The Best Ways to Shampoo a Goldendoodle

Goldendoodles are a hybrid dog breed created by combining a Poodle and a Golden Retriever. The resulting breed mixes the temperamental and physical characteristics of both types of dogs. Among these characteristics is a coat with the curly appearance of a Poodle but a finer texture like that of the Golden Retriever (see Reference 1). Caring for the dog̵7;s unique hair requires a proper shampooing method to ensure clean and healthy coat.

  1. Choosing Shampoo

    • While there are many types of dog shampoos available, the sensitivity of a Goldendoodle's skin to the chemicals in these shampoos often require the use of human shampoo products. A no-tears baby shampoo is gentle enough on the dog̵7;s skin while also protecting the eyes from irritation. Two-in-one shampoo and conditioner combinations are another option that also makes it easier to comb through the dog̵7;s coat when bath time is over. Unless the dog̵7;s coat has become soiled,
      Goldendoodles should only be bathed once a month.

    Face

    • It is important to avoid getting shampoo in the Goldendoodle̵7;s eyes during the bathing process. To ensure no suds come in contact with the eyes, owners can forgo shampoo on the face in favor of a moistened washcloth to wipe away any dirt.You can also use an applicator bottle to apply no-tears baby shampoo in small amounts to the areas around the eyes, ears, mouth and nose. A toothbrush helps to create lather in specific areas which are then rinsed thoroughly with water.

    Body

    • When shampooing the body of a Goldendoodle, the shampoo should be applied directly to the coat from neck to tail. When working up lather it is important to move down the dog̵7;s body to avoid getting shampoo in the dog̵7;s eyes. During the shampooing process, a fine-toothed comb can be used to remove knots and tangles. In addition, the comb helps remove debris that can be caught in the dog̵7;s coat. The entire body, including the undercarriage, legs, tail and back should be shampooed to ensure the dog is fully clean.

    Rinsing

    • Rinsing properly is important to the health of a Goldendoodle̵7;s coat and skin. When shampoo is left in the dog̵7;s fur it results in dry and irritated skin. Goldendoodles must be rinsed several times with a long shower hose that allows owners and groomers to remove all traces of shampoo from the dog̵7;s body. To avoid the possibility of shampoo getting in the dog̵7;s eyes, they should be rinsed from front to back.