What You Should Know About Grooming a Doodle
I’m a member of a ton of dog related Facebook groups and I spend (probably too much) time reading through the different threads of comments. One of the recurring themes I’ve noticed is people struggling with grooming their doodles. In fact, it’s been stated that high maintenance coats are one of the biggest reasons these designer dogs end up in shelters.
Those wonderfully low-shedding coats are also the root of most problems people have with doodles. Without shedding, the hair just keeps growing and needs to be maintained regularly. In addition, the Poodle part of these dogs results in more curl meaning you have a bit of work on your hands! It would be irresponsible of me to say they aren’t “high maintenance” dogs. However, I have some tips to help make the maintenance part of it enjoyable.
But first, a story.
When Reagan was little, her puppy fur was wavy and easy to care for. But, as she grew it changed into tight curls. We were on a tight budget at the time and I figured I could just do all her grooming on my own. So I DIY’d it and learned from Youtube, but it wasn’t the best scenario. I did not do a very good job of brushing her, I bathed her too often, and when it finally came time to give her a haircut because of the matted hair, I did it all with scissors (because I was too cheap to invest in clippers) and it took over 4 hours (not in one sitting)!!! I was exhausted, she was tired of me, and the groom definitely did not look pretty.
Poor dog had to be the guinea pig.
I had good intentions, but no one ever told me it would be so much work!
So, today, I am going to be the voice I wish I’d had all those years ago and explain to you how to care for a doodle coat.
When to go to the groomer
This could be a topic of controversy: I’ve never taken my dogs to the groomers. It's not that I don’t support what they do, I’ve just had the time and resources (and stubbornness) to do it myself. It’s not totally what I would advise, though, especially if you want your pup to look a certain way.
My first recommendation is to find a good groomer and invest the money to take your dog there. They will be able to do a better and faster job because they have the tools and expertise necessary which results in a more enjoyable experience for your pup.
They will also be able to advise you better on proper Doodle coat care for your specific dog.
While we are talking about groomers, something else I’ve learned from my Facebook group stalking is that, though they are usually really good at what they do, they aren’t miracle workers. If your dog is covered in matted fur, they won’t be able to salvage it and produce a beautifully fluffy dog with long locks. Most likely they’ll have to shave the pup and start over.
Also, some aren’t as familiar with how to cut doodle hair to get that cute teddy bear look and will resort to a poodle cut. Be very clear about what type of haircut you’d like to see on your dog and show them lots of pictures. If they get it wrong, give them grace. You can always try again in a little while when the hair grows out.
DIY Doodle Cuts
If you decide not to go to a groomer every time or anytime, then please, please, please for your sanity’s sake buy a good set of clippers! Your dog will thank you. I went from using scissors to cheap clippers and it was horrible. When I finally did invest in good clippers I’m pretty sure I heard a hallelujah chorus singing from the heavens. They cut through Reagan’s hair like butter and I’ll never go back.
Be sure to watch some good Youtube videos on how to cut your dog's hair safely and lower your expectations for how it will turn out (unless you were a stylist or groomer in a past life).
Better yet, take a look at the guide I’ve created on how to groom your Doodle at home on your own! It’s free to download and has the entire step by step process.
Brushing
Another fail that I had with Reagan was I did not keep up with brushing her in the beginning. I just didn’t know I’d need to do it almost everyday and would let it go for way too long.
Today, I make sure to brush our dogs out almost every evening and it’s become an activity I look forward to. There’s something satisfying and relaxing about brushing them out while watching TV. It’s productive and restful and a bright spot in my day.
My advice is to do what you can to set yourself up for success in this area. First, get a decent slicker brush. It will be your new best friend. Make brushing your dog a habit and learn to enjoy it as I have. Your dog will learn to like it too and it will be a bonding activity for both of you. Also, get other family members involved to share the work.
And, despite most people’s efforts, sometimes matts just happen. If they do, use a dematting comb gently and work through it from the outside inward. Don’t just yank from the base of the mat.
Bathing
There is nothing better than a clean, good smelling dog after they’ve dried up from a bath. They can be so soft and pleasant to pet. However, frequent and improper bathing can give you a lot of problems with a Doodle coat!
Wet hair matts and tangles a lot easier than dry. Also, if you don’t rinse the fur well enough, dried soap can cause skin problems. So, the first and second lessons in bathing are to take the time to blow dry your dog's coat after bathing and rinse really, really well.
Now, it’s not bad to give your dog the occasional bath when they need it. If you take those first two tips into practice, it’ll work out just fine.
Another tip is to use a conditioner! It works wonders for keeping the hair smooth and healthy.
nails, ears, and tails
I’ll be honest, brushing is the fun part...the nails, ears, and tails are the not so fun parts in my opinion.
If you take your dog to a groomer, they will probably take care of these areas for you. They may still need maintenance in between times so it’s good to know.
Nails
I have this awful childhood memory of my Dad accidentally clipping our Dalmation’s toenail too short. She yelped and there was blood and she never trusted a toenail clipper again. Today, I’m really tentative and careful to clip properly.
The biggest thing to remember is that there is blood supply going into the toenail until a certain point. You only clip off the part past the blood supply. In lighter colored nails you can see it against light. Always air on the side of caution and clip in small sections.
If your dog tolerates a nail grinder, you may go that route. Still be careful not to get to the blood supply!
Ears
Low shedding dogs grow a lot of hair in a lot of places. One of those places is their ears. When hair grows in the ears it can catch dirt and lead to infection and irritation. This means two things: keep them clean and keep them plucked.
Tail
This part is so gross, but necessary. Under the doodle’s tail hair grows in abundance and can sometimes catch what comes out and get clumped. Trimming the hair down there just has to be done regularly. A groomer will take care of it and some Vet offices, so you might not have to if you go to either of those regularly.
If you decided to take care of this on your own, my advice is to get some latex gloves.
When you think about it, it really doesn’t take up too much time and money to maintain a Doodle’s coat. It’s just something that shouldn’t be ignored. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be so glad you got a dog that doesn’t shed as much and provides so much joy to your family!
This post was just a summary of the steps that need to be done. To get a more thorough description of each step, grab my free guide: Groom Your Doodle. I’ll see you there!
Free Doodle Grooming Guide
Download my quick start guide to grooming your doodle on your own!
Doodle Grooming Free Guide!
If you have a Poodle cross dog (any kind of “-Doodle” or “-Poo”), you’ve probably learned that they have more grooming requirements than the average, shedding type of dog. All the hair that doesn’t fall off the body through shedding needs to be maintained regularly!
Going to the groomer to have your dog’s hair professionally cleaned and cut is a great way to care for these high maintenance coats, but there are some reasons you may want to learn to groom your doodle on your own:
To save money
If your groomer is closed or you are in between groomers
When you have a dog that’s easily stressed or poorly socialized
Medical reasons for your dog
Extended travel
Whatever your reason for wanting to learn to groom your doodle at home, you might be worried that it will be hard to learn and you’ll mess up. Well, I have a solution for you!
Groom Your Doodle is a free guide that teaches you how to take care of your dog’s coat on your own in the comfort of your home! Each step is spelled out clearly and includes pictures to help you see what to do. This guide covers bathing, drying, clipping the body and head, ears, and nails.
Download it today!
Ready to learn to groom your doodle today? Just fill in your information below so I know where to send this free guide to.
