Cost Saving Dog Grooming Tips For Goldendoodles
Watch my video on how I take care of my dogs between grooming appointments.
Most Goldendoodle dogs have hypoallergenic coats, depending on their coat type. That means they need regular brushing and regular grooming. Most Goldendoodle owners go every 4-6 weeks, but some people take their dogs as often as every 3-4 weeks. Because professional grooming is expensive, I try to make sure I do as much as I can to prevent matting and help prolong the time between grooming appointments, extending it to 6-8 weeks whenever possible. That's why I asked my local groomer for her best Goldendoodle grooming tips and regular maintenance that I can do at home.
In this article, I’m sharing at home Goldendoodle grooming tips from a professional dog groomer so you can learn the best way to take care of a Goldendoodle or other doodle breed before your next grooming appointment.
4 Cost Saving Tips For Dog Grooming
When you bring a dog with severe matting to a groomer, it will be more costly, and shaving may be the only option. Fortunately, there are some at-home steps you can take to maintain a doodle's coat at home and make the entire grooming process a less expensive and more enjoyable experience.
If you want to keep costs down and make sure that a teddy bear cut always looks its best, here are 4 key cost saving tips to follow:
Regular brushing
Detangler
Touch-up trims
Drying & brushing after bathing
I give both Kai and Byrdie little trims and brushings consistently in between grooming appointments. While this does not replace a professional groomer, it keeps them clean and healthy before their next groom. I like to combine regular brushing at home with professional grooming every six weeks or so. At that time, they get a complete bath and nail trim, and the groomer can create the overall shape of their haircuts.
With a bit of practice, you can also learn to do a complete at-home groom yourself if you have the time. If you’re more limited on time, I have found that a good groomer can establish the basic shape of the haircut that I can easily maintain at home, so I can prolong the time in between appointments and keep costs down.
Best Dog Grooming Tips To Prevent Matting
One of the most important Goldendoodle grooming tips is this: consistent brushing with a good quality brush. If you make it a priority to brush your dog 3-4 times a week, you'll prevent small mats from growing into large mats. That's why I give Kai and Byrdie little trims and brush them consistently in between grooming appointments. While this does not replace a professional groomer, it helps to keep them clean and healthy before their next groom. Whether you prefer a teddy bear haircut or a poodle style, a good groomer can provide the basic shape of the cut that will grow out nicely.
How To Avoid Shaving Your Goldendoodle
Regular brushing is the most important step you can take to prevent matting in your Goldendoodle. When I asked professional groomers for their best Goldendoodle grooming tips, they all said the same thing: Regular brushing three to four times a week.
A groomer can't avoid shaving a severely matted coat. So make sure you start brushing your puppy at an early age to get him comfortable with it.
Just before Kai's first trip to the groomer, I noticed he had a lot of matting behind his ears and on his belly. I didn't understand just how important it is to start early brushing a Goldendoodle puppy on a regular basis. The mats developed quickly.
It was impossible for the groomer to detangle him, so he had to shave those areas. He had to cut his hair pretty close which made him look more like a poodle. I wanted to keep his puppy look with a teddy bear haircut, so I was disappointed.
When discussing Goldendoodle grooming tips, groomers emphasize that when dogs live with a matted coat it is actually quite painful. To make matters worse, mats can be extremely difficult to brush out.
I learned this the hard way.
It’s much easier to get in the habit of brushing as a Goldendoodle owner.
Goldendoodle Grooming Tools To Keep At Home
Professional Goldendoodle grooming tips may sound complicated, but it's not as hard as you might think. All you need is to have the right tools and supplies to give your dog simple trims before your next appointment. Because dog grooming supplies can be expensive, I searched Amazon and found more affordable versions of the tools professional dog groomers use.
It's important to have the right grooming tools at home. This helps properly maintain a doodle at home in between visits to the groomer. If you decide to try out any of these tools, make sure you take it slow and take lots of breaks. When using scissors on your dog, safety is the most important!!
The Best Brush For Goldendoodles
My groomer explained why Goldendoodles develop matted spots and recommended the best brush for Goldendoodles. This is a very specific type of dog slicker brush that has helped me put these Goldendoodle grooming tips into practice. It has made all the difference!
This brush has long, angled pins which allow you to penetrate to the base of the coat. Otherwise, you end up just brushing over the surface.
The Chris Christensen pro version is the top choice of the pros, but I opted for this similar more affordable version:
Kai is an F1b Goldendoodle and has a curly coat. It's much more curly than Byrdie’s wavy coat. We use the brush on both Kai and Byrdie, and it works great for both of them.
I started brushing Kai and Byrdie a few times a week when they were puppies. Once they became more accustomed to it, they learned to love the special attention.
Helpful Dog Grooming Maintenance Tools
A good detangling spray can help work out any early signs of matting or tangling. I like this one from BioSilk because I've used the human version on my own hair for years.
I love it! Not only does it help with detangling, but BioSilk adds shine and smells so good.
My groomer also recommends a large steel tooth comb to help with preventing tangles as the hair grows.
Dog Grooming Tips: Thoroughly Wash and Dry Your Doodle Dog
One of the best Goldendoodle grooming tips I've learned is that It's extremely important to dry and brush your Goldendoodle after getting wet!! Otherwise, you'll be dealing with matting before you know it. So take the time to wash and dry your doodle after trips to the beach or other water-related activities.
When bathing, use a good quality dog shampoo. I highly recommend this shampoo that is specific for curly or wavy coats. It helps minimize tangling and gives the hair an added lift.
Avoid using human shampoos on dogs. They don't have the same pH balance that dogs need and can could cause skin irritation. A dry shampoo comes in handy for freshening up and eliminating odors when a full bath isn't necessary. I like Begley'sand BioSilk.
We enjoy taking our dogs to the beach, but that means extra care for their coats if they get wet, especially with Kai’s curly coat. To avoid matting, we give them a bath and dry them right away. This keeps their coat in great condition after the sand and salt water.
If you are headed to the beach with your pup, check out these tips and packing checklist for taking your Goldendoodle to the beach.)
Should You Use a Deshedding Tool on a Goldendoodle?
The Sleek-EZ deshedding tool is a cult favorite for many types of shedding dogs and is wildly popular. I’ve purchased it for friends who have Labradors and Golden Retrievers, and they love it.
Keep in mind, de-shedding tools do not work on wavy-coated or curly-coated non-shedding doodles. DO NOT buy the SleekEZ if you have a curly or wavy-coated Goldendoodle. De-shedders do not penetrate the base of the hair to prevent matting in curly/wavy coated doodles. Use a brush on curly or wavy coats.
Dog Grooming Tips: Know Your Goldendoodle’s Coat Type
If you're not sure which type of Goldendoodle you have, you can read about the different variations here.
If used carefully, a de-matting tool may be helpful when trying to remove stubborn matted areas. This tool works well for thicker coats, and this de-matting set provides three different types of tools that you can use together depending on the area and type of coat. Use care and work slowly when using these types of tools to avoid injury to you or your dog.
Please be careful when using deshedding or dematting tools. They contain a razor blade or sharp edge. Work slowly and carefully to protect your dog from injury.
Dog Grooming Tips For Doodles Quick Reference
How To Get a Teddy Bear Haircut For Your Goldendoodle
If you want your Goldendoodle to have a teddy bear haircut, you'll want to be specific in describing what you want to the groomer. It's a good idea to bring a picture so they know exactly what you have in mind.
For the teddy bear look, here's what the professionals say you should ask for:
Shave a small notch between the eyes
Trim short around the ears and eyes
Trim around the muzzle with curved scissors
Blend around the face and ears
Shave evenly about one and a half to two inches in length all over the body
Trim the feet round
A long tail that is feathered and tapered towards the end
The Best Trimming Tools For Goldendoodles
To keep up the teddy bear haircut for a Goldendoodle, you can carefully trim your dog's face if you have the right tools. First, you'll need a pair of rounded grooming scissors to safely trim around the eyes and nose. The curved shape is important for trimming around the muzzle. It will help achieve a uniform look, and the rounded ends are safer around the eyes.
Keep in mind that even though there are no dangerous sharp ends, you still need to be very careful when using scissors. You don't want to accidentally hurt your dog.
Think Safety First When Trimming Your Dog At Home
Be extra careful to not cut the skin when trimming the ears. Make sure you check how long the hair extends past the end of the ear so that you don't cut too close and clip the skin!
You'll also need some thinning shears to blend the blunt hair on the head and face after you cut it. Using thinning shears around the face helps create that teddy bear look.
Consistency is key! With the right grooming tools and a regular brushing routine, taking care of your Goldendoodle's coat should be an easy process. The main thing is to find a balance that works for you and keeps your pup happy, healthy, and beautiful.
Preparing for a new Goldendoodle puppy?
If you’re thinking about getting a Goldendoodle puppy and deciding between a male Goldendoodle or a female Goldendoodle, you might be wondering what’s best. Since we now have one of each, I can speak from experience about both. I talk about male vs female Goldendoodles here in this post.
No matter what you choose, it’s important to understand the facts about Goldendoodles to make sure it’s the right breed for you. Whether you’re dealing with house training, puppy chewing, excessive barking, or separation anxiety, there’s always something to think about with a puppy. For this reason, you’ll want to make sure your puppy gets off to the right start in your home and make sure you're ready with all the right supplies. To help make the first week with your puppy go smoothly, I’ve put together a list of 15 essential items that I swear by from both our first puppy and our second puppy.
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