Goldendoodle Grooming

The Goldendoodle is a high maintenance dog when it comes to the grooming department. The extent of the high maintenance varies by the coat type he/she inherited. Your Doodle may have the flatter, easier coat more like that of the Retriever, or a curly relaxed Poodle coat, or (most likely) somewhere in between. Regardless of exactly which type your pet is, there a several focus areas for the experience, such as: combing and brushing daily, trimming the hair in front of the eyes, trimming the beard, trimming the belly and under the tail area, and trimming the area between the foot pads. In addition, the ears should be checked regularly for excess hairs, wax and debris. Brush your Doodle's teeth on a schedule and check the nails every week or so, keeping them trimmed will help keep him comfortable.

This routine is quite a bit of work for the average owner with daily responsibilities, so many choose to get their Golden professionally groomed.

Goldendoodle grooming is not for the faint-hearted and many owners choose to get their pet professionally groomed. Reading up on how to groom is still a great idea, as there will still be parts necessary to perform at home such as daily brushing/combing and checking the ears and teeth for signs that it's time to clean them. When it comes to shaping of the hair, nail trimming, and even the bathing process, this is where the professional usually comes in.

Grooming a Doodle may sound like a painstaking task, but it is necessary since tangles and mats can easily form in their hair and cause them pain. Regular grooming also lessens skin allergies and scratching. Although they don't have very sensitive skin like some breeds, gentle hypoallergenic shampoos and detanglers are still recommended.

Owners that live in hot, humid environments or that let their Doodle swim frequently will keep the hair clipped a bit shorter (usually less than 4").

Brushing and combing your Doodle is probably the most important part of the grooming regimen. Ideally, it should be done daily to help prevent tangles. Also, right before you bathe your Doodle they should be brushed extra-thoroughly so any existing tangles or mats don't become worse upon getting wet!

The best brush for the Goldendoodle is a slicker brush with firm, but soft wire bristles. Additionally, a T-shaped pin brush can also help in the detangling process. Although slicker brushes are more popular, some groomers debate their role in the matting process, postulating that they may actually damage the cuticle and, therefore, make the hair more likely to mat later. A comb with widely spaced pins is great to use on your Doodle after the initial brushing.

Collars, scratching, playing, swimming and even bathing may play a role in the formation of tangles. The matting of the Goldendoodle's hair is a common problem and the longer you wait to address it, the worse it will get. Even if you brush your pet's hair every day, that thick fluffy coat may be hiding many mats. Quite a few owners have dropped their pal off at the groomer for a simple clean up and come back to a very short clipped Doodle that only vaguely resembles their best friend.

Using a light conditioner and/or detangler after shampooing is a must and a great preventative measure. Groomers often have the proper tools to dry the hair in a way that is less likely to tangle. Remember to thoroughly brush your pet before bathing; after tangles or mats get wet it will be even harder to remove them. If the tangle can't be removed simply by brushing, spray a bit of detangler on it and try again. There are also many mat removal tools on the market that are time consuming investments. You may also even be able to snip the portion out with small scissors if it is not too large, however, if it is close to the skin, the last resort will likely be necessary(using clippers to shave the area).

It is totally up to the owner how often to bathe his or her Doodle. Many owners are into the routine of a once-per-month (or two) drop off at the groomers. Those that choose to do the hard work at home, however, should base their decision off of the habits of their pet. Do they spend a good deal of time outdoors, swimming, or playing with other pets? Monthly or every few weeks is the most common schedule for the average dog, however, please bathe your dog if they are stinky! Sometimes the dirt and debris you may not see on their skin can cause irritations and allergies.

Goldendoodles, while not known to have extremely sensitive skin, will still benefit from a gentle and hypoallergenic shampoo. All natural products are becoming more available and are usually the most gentle. Lukewarm water and a washcloth will work just fine to lather them up, then a thorough rinsing and re rinsing is recommended so no residue is left on the skin. Follow this up with a light doggie conditioner and/or detangler; silicone detanglers add lightweight moisture to keep their coats characteristically "fluffy". Finally, make sure the coat is COMPLETELY dry before continuing on to the trimming or clipping.

Many owners choose to leave Goldendoodle haircuts to the professionals. Those that endeavor to do this process at home should ensure the hair is clean, completely dry, and combed out. Owners often want an overall shaggy, unscissored look and specifically they usually do not want a "Poodly" look for this breed. Some groomers recommend Blender tools to achieve this look, but they can be fairly expensive. If you don't want to invest too much money in the tools recommended for grooming, you can get by with the following:

• An electric clipper and blades of the appropriate length
• Thinning shears
• Small hair cutting scissors
• Comb
• Blade cooling spray (optional)

The hand scissors or thinning shears can be used to trim the hair on top of the head and in front of the eyes, as well as on the ears. Use the hand scissors or clippers (with 1 inch attachment) on the beard/muzzle depending upon the look you're going for. The clippers with the 1 inch attachment are then used for the rest of the body. Some choose not to clip the legs but, if you do, go from top to bottom. You can comb the opposite way afterwards and any unevenness can be fixed with the hand scissors. These can also be used on the feet, although curved scissors work better for this area.

Overall, grooming styles and haircuts are a personal choice and unless you are a professional, or enjoy mastering new hobbies take them to a professional for a nice, uniform cut. Otherwise, puppy (all over short cut) and teddy bear (still pretty short but with more left around the face and head) clips are the easiest to achieve at home. Most owners choose not to shave their Goldendoodle, however, if their hair has multiple mats this may be a last resort.

Unfortunately, Goldendoodle ear mites, fleas, and ticks can be a problem. For both prevention and treatment, the best thing to do about pests on your dog is to see a veterinarian. In the meantime, here's more info on Goldendoodle pest prevention and treatment:

PREVENTION:

• Put a flea collar on the dog, and when brushing use a flea comb once per week
• Examine ears frequently; signs of tiny black dots indicate the presence of ear mites and/or fleas
• Wash the dog's bedding once per week
• Keep lawns free of yard clippings, leaf piles, etc.; pests like to live in moist vegetation
• Use commercial sprays, powders, and shampoos

TREATMENT:

• See a veterinarian!
• Use shampoos, sprays, and powders
• Clean the home thoroughly, including vacuuming all carpet, upholstery, and bedding
• Wash the dog's bedding in hot water
• Extreme cases may require the use of indoor foggers or sprays, and outdoor lawn treatments

In addition to its coat, your Goldendoodle will need regular maintenance in the following areas:

• Teeth: When do Goldendoodles lose their puppy teeth? Pups have sharp teeth (also called "milk teeth") that start to fall out at 8-10 weeks, and are replaced by permanent teeth at 3-4 months. After that, Goldendoodle teeth need brushing 2-3 times per week to reduce the buildup of plaque and tartar, and to minimize that Goldendoodle bad breath! Brush the dog's teeth with a regular toothbrush--but be sure to use canine toothpaste, as the kind made for humans can make dogs sick if they swallow it.
• Ears: If your Goldendoodle's ears aren't cleaned periodically, they'll collect dirt and debris and even get infected--which could lead to hearing loss. Clean the dog's ears at least once per month with canine ear cleaning solution (available at pet stores or online). Make sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions, and use cotton balls (never Q-Tips!) to wipe out any excess solution.
• Nails: If Goldendoodle nails click on hard surfaces, it's time for a trim. Use standard clippers to cut the dog's nails as close to the toes as possible. Be careful not to cut into the nail's quick (the blood vessel running through it), though, as doing so can make the nail bleed and be painful.
• Toe Hair: If the hair between your Goldendoodle's toes gets too long, it'll get extremely dirty and even cause infections. Use scissors to trim the hair short if needed.
• Paw Pads: Your Goldendoodle's paw pads can get dry, cracked, and tender, especially if the dog walks a lot on hot asphalt or snow and ice. Apply canine paw pad moisturizer (available at pet stores or online) to the pads weekly to keep them soft, moist, and healthy.