Grooming Tips for Goldendoodle

When grooming your goldendoodle, you should strive to keep the unique goldendoodle look. Methods for grooming a goldendoodle differ from the grooming of either of its parent breeds, the poodle and golden retriever. The amount of time it will take will vary depeding on your dog's individual coat, but the time invested will be worth your while. Regular grooming will keep your goldendoodle looking great and feeling happy.

  1. Brushing

    • Regular brushing removes tangles and prevents the coat from matting. To untangle any mats that may be starting to form, hold the fur between the dog's skin and the mat with one hand while gently combing it out with the other. Goldendoodles can inherit any ratio of the course curly coat of a poodle and the long silky coat of a golden retriever. How much brushing you will need to do depends on the texture of your dog's coat. It may be necessary to do it daily.

    Bathing

    • Regular bathing removes dirt and debris your goldendoodle may have accumulated while romping outside. It also helps with dog odor. However, bathing a Goldendoodle too frequently will strip the essential oils from the fur, making it dry and brittle. Recommendations range from every month to every three to four months. Monitor the look of your dog's coat to determine if you are bathing it too often. A high quality natural shampoo with limited ingredients will help prevent possible skin irritations or allergic reactions.

    Trimming

    • The goal with grooming a goldendoodle is to keep its individual look in tact and not make it solely resemble a poodle. Keeping the hair around the face long and not clipping the coat too short overall will help with this goal. You can clip the coat with a 1-inch comb attachment and scissor cut around the face, ears and feet.

    Ears

    • As with any breed with ears that hang down, a goldendoodle's ears should be carefully monitored and cleaned to prevent infection. The key step to healthy ears is regular cleaning. The best method is to slightly dampen a washcloth with water, a water and vinegar mixture or ear cleaner, wrap it around your finger and gently swab inside the outer portion of the ear only. Additionally, be careful to not let water run into the ears when bathing and gently pat them dry after baths.