- CentralValleyGoldens&Doodles
Grooming your furnished pal
This post is copied from TimberRidge GoldenDoodles
How To Groom A Goldendoodle
Regardless of whether you choose to have your doodle professionally groomed or choose to try your hand at grooming your doodle at home, there are a few basic grooming skills that are necessary for every doodle owner. If you don't already have them, you will want to purchase: a slicker brush, a steel comb, and nail clippers (see below to learn about different types of nail clippers). These are the tools necessary for basic doodle maintenance. Your dog will need regular brushing and nail trimming in between full grooming sessions.
Basic Goldendoodle Grooming Tools
The first step to giving your doodle a complete haircut on your own is to gather the needed supplies. Some you may own already. Others you may need to purchase. You can usually find all of these items at a local pet store, although I have found the same products to be significantly cheaper on Amazon.
Dog Clippers (with detachable blade) - a #10 blade will likely be included. If not, purchase one for trimming your doodle's belly, bottom, and under her ears.
Coolant
Clipper Comb Extension Set
Steel Comb
Scissors - ball point (or blunt tipped) is best for the safety of your beloved pooch
Thinning Shears
Shampoo & Conditioner (I prefer leave in conditioner so I don't have to rinse my dogs twice)
Detangler if needed
Towels
A Leash or other means for keeping your dog still
If you plan to groom your doodle regularly, consider purchasing a grooming table with an arm.
Giving Your Dog A Perfect Goldendoodle Haircut
How To Brush A Goldenoodle
Brushing is the key to having a cute doodle haircut, especially if you like the look of a longer coat and especially if your doodle has a curly coat. There are two main tools for brushing a doodle: the slicker brush and the steel comb. A slicker brush is handy for fluffing your doodle’s outer coat. A quick run over with a slicker will make your doodle’s coat look soft and fluffy. While slickers are great at finding your doodle's mats, they aren’t great at untangling tham. That’s where the metal comb and grooming rake come into play. A metal comb works best for curly coated doodles while a grooming rake may work well for wavier coated doodles. If you encounter a mat, use a pair of thinning shears or blunt tipped scissors to help remove it. You may also want to try a detangler. It's easiest to untangle mats when they're small. A doodle covered in mats means a shaved down puppy, regardless of whether you prefer the shorn look or not. Sometimes people wonder whether a groomer actually could get all of the mats out of their doodle and is simply taking the lazy route by shaving her. Truly, the groomer may be looking out for your doodle's best interest. If your child's hair was laden with tangles, would you really want a stranger pulling and tugging at them for hours? You likely wouldn't put your child through such a hair-pulling experience, and you honestly don't want your dog to go through that either. Remember, you want your doodle to like going to the groomer. Rather than blaming the groomer if you doodle requires a shave down, resolve to brush your dog regularly so your doodle can have a cuter clip for her next haircut.
Who doesn't love that quintessential hair in the eyes? It's almost a trademark characteristic of goldendoodles. But it doesn't take long that one cute curl to become an entire tuft of hair, hiding her eyes and blocking her vision! My favorite tool for trimming the hair around doodle's eyes is a pair of thinning shears because they help cut away unwanted hairs without leaving a distinct line. You'll also want a pair of small blunt tipped scissors.
It's been a while since your goldendoodle's last grooming appointment, and she's beginning to resemble Chewbacca. It's cold outside and she's not quite ready for a full groom, but poor Chewie can hardly see. How do you groom a goldendoodle's face? Don't worry! It's easy. You can do it!
First, gather your blunt tipped scissors (aka ball tipped scissors), thinning shears, and steel comb. Then tell your favorite Wookiee it's time for a transformation!
Away With The Beard!
Gently brush your doodle's face using a steel comb. Then chop off the excess beard using your blunt tipped scissors and trim the hair around her in an oval shape. Once your have removed the bulk of the excess hair, using your thinning shears to blend your lines. Your dog will seen be feeling much less like Santa Clause!
Fluff Off The Top
Pull out that steel comb again and carefully brush the top of your goldendoodle's head, being sure to remove any mats or debris. Next use your blunt tipped scissors to trim her top knot. I prefer a flatter top that gently angels into the ears without an abrupt line (as generally seen on poodles). Once you are generally happy with the overall shape, again use your thinning shears to blend your lines.
Long Ears No Longer
Gently brush the ears using a steel comb. Then snip off the excess ear length using your blunt tipped scissors, being careful not to cut the ear leather. I like to follow the natural shape of the dog's ear. Once are happy with the shape of one ear, use your scissors to trim the other to match. Pull both ears towards your dog's nose to make sure they are approximately the same length.
When you have achieved generally uniform ear length and shape of your liking, use your thinning shears to blend your lines. We prefer our goldendoodles with shorter ears. You may find that a different length looks best on your dog.
Step back and look at your dog. You will undoubtedly find a few stray hairs to trim.
A Fresh Face!
You did it! You transformed Chewbacca into a cute, cuddly teddy bear!
The Sanitary Clip
You've likely noticed that your doodle gets a little unkempt in certain areas faster than other areas. Hair starts blocking her vision. She's begins getting little cling-ons on her rear end. But you love her shaggier look, and she doesn't seem quite ready for a full haircut. There are a few extra grooming steps you can take at home to help keep her clean and tidy in between grooming appointments. Expect to perform this maintenance every 4-6 weeks. A pair of sturdy dog clippers with a detachable blade is a worthwhile investment. Use you dog clippers and a #10 blade to trim your dog's belly, behind, and under the ears. Doing a maintenance trim will help decrease the frequency of your doodle's grooming appointments, so the dog clippers will quickly pay for themselves. Your doodle has a thick coat and will benefit from clippers designed specifically for grooming dogs. The clippers you use on your own head will overheat and wear out quickly trimming your doodle's coat.