The Cold Truth About Winter Coats

When winter hits, we often hear the same thing:

“I'm going to leave their coat longer for winter.”

Sounds logical, right? But here’s the cold, hard truth — a long, "winter coat" that’s full of knots, dampness, and last week’s garden debris isn’t actually warm. It’s a recipe for mats, stink, and extra grooming costs.

At One Fur All, we believe your dog’s haircut should suit their lifestyle — not just the season. Unless you’re ready to brush every day or every second day, a long coat can quickly become a tangled nightmare. And if you’re like most of us, busy with work and life, that’s just not realistic.

Instead, we tailor every cut to what works best for each dog — their personality, habits, and your time and budget. Sometimes that means a shorter trim paired with a cosy jumper, or a manageable mid-length coat that dries quickly and resists mats.

To show you what we mean, here are 7 of my own dogs in their current "winter cuts" and, if you're wondering why their haircuts aren't perfect? Because these free loaders have never paid for a haircut in their lives!

Real Dogs, Real Haircuts, Real Talk

Willow – The Fleece Foodie

Willow's grooming

Willow is a cavoodle with a seriously thick fleece coat that’s currently sitting at a plush 4cm. In summer, she gets a shorter #5 blade trim to keep her cool (because she overheats just looking at the sun), but in winter we let it grow out a little longer — as long as we can stay on top of the brushing.

She’s not exactly a fan of the whole grooming process. Water? Offensive. The dryer? Suspicious. But bring out the snacks and suddenly, it’s all forgotten. She’ll go from side-eye to wide-eyed in seconds if there's food involved. She's not here for the spa day — she’s here for the catering and she ain't sharing!

Parker – The Chill Poodle

Parker's grooming

Parker is a toy poodle with a dense wool coat that’s currently sitting at a manageable 2.5cm. In cooler months, it can grow out to 5cm or more, mostly because he doesn’t resist grooming — in fact, he loves it. The bath? No worries. The dryer? Best part of the day. He soaks up every second of the attention like he’s starring in a shampoo commercial.

In summer, though, it’s back to short and sweet. He’s a true water baby, and there’s just no point trying to keep a poodle dry when he’s determined to swim, splash, and soak himself silly. His haircut changes depending on our time, energy, and mood — and he’s not fussed either way. As long as there’s a pat and some affection involved, Parker is a happy little fluff nugget.

Harley – The Drama Queen

Harley's grooming

Harley’s coat stays at about 2.5cm with a longer face because, even though she has a warm bed inside, she stubbornly insists on sleeping out in the cold. She’s never been a fan of grooming — especially the dryer. She’ll tolerate it for as long as she feels like, then it’s straight to the brush and cage dry finish, accompanied by plenty of stink eye for good measure.

Her haircuts tend to match her mood that day, which means sometimes they take a few days of slow and steady trimming to get her looking presentable. After the whole ordeal, expect the full stink eye treatment until she’s bribed with a treat — then suddenly, she’s all sweetness again. It’s just how she keeps us on our toes.

Short Hair, Don’t Care

Pippa – The tiny ball of nope

Pippa's grooming

Pippa is tiny, adorable, and absolutely done with all this grooming nonsense before it has even started.

She doesn’t care for food bribes, pats, praise, or polite conversation. Grooming isn’t just a chore for her — it’s a full-blown trauma response, and sadly, that’s no surprise.

Like Rocket, Pippa wasn’t well bred. Her breeder was in it for the money, not the dog’s welfare — and no one bothered to desensitise her to grooming (or anything else, really).

The result? A very fearful little dog who panics through most of the process and usually has to be gently cage dried to avoid running off the table. Keeping her coat short is the kindest and most humane option. It means shorter, less stressful grooms, no painful knots, and no long drying sessions that terrify her and leave us both rattled, and more time in between them. Long hair just isn’t worth the fear it causes her.

She lives in her jumpers, resents having them taken off, and dives under blankets like it’s a lifestyle choice — and frankly, we’re all for it. Let her be cosy, clean, and calm. She’s earned it.

Rocket– Small dog, big drama

Rocket's grooming

Rocket may be small, but his anxiety comes in extra-large.

Unfortunately he comes from the same dodgy backyard breeder as Pippa. No early socialisation, no grooming exposure, no real care.

So now, every part of the grooming process feels like the apocalypse to him.

He hates brushing. Hates baths. Loathes being touched anywhere near his face. And if you come near him with a force dryer? He’ll hurl like he’s auditioning for a horror film — and not a cute one. The only way to dry him safely is with a gentle cage dryer on low.

Rocket lives in jumpers and under our blankets like it’s his full-time job. And honestly, that’s where he’s happiest. So his coat stays super short — always. No mats, no long drying sessions, no trauma. It’s not about looks; it’s about doing what’s right for him. A longer coat might seem “cuter,” but it’s not worth the cost to his stress levels

Lady – The Hot-Water Bottle with Trust Issues

Lady's grooming

Lady overheats even in the middle of July — yes, winter in Australia — but still insists on sleeping under blankets, on top of people, or ideally both. She’s a walking contradiction with a knack for dragging half the garden inside with her. If it’s on the ground, it’s in her coat.

Her haircut stays just over 1cm all year round for comfort, hygiene, and everyone’s sanity. Longer coats just mean more tangles, more dirt, and more wrestling matches on grooming day. This way, she stays clean, cool, and doesn’t come back in from the yard looking like she fought a tree and lost.

She’s not the biggest fan of grooming, but she’s improving with every visit. On a good day, she’ll go along with it without too much protest — on a bad one, she’ll act like the brush is personally out to ruin her life. Progress, not perfection.

Her bottom lip always gets a good tidy-up because she has a habit of dunking her whole face in the water bowl, then charging in for a soggy kiss like she’s proud of it. It’s disgusting. It’s hilarious. It’s her.

She’ll wear a jumper for a walk, no worries — but try keeping it on her indoors and it’ll be off and “accidentally” buried under the lounge in no time. She runs warm, lives under blankets, and has very clear opinions about everything — just like the rest of them.

Kali – The Teenage Blanket Dweller

Kali's grooming

Kali was born and bred right here — Harley’s daughter and every bit as cheeky, but thankfully a little easier to groom.

She handles the bath and dryer well enough, but her puppy brain still runs on dial-up speed. One minute she’s cooperating beautifully, the next she’s forgotten what planet we’re on. Grooming her is like trying to style a wriggly noodle, but we get there.

Her coat sits at a comfortable mid-length — around 2cm — carefully balanced to suit her chaotic lifestyle. It’s short enough to dry quickly after her daily paddle in the water bowl, long enough to keep her warm under the blankets at night, and just the right texture to quickly brush out the dirt after she’s been redecorating the backyard with a bit of "creative" digging. It doesn’t mat quickly, even when damp, which is a blessing because she’s not exactly one to stay clean for long.

She tolerates a jumper for maybe 20 minutes before it mysteriously disappears. We don’t ask questions. Blankets, however, are a non-negotiable. She disappears into them like a hungover uni student and only resurfaces when food is involved. Warm, low-maintenance, and just the right level of chaos — Kali’s coat is all about practicality without the fluff.

What About Jumpers?

Jumpers are a top choice if your dog’s cool with them—way better than dealing with mats and endless brushing. A short, neat haircut paired with a good jumper can keep your dog warm and comfy all year round, without turning them into a fluff factory.

Just remember, jumpers (like collars and harnesses) can cause mats if left on too long without a brush afterward. So keep jumpers for outings or chill times, brush regularly, and you’ve got a winning combo: less stress, less fuss, and a happy, cosy dog all year round.

The Dirty Truth About Long Coats

Let’s be blunt: a long, knotty, damp coat isn’t “warm” — it’s a bacteria party. Matted hair traps moisture, causes hotspots, smells awful, and makes grooming way more stressful (and expensive). By the time we have to shave it off, your dog’s sore, you’re out of pocket, and no one’s happy.

Want the Fluffy Look? Here’s the Commitment

That cute teddy bear coat? It takes serious upkeep:✅ Brush every 1–2 days✅ Bathe and blow-dry every 1–3 weeks✅ Stick to a regular grooming schedule (no, once a season doesn’t cut it)

If that sounds like too much, no judgement — just don’t expect the long look without the long effort.

Grooming Should Suit Real Life — Not Social Media

At One Fur All, we groom for real life.

Every cut is tailored to your dog’s lifestyle — not trends, not Pinterest, and definitely not whatever that dog groomer on that TikTok video you seen said you should do.

A clean, mat-free dog is a warm, happy dog. Less fluff, less fuss, fewer vet bills.

If you're in Campbelltown or the Macarthur region, we’ve got your dog covered!

Our experienced groomers will help you choose what works best for your pup and your lifestyle. No fluff (unless your dog needs fluff), no nonsense — just honest advice and good grooming.

One Fur All — 📍 We see your dog’s “quirks” and raise you a bath and a cuddle.🐾