If you have a pedigreed dog, you may have fallen in love with the breed due to its look. You may love the look of a Yorkshire Terrier and want your dog's hair to grow down to the floor and be put up in a topknot daily. If that is what you desire, then you have to be prepared to deal with keeping that coat in good condition. If you neglect a long coat, your dog is certain to develop matting, and if you brush out matting, you are sure to break off some hairs, which damages the hair and ruins the look.

If you can manage a fifteen-minute brushing session every night on just the problem areas, such as under the front legs, the chest, the insides of rear legs, and under the tail, you will be taking care of the hardest part and your dog will thank you for keeping those tender parts combed out before the tangles begin.

Some breed-standard trims aren't too high maintenance for those without show dogs. For example, the clipped breed trim on a Schnauzer will give you the look you want without the time-consuming hand-stripping that show dogs must have done. Most Schnauzers aren't too hard to run a comb or brush through between full grooms every six weeks. It also depends on the coat's texture. A wiry coat doesn't get as matted as a softer coat.

It all depends on your breed and your level of dedication to keeping the coat maintained. That said, if you cannot keep up the maintenance on a high-maintenance breed, don't torture a dog with hours of dematting or expect a groomer to do it, because that is unfair to the dog. Remember, sanity before vanity.