooming guidelines and realized how inconsistent the advice online can be.

With my background in natural sciences, I default to systems and categories — so the vague “brush regularly” advice wasn’t cutting it for me.

I needed something structured.

Instead of organizing by breed (which overlaps a lot), I grouped everything by coat biology — double coat, curly, wiry, etc. Breeds vary, but coat structure is what actually drives maintenance needs. So I built a coat-type brushing schedule table that pulls together the guidance into something more systematic and usable.

I made a Google Sheets table that includes:

1. Base brushing frequency
2. Bath frequency
3. Tool recommendations
4. Seasonal adjustments
5. Skin condition modifiers
6. Source links in every cell (AKC, VCA Hospitals, AAHA, VOHC, etc.)

This isn’t sponsored. I’m not trying to sell you a brush. 😂 I just prefer to have info structured and organized instead of guessing.

The goal isn’t to replace groomers or vets. Just to reduce guesswork and make preventive care more consistent.

If it helps anyone who’s new to dog parenthood, that would make me happy.

If you’re more of a systems / flowchart thinker like me, I also built a decision tree version. Happy to share if there’s interest.

Important disclaimer

I’m not a vet or groomer. This is a synthesis of publicly available veterinary and professional grooming guidance.

If your dog has allergies, skin disease, endocrine issues, etc., always follow your vet.

If I misinterpreted anything, I genuinely want to know — I’d rather improve it than defend it. 💜

Help!

My 22 week labradoodle (M) is not taking very well to being left alone. He is fine in his crate at night (literally runs in to go to bed cos he associates is with kong and treats). Fine during the day time in his crate (but gets some fomo and is very huffy about it) but doesnt bark.

However…

When we leave the house, he is good as long as the kong lasts. Straight after he barks non stop. The longest we have left the house is maybe 2 hours and he pretty much barked his way through it. Not sure what to do here? Do I start putting him in a seperate room? We have a puppy proofed room we just got ready but not sure what to do with it to get him comfy? Is this separation anxiety? He doesnt pee in his crate, but barks and pushes against it, and a couple of times he has pulled the blanket covering the crate into the crate….

Please give me some tips! He isnt de-sexed yet (will do it around 10 months). Other then that he sits for treats, loves everyone, learns tricks in 2 days, is a good boi <3

We rescued a 9 week old pittie mix.

We are crate training, and he seems to be doing well and understands it’s his space.

We let him fall asleep with us and I’ll move him into the crate. (This was the first night.) today, he fell right asleep in his crate (success) without needing to be with us.

For the following nights I will be putting him in his bed and laying with him there and closing the door.

I also just want him to get comfortable with us.

During the times he’s out of his crate he plays, chews things, follows me around, I’ll feed and give him water then go outside (potty training) he is learning behaviours as we go.

Soon I’ll be full time, and coming home on lunches so I’m wondering if he’ll be okay in the crate for 4 hours in the morning, and after lunch. Until we can get him fixed up at the vet. I want to bring him to daycare, parks and a dog walker so he doesn’t get pent up all day. We also have some babysitters time to time.

My husband and I are disagreeing over when we should take out 13w cocker puppy for walks outside. I think we should wait, but he says he has and will keep walking him outside. Last Friday, the vet said not to take him out for public walks for 6 more weeks (based on vaccines). Additionally the pup is awful on lead outside (think lunging, cartwheels, rope burning hands). I’ve trained him to solidly sit in ‘heel’ at home but his ‘come’ and ‘turn’ needs work (50/50 on whether he walks calm or rockets ahead). I think we should wait the 6 weeks and use them to train pup to walk nicely on loose lead at home before walking outside too soon and embedding bad habits. Husband thinks pup needs to get used to the real world and will get better with time so better to get out there sooner rather than later. So what about you guys — how soon did you take your pup for walks outside? How did your first bunch of walks go? Did you have to train your pup to walk nicely or did they just figure it out over time?

is it normal for vets to be more transactional? we have a 12 week old golden pup and we are going to a local vet. Everytime we go to the vet for his 5way vaccination booster, vet always suggests some other vaccine(lyme,flu) to get or to prepare for nuterting or something else. Its something like "Hey your pup can now get this vaccine and it would cost so and so.. " but not whole background on what this vaccine does or why is it recommended or what is the age range should he get this done or anything.. he also adds "its totally up to you" in the end, and it feels we are getting guilt tripped! i am considering if we should change the vet.. am i over reacting

Hi! We are considering a pup in the future and I have been searching up breeders. One thing I notice with most breeders (of all breeds) is that puppies seem to be reserved even before birth a lot of the time, based solely on looks. My family requires some temperament help for our puppy – we need chill, not super play driven, but not scared/shy. Just willing to cuddle and watch the world go by for the most part (obviously recognizing puppies need training and have some energy – we're just looking for one lower on the energy spectrum and are considering breeds that will meet this need). How do we ever find one like this when breeders assign for sex and color? I am looking at CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) registered breeders. Am I doing something wrong?

Keeping it short, but not quite sweet:

How do you deal with your true soul-dog moving on from this life?

This has been asked a ton here I’m sure, but fresh takes are always different and special in their own way. Hit me with em

We've been together every day for 5 years

Now I have to put him into daycare to study. Tomorrow is not promised and I'm giving what feels like a whole year of his life away to someone else 40 Weeks to be exact. I should have chosen study at home option little dude is 8yo

It's one on one a teen girl was asking for a job and it works for both of us

Hi, I'm planning on traveling to Europe from the United States for about a month and I'd like to consider bringing my 1.5 year old border collie along. I haven't figured out the route yet but my target countries are UK, France, Germany.

I'd like to understand what logistics and considerations should go into this planning to make this work and without breaking the bank. I can't afford the charter planes that allow dogs like Bark Air unfortunately. What is the best route? What do I need to prepare in advance such as ensuring I can get into the countries without quarantine and making it back to the states? What other considerations are there? Is it possible? I'd like to hear your stories. Thanks!

For some context, I go to university a couple cities away and during the school year I often only visit a few weekends and part of reading week. This term my dog hasn’t been sleeping on my bed since the first day I came back, I’m unsure if this is due to me not being around or if it’s because I actually moved my bed to the other wall. Anything helps, I just really miss sleeping and cuddling with my dog 😞