How to Groom & Trim Your Goldendoodle

Goldendoodles are a cross between golden retrievers and poodles. Most have a poodle-type coat, with thick, curly fur that becomes shaggy, if not groomed and trimmed regularly. This type of hair is also prone to mats and tangles, so the dog must be brushed at least weekly. When your goldendoodle is a puppy, it will need only minimal trimming with scissors to remove long or straggly hair. As an adult, the dog will need regular trimming with electric clippers, to keep the coat in shape.

Things You'll Need

  • Slicker brush
  • Wide-tooth or greyhound comb
  • Dog shampoo
  • Cotton balls
  • Ear cleaner
  • Tearless shampoo
  • Washcloth
  • Dog conditioner
  • Hairdryer
  • Electric clippers
  • No. 30 blade and long comb attachment
  • Nail clippers or grinder
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Instructions

    • 1

      Brush your goldendoodle's coat with a slicker brush, and follow with a wide-tooth comb or greyhound comb. This will remove any mats and tangles from the fur. Brush in the direction the hair grows.

    • 2

      Bathe the dog with a shampoo designed for the dog's coat type. Put cotton balls in the ears, to avoid getting water in the ear canal, and clean the ear separately with a washcloth and ear cleaner. Wash the dog's face with a bit of tearless shampoo on a washcloth, and rinse with the cloth and clean water. Rinse the dog thoroughly, to be sure there is no soap left on the skin.

    • 3

      Follow the bath with a conditioner made for dogs. Dilute a small amount of conditioner in a clean bottle, and mix with water. Pour the mixture over the dog's body and legs, and work through the coat. Rinse thoroughly. This helps eliminate tangles and mats.

    • 4

      Blow dry the dog with a hairdryer on a low setting. Your goldendoodle must be completely dry before grooming, to avoid making tangles tighter and more difficult to remove.

    • 5

      Attach the long comb to your electric clippers, and part the dog's hair in the middle of the nose, with half on each side of the muzzle. Make two passes down each side of the muzzle, with the clippers.

    • 6
      Have tools ready for grooming before you begin.

      Use scissors to trim the hair over the eyes and on top of the head. Trim the hair so the length blends into the back of the neck and there is no visible line where you've cut.

    • 7

      Use electric clippers with the long comb attachent to trim the dog's body, shoulders, hips and tops of its legs. Stop clipping just above the dog's elbows on the front and hind legs. Attach the No. 30 blade to the clippers, and make one pass down each leg -- clipping in the direction the hair grows. Remove any remaining long strands, with the scissors.

    • 8

      Trim the dog's nails with clippers or a grinding tool. Avoid cutting the quick. Keep some styptic handy, in case you cut into it by mistake.