How To Ensure You Always Have A Properly Groomed Goldendoodle

Written by: Bojana Radulovic
When getting a Goldendoodle you should know that your dog will have both traits of a Poodle and a Golden Retriever. Interestingly, with this breed, you may never know what your dog's coat might be like. Regardless of the coat your dog may inherit, you will have a daily obligation of brushing the coat. So, in this article, we will present the best Goldendoodle best coat routine, necessary tools, and tricks to keeping your Goldendoodle's coat tangle free and shiny. Read on.

If you are a fan of designer dogs you probably have a soft spot for curly dogs like Goldendoodle. Designer dogs are rather unique beings as they come with traits of both parents, in terms of personality, look, health and grooming needs. After all, designer dogs are crossbred from two or more different breeds.

Goldendoodle: Introduction

If you are a proud owner of Goldendoodle you know how unique they are, but if you are thinking about getting this breed there are few things that you should consider about it, especially when it comes to grooming. Originally, this dog is a crossbreed that emerged in the 1990s, from a Standard Poodle and a Golden Retriever.

Most of the Goldendoodles are hypoallergenic and they don’t shed, meaning that they are great pets to people who suffer from a set of allergies. Also, they are a rather active breed, so you can expect to spend hours outside playing Fetch n’ Catch. Just make sure that your dog’s curly hair remains clean, otherwise, you can expect hours of additional grooming.

Grooming Your Goldendoodle

Goldendoodle is a beautiful mix of a poodle and a golden retriever. In short, having a designed dog means that you will get the best from both parents, including the hair. After all, a mix of a poodle and golden retriever has a unique coat that perfectly represents both breeds has loose curls and a shaggy look.

So, in order to keep your Goldendoodle’s coat clean and neat, you need to groom him regularly. It means that, besides the fact that you have to be a responsible owner, you need to take care of his coat, his teeth, ears, nails, and overall health. Moreover, keeping your dog clean means that you will ensure that he is a clean and above anything else a healthy member of your family.

Fast fact: Your Goldendoodle has much higher grooming requirements than any average dog.

Can Goldendoodles Get Smelly?

First of all, we strongly believe that dogs don’t stink, although some people tend to describe their smell as such. However, the truth is that dogs bodies are designed differently than ours and therefore, some differences have to be pointed out. So, dogs have their own smell, and if you find it a little stronger than what you are used to its fine, you just have to get used to it, groom your dog regularly, have regular walks, and air your home on a regular base. Moreover, if you can’t deal with a stronger smell, maybe you should think about getting one of the breeds known as dogs that don’t smell. But, if you did research before you got your first dog , you just have to learn what makes your Goldendoodle smell.

Why Does Your Goldendoodle Smell?

There are a number of different reasons why your Goldendoodle may have a stronger smell, but the primary one is that your Goldendoodle has inherited Poodle-like coat. What does that mean? It means that your Goldendoodle’s coat is more prone to holding and attracting odors and debris. After all, this breed is known as a low-shed or no-shed breed, so their coat is prone to holding unpleasant smells.

In addition, Goldendoodle glands emit an oily substance which helps to protect the skin and keeps the skin from drying out. So, if these oils linger on the skin they can begin to stink. Therefore it’s important to choose wisely the best shampoo to help you to eliminate this problem. For example, Pet.Reviews suggests these Goldendoodle shampoos.

Do Goldendoodles Need Grooming?

All dogs need grooming, and Goldendoodles are no exception. However, there are some breeds that require more grooming than the others, and Goldendoodle is one of those breeds since they are real outdoor-loving dogs. Bear in mind that it will depend on the parents’ traits how your Goldendoodle’s coat will be. So, the best grooming practice for your Goldendoodle will depend on his coat type.

No matter what particular traits your dog has, grooming your Goldendoodle will be crucial for a number of reasons:

  • Grooming keeps the coat healthy and in tangle-free condition.
  • Regular grooming means regular massages, which improves your dog’s circulation.
  • Grooming and brushing is a great way to spot dog’s skin problems, any bumps and so on.
  • Grooming is a great way to strengthen the bond between you and your dog.

It’s not possible to predict what kind of coat your Goldendoodle will have, especially as puppies change as they grow up, including their coat.

Therefore, don’t think that your puppy will have the same coat that he had on day one once he reaches his maturity phase.

Goldendoodles Coat Type

Goldendoodles have only three coat types and once again, it’s not possible to predict what kind of coat your Goldendoodle will eventually have.

Goldendoodles With Wavy Coats

This is the most common coat type in this breed, and interestingly, it’s the easiest to look after. This coat type demands once a week grooming. Make sure that you spend additional time to areas such as under the collar or around pup’s ears. In addition, this coat type is usually low-shedding.

Fast fact: Some wavy-coated Goldendoodles don’t shed at all.

Goldendoodles With Curly Coats

Curly coats are also common in Goldendoodles, but their length and tightness of the curls will depend on the parental lineage. In addition, curls may vary from tight kinks to loose ringlets, kind of a poodle-like. This coat type is more demanding than wavy coats, as they need daily brushing to prevent matting.

Fast fact: This coat is usually non-shedding.

Goldendoodles With Straight Coats

This type of coat is least seen in Goldendoodles, and it’s known as ‘Golden Retriever Coat.’ If your Goldendoodle is blessed with this type of coat your time is saved, as straight coats are easy to maintain. Straight coats require only minimal brushing, however, this coat produces moderate to low shedding which means that these Goldendoodle pups are not hypoallergenic.

Fast fact: Goldendoodles with this coat type won’t give your dog a ‘teddy bear’ look.

As we mentioned earlier, puppies have the tendency of changing their coat, so you can’t really know for sure what type of coat he will eventually have. However, there are few signs that may help you to predict. For example, you can look at the fur around the pup’s face and muzzle. If your puppy has waves in his muzzle hair, the chances are that he will develop a curly or wavy coat. On the other hand, if your puppy has a smooth muzzle and face hair the chances are that he will have straight hair.

How To Groom A Goldendoodle

Regardless of whether you choose to have your Goldendoodle professionally groomed or groomed at home, there are a few basic grooming skills that every Goldendoodle needs to demonstrate, including ownership of certain tools. Therefore, there are a few tool necessary tools for basic doodle maintenance. If you don’t have them, you will have to purchase:

  • Nail clipper
  • Slicker brush
  • Steel comb

Your dog will need regular brushing and nail trimming in between full grooming sessions.

1.Brush Your Goldendoodle

Proper dog hygiene starts with regular and proper brushing. You need to make sure that your dog’s coat is well brushed. With regular brushing, you will remove any debris and untangle fur that may be embedded in its coat. Try to brush your dog every day.

Each brushing session should last between 10-20 minutes, or until your dog feels comfortable to sit still and move as you tell him. Moreover, use a proper grooming brush, or a slicker brush. These brushes are suitable for Goldendoodles hair and available in almost every local pet store. In addition, next to brushing you should comb your doodle on a daily level as well. What’s the end result? The result should be the ability to get the comb from the root to tip of the hair. So, always start with the slicker brush, as this will help break up any knots. Always finish with the comb.

2. Your Goldendoodle Trimming Requirements

You can remove any tangles and knots with a clipper. Make sure that your hand remains still during the trimming time. Trimming troubled knots will make combing easier. So, make sure to have clippers designed especially for grooming dogs. In addition, not any grooming comb will do, you need to have a grooming comb. They will cut through the dog’s fur much faster and easier. You can order them online or find at larger pet stores.

Trim Ear Hair

Be careful when you are trimming the fur blocking the ear canal. Trim around the entrance to the ears. Have short and small trim moves. The fur should be short enough not to cover the entrance to its ears. Trimming this area can help your dog’s hearing. In addition, it can increase air circulation in the ear. This will also cut down any chances of ear infections.

Good to know: Never put the clippers inside of the dog’s ear. You may accidentally injure your dog.

Trim Goldendoodle’s Facial Hair

Often Goldendoodles have hair falling over their eyes. So, in order for your Goldendoodle to see, you should keep hair in front of his eyes trimmed regularly. You can trim around the eyes with clippers, just be careful. You should also thin the fur between the eyes with thinning shears. By doing so the fur in this area won’t remain thick.

Make sure that your dog is calm during this trimming moments, as you don’t want to injure his eyes. If your dog seems scared or uncomfortable you should leave this to the professional groomer.

Trim Fur On The Feet

Make sure that you trim the fur on the feet as well and to keep it shorter than the rest of the body. This will allow you to keep dogs paws cleaner and it will give them a tidy look.

Important: Don’t use grooming scissors on your Goldendoodle. Only professionals should use scissors on dogs. Regardless of how handy you are with scissors you may accidentally cut and injure your dog.

3. Bathing Your Goldendoodle

This breed is known for loving to spend time with their owners are outdoor playing with other doggies. However, sometimes that can easily overdo in their play and get a little messy, so you should have proper Goldendoodle shampoo on your hand. If you groom your doodle regularly you won’t have to bath him once a month.

You should bathe your doodle once in 3 months, or seasonally. Make sure that you have the best Goldendoodle shampoo as these dogs’ skin is very sensitive. Always prepare a warm bath, not a too hot one, and be careful when you are washing the area around the ears. Also, make sure that you avoid any water end up in dogs eyes.

If you are welcoming a puppy you should wait with bathing your pup until he is completely adjusted to you and your entire family. Simply said, you don’t want to stress your puppy out the first day. Wait at least for a week, or until your puppy feels safe and comfortable.

Important: Never use human shampoo on your dog. Dog shampoos are specifically made for dogs. Dog shampoos are designed to save natural oil from their skin and fur.

4. Nails, Teeth And Ears Hygiene

Trimming your dog’s nails is a mandatory part of responsible dog hygiene. Your dog nails have to be regularly trimmed, especially if he mostly walks around on a soft surface that doesn’t wear its nails down. You can trim them with a dog nail trimmer, available at all pet stores. Be patient when you are cutting your dog’s nails because you don’t want to cut it to quick and hit the blood vessel inside the nail.

Dog’s teeth are one of the most important indicators of overall health. So, when you are grooming your dog you should also take a look inside of its mouth, and moreover gums. If you are not comfortable with using tooth wipes or even a toothbrush, you can treat your dog every day with dental sticks.

Important: Human toothpaste can be toxic to dogs, so don’t use it.

In addition, make sure that you check and clear regularly your dog’s ears. Always use a veterinary ear cleaner to remove any debris and dirt. Be careful when you are cleaning your dog’s eats. Therefore, don’t press any debris down the ear canal. Furthermore, if you just think that there is some debris in the animal’s ear canal you should have it removed by a veterinarian.

Although, grooming is moreover linked with brushing and proper coat maintenance, each of this step and care will help you have more beautiful and healthier Goldendoodle.

How Often Should You Groom Your Goldendoodle?

If you want your Goldendoodle to be groomed professionally because you want that well-known fluffy and long coat, you should take your doodle to the groomer every 4-6 weeks. You will still need to do daily brushing, because once their coat is daily brushed its easier to have their hair trimmed properly.

Actually, possibilities are endless when the coat is well-maintained. Also, you should know that professional grooming can cost you between $60 and $100. Many factors affect the price – the type of the coat, the condition of the coat, dog’s behavior during the grooming, and also the time spent on grooming your dog. Some groomers have a base price for the breed, but it can scale up based on other factors.

When To Start Grooming A Goldendoodle Puppy?

Doodle owners should know that they shouldn’t groom their puppy before he is one year old. In most cases, the first groom is usually a shave-down, right to the skin. Make sure that you introduce grooming at an early age. You can take your pup to the groomer when he is just 8 weeks old for nail clipping or ear cleaning, or a trim around his face, just to get him used to that surrounding and noise.

Puppies will change their coat in a period of just six months, and shift from light to their adult coats that will vary in texture and thickness. In most cases, this transition leads to matting, which is one more reason to establish a regular home grooming routine.

How To Ensure You Always Have A Properly Groomed Goldendoodle – Key Takeaways

In order to have a properly groomed Goldendoodle, you should do what every responsible owner would do first – research the breed. This way you will be able to get familiar with the needs of the breed, plan your finances, and adapt your lifestyle to your new family member. This is also a great way to learn about your new dog’s coat and his grooming needs.

Make sure that you truly understand how important it is to maintain Goldendoodle’s coat and how much time you should invest in a daily brushing. If you feel that you need additional support when it comes to having a properly groomed Goldendoodle you can always go to a professional groomer. Goldendoodles are known for being active dogs, so make sure that you always have cleaning and bathing set on your hand because you never know when you’re going to need it.