If you’re itching to start grooming your Goldendoodle, there are a few things to keep in mind before diving in. In the beginning, the idea is to get your dog used to being handled. You want him/her to get used to the sound of the clippers and the sensation of having his paws touched.
The second thing to consider is that your Goldendoodle’s coat is going to shed and change.
In fact, you can expect your Goldendoodle puppy’s coat to start shedding at six months of age. He/she will start with an ultra-soft coat that will change into an adult coat. The adult coat is thicker.
In this post, we’ll explain the different types of Goldendoodle coats and the care each type needs.
We will take you through everything you need to know from getting your puppy accustomed to grooming along with a few tips on how to save money if you decide to go the professional route.
Different Coat Types = Different Grooming
Goldendoodle puppies are designer dogs. They are a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Standard Poodle. Breeders often go further into back-breeding to get more hypoallergenic dogs with less shedding.
In the first few months, the most important thing is to get your dog used to being handled. Many dogs hate to have their feet or nails touched. However, if you start very gently when they are puppies, they will learn to trust you and relax.
A Goldendoodle dog’s coat can be: wavy, curly, or in rare cases straight.
Caring for the Wavy Coat
The wavy coat is the most common and is known as the teddy bear coat. This type of coat requires regular brushing to keep it from getting tangled.
After the adult coat comes in, you’ll have to change your routine depending on coat length.
If you’re going to keep the fur long, you will need to brush your dog daily. If you’re going to keep your dog’s coat short, you’ll need to a) bring him/her to a professional groomer more often and, b) brush your dog every two weeks or so.
Caring for a Curly Coat
Caring for a curly coat Goldendoodle isn’t that much different than caring for a wavy coat. The curls may require a different type of brush (slicker brush) and may require more care to remove and prevent matting.
The frequency of brushing will, again, depend on the length of your dog’s fur.
Straight Coat
Most breeders breed dogs with curly or wavy coats based on demand. However, they are gaining in popularity. Straight coats won’t get matted. That makes it a little easier to care for. A regular weekly brushing is usually sufficient.
It’s important to groom your Goldendoodle regularly to prevent matting and tangling of the fur. Brushing helps with circulation, promotes good health, and helps you to find unusual spots, lumps, or bumps that you might not normally find.
Goldendoodle Grooming for New Owners
There are a lot of things you can do at home to save money at the groomers. Professional groomers can pretty much charge whatever they want. Some have a Grooming Salon menu where you can pick and choose packages.
If you’ve already done things like trimming the ears, nails, and bathing your dog, you might be able to get away with fewer services for less money. Here are some things you can do at home:
Nail Trimming
Start nail trimming your puppy at an early age, especially when they start touching the ground. Sit your puppy on your lap with his/her back against you. When trimming your puppy’s nails, you only need to clip the tip. That way, your puppy gets used to the sound and feel without any risk of cutting into the painful quick.
Many dogs are afraid of the nail clippers. Sometimes it’s the sound and other times it’s because they were accidentally cut by the clippers at one point.
The first thing you need are a good quality pair of dog clippers.
Here a few tips to condition your puppy to get used to nail trimming:
- Just handle your dog’s paws in the beginning without trimming. Gently rub the pads of their paws while your cuddling/patting your dog.
- You could try to cut just one nail to s ee how he/she reacts. Remember to praise your puppy and offer a small treat.
- Only attempt to clip you puppy’s nails when you are calm and the atmosphere is serene. It’s not a good idea to attempt this if you’re in a hurry or there’s a lot going on.
Learn How to Do Line Brushing
Line brushing is a technique used to avoid brushing straight over matted hair. It also helps you brush properly, all the way down to your dog’s skin.
Start down by your dog’s foot and work your way up. You’ll want to pick up one section of fur at a time. Use your other hand to brush fur fur closest to the skin. Repeat this process using small sections until you’ve completed the dog’s whole body.
If you notice any mats, follow the instructions below.
Remove Small Mats in the Hair
It might be tempting to just clip out the mats of fur, but don’t. Instead, you’ll want to hold the matted fur in your hand at the base (close to the dog’s skin). Use a pinch of cornstarch to work into the mat. This will help loosen it naturally.
You’ll need a mat breaker. Position it in the middle of the mat (pointing away from the dog’s skin). Then, slice apart the mat by pulling the comb towards you. It may take a few attempts to get the mat broken up into manageable sections.
It’s best to get your dog used to daily brushing as soon as possible. Your puppy might want to bite or play with the brush in the beginning. Feed small treats to redirect them and offer praise when they let you gently brush their fur.
After this, you will need a slicker brush to further break up the mat. Daily brushing will help prevent mats in the first place.
Regularly Brush Your Dog’s Teeth
Regular brushing helps keep plaque at bay.
Use an a soft toothbrush designed for puppy’s. Yes, you could use an inexpensive human-grade toothbrush, but they’re not designed for puppy teeth. Consider something like Petique’s Eco-Friendly Bamboo Pet Toothbrush.
The bristles are made with boar’s hair and won’t break down quickly. They’re known to do a better job of keeping puppies’ teeth clean as well. If you decide on this brush, remember to tip it in warm water to soften up the bristles before use.
As your Goldendoodle puppy grows into an adult, you may even want to take dental hygiene up a notch with an iCare Electric Dog Toothbrush.
This removes dental tartar and could save you money down the road. Hint: It cost $800 to have tartar and plaque professionally removed from my dog’s gums recently.
Ear Cleaning
This is another thing you can do easily at home. The main thing is to avoid the ear canal at all costs.
Use cotton balls to gently wipe debris and accumulated wax from the dog’s ear. Be careful to avoid the ear canal.
Remove Tear Stains
Tear stains are normal but unsightly. Your puppy probably doesn’t have them yet, but he may as he gets older. They are usually the result of improperly training tear ducts and tend to be more visible on light-colored fur.
There are countless tear stain remover products on the market. You can easily find them at any pet supply store or ask your veterinarian for a recommendation.
Bathing Your Goldendoodle Puppy
It’s really important to get rid of mats and brush your dog’s coat before giving him/her a bath. If your dog already has mats, water will only make them tighter and harder to get out.
Frequent bathing can result in irritation to the dog’s skin.
Using a Blow Dryer on Your Dog
A Goldendoodle’s coat takes a long time to dry. You could use a regular blow dryer, but a blow dryer designed for dogs is faster and more efficient. Keep in mind that if you use your own blow dryer on your Goldendoodle, you’re probably going to have to replace it many times.
Blow dryers designed for use on human hair tend to burn out if they’re overheated. Using one on your dog’s fur is going to take a lot longer to dry and will wear out much more quickly.
The blow drying process should be as quick and easy as possible. If you get something like the XPower B-4 Portable pet dryer, it’s going to get the job done in half the time. Your own hair dryer is limited to wherever you can plug it in.
A dryer made specifically for dog grooming is portable. The motor will run efficiently without quickly burning out. Dryers like the XPower B-4 Portable pet dryer don’t get too hot on your dog’s fur. They also use less electricity and have optional accessories you can add on later if you want to.
Yes, they’re more expensive than a traditional hairdryer but you’ll probably only need one. You’re going to have your Goldendoodle around for the next 12 – 15 years! You can buy one good quality pet dryer, or replace yours every 6 months. It’s up to you.
Cutting, clipping, cleaning, and using a blow dryer on your dog are the best way to get your dog prepared for his first real grooming session.
When To Take Your Goldendoodle Puppy For a Haircut
If your dog’s fur isn’t matted, their first full haircut usually occurs between 6 months of age and 1 year.
The first thing the groomer will want to know is how long you want the length. Since Goldendoodles are hybrid dogs, they have no specific “standard” cut.
People use the terms puppy cut or teddy bear cut which basically means they want the fur one length all over the body.
Popular Length
Goldendoodle owners tend to choose lengths between 1/2 inch and 1 inch. With that length, you should be able to maintain it for between 6 and 8 weeks.
Poodle Cut
A poodle cut essentially means the face and feet are shaved.
Lamb Cut
A lamb cut consists of leaving your dog’s leg fur longer than the fur on the body.
Kennel Clip
The kennel clip is great for Goldendoodle parents who don’t have the time or patience for regular brushing and de-matting. The downside, because this is a shaved cut, is that you lose all of those sweet curls.
Grooming Supplies To Have On Hand
At the end of the day, it’s best to start your Goldendoodle on the path to the best grooming experience he/she can have. Get your dog used to the smells, feels, and sounds before the first grooming appointment.
A few basic tools to have on hand include:
Lil Pals Nail Trimmer for Little Dogs
*What Does F1B Goldendoodle Mean? Easy Answers to All Your Questions
Let’s face it, F1, F2, F1b…it’s a little confusing. It’s important to know the type of dog you’re getting because those letters and number matter. This is especially true if you want your dog to have a certain type of curl or you need it to be hypo-allergenic.
Get a crash course right now by reading: What Does F1B Goldendoodle Mean?
Summary
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Sources:
Advantage Insurance Solutions – 13 Very Important Safety Tips for Dog Groomers
Ilovemygoldendoodles.com