8 Week Old Goldendoodle Puppy

A Goldendoodle puppy is a crossbred between two different breeds so they inherit some of their looks, personality and health quirks from either of the breeding parent dogs according to Wikipedia. The most common is breeding a Standard Poodle with a Golden Retriever. Both are breeds that require regular grooming so you can imagine so would the Goldendoodle!

Do Goldendoodles Require Grooming

Goldendoodls like all dogs require grooming. They are a very active breed which leads to lots of outdoor time and plenty of opportunities to find dirt, mud and other things to roll around in. Goldendoodles will end up with one of three coat types. Wavy, curly or straight. It is not often they end up with straight considering the breeds.

Types of Goldendoodle Coats

Goldendoodles will end up with one of three coat types. Wavy, curly or straight. It is not often they end up with straight considering the breeds.

Keep in mind a puppies coat will change as it ages to some degree. So do not pick a puppy based solely on the coat type. You can sometimes tell what type of coat they may end up with by looking at the fur around the puppies face and muzzle. If you see crimping here then you are likely to end up with a adult with a wavy or curly coat but wont know till they are older. If it is smooth then your likely to end up with a straight coat. The coat can be impacted by your Goldendoodles diet.

Following are coat types ordered by ease of grooming maintenance.

Straight Coat

Referred to as a Golden Retriever coat these straight coats are the easiest to maintain. They require minimal brushing. You do not get the teddy bear look that the other coats give which is a trademark of Goldendoodles though.

You will get mild shedding with this coat type also.

Wavy Coat

This is the most common Goldendoodle coat. It is referred to as wavy or shaggy. It is also an easier coat to take care of.

A wavy coat will require weekly grooming and is often low shedding and some don’t shed at all which is a favored trait of Goldendoodles.

Curly Coat

This coat type is more tied to the Poodle in the Goldendoodle. It is also a fairly common coat type in Goldendoodles. Similar to the Poodle these curly coats will be loose ringlets or tight kinks like you find on a Poodle.

The Goldendoodle grooming needs of a curly coat dog are very demanding. You need to commit to brushing on a daily basis to prevent matting unlike a wavy coat where weekly is OK.

The favored aspect of this coat type is these Goldendoodles are non-shedding.

You can see some of the many varieties of grooming styles for doodles here.

Why it is Important To Groom A Goldendoodle

  • It prevents matting and tangling.
  • It helps with circulation and promotes good health.
  • It massages your dog’s skin.
  • Helps you spot skin problems.
  • Helps you bond with each other.

How To Groom A Goldendoodle

  1. Thoroughly brush your Goldendoodle first
  2. Shave trouble areas
  3. Remove ear hair
  4. Bathe your Goldendoodle
  5. Comb and trim again
  6. Required Grooming Equipment

Grooming Step 1: Brush Your Goldendoodle

First you will want to gather all your Goldendoodle grooming supplies. You want to brush your dog at least three times a week on average depending on coat type to keep them, clean, mat free and beautiful.

If you find small mats that cannot be easily brushed out it is ok to cut them off to prevent them from getting larger.

If you can brush your Goldendoodle daily that is best. Start brushing and combing your puppy as soon as possible to help them become familiar with the process, they will become more and more  comfortable with it.

You should start by brushing your Goldendoodle with the slicker brush.

Starting at the bottom, brush  a line of hair away and pull a small portion down away. You want to see the skin with each line of hair and you will continue this up.

You want to do the whole doodle in this manner. This is to make sure there are no mats or tangles. You want all mats and tangles removed. Do not forget the tail and armpits.

If any mats will not brush out use the grooming scissors or your dog clippers to remove the mats. After de-matting, use a metal pin brush to comb your dog’s coat thoroughly until the brush moves easily through his luscious locks. If the brush gets stuck in any particular section, go back and work out the tangle gradually starting at the end of the strands and moving closer toward the skin.

Here is a how to groom a Goldendoodle grooming video on using the slicker brush.

Grooming Step 2: Shave Goldendoodle Trouble Areas

Due to the tangling of Goldendoodles fur it makes it necessary to completely shave certain areas. Even if you plan on leaving the coat longer in length these areas should still be trimmed. The belly, genital area and anus should be shaved smooth with your clippers. The beautiful curly fur of a doodle makes these areas act like sponges and can increase risk of mats and infections. You will also want to shave about an inch below the ear canal to allow air flow.

Grooming Step 3: Ear hair Removal

You will want to pluck the hair in your doodles ears prior to bathing so it is still dry. They grow hair in the ear canal that can trap moisture and bacteria which can lead to ear infections in your dog.  You can pull the hair from the inner ear using your pointer finger and thumb, be gentle but quick and make sure you only pull the inner ear hair. Do not try to pull larger sections as it will be harder and painful.  After you have removed the hair from the inner ear you can put a couple dry cotton balls in the ear canal, this will help keep water out during bathing. Once done though you should immediately remove the cotton balls.

Grooming Step 4: Bathe Your Goldendoodle

TIP 1: We suggest you wait at least one (1) week after you bring your puppy home before bathing so you do not put any added stress on your new family member.

TIP 2: Make sure there are no drafts, turn off the AC. You do not want your dog to get a chill.

Preparation: You will make things easier on both of you if you take the time to prepare for bath time. Gather your dog shampoo, dog conditioner, a rinsing cup, a metal flee comb and towels, lots of towels. You will also want a blow dryer handy to help with the drying process.

You never want to bath a tangled or matted Goldendoodle. It is key you follow step 1 above to brush out all tangles and remove any mats that will not brush out. You can remove any mats with grooming scissors or an electric shaver as mentioned above.

As you start make sure even prior to getting your Goldendoodle in that you are talking and excited. If they feel the fun and excitement it will make it more comfortable for them and easier in the long run. The good news is Goldendoodle’s come from two breeds that both love water so that is on your side. Now have fun and wash that pup. Make sure you rinse all the dog shampoo out of the coat, any left behind can cause skin problems so rinse well.

If you want to make things easier on you we recommend you drain the water and keep your doodle in there. You can towel dry your doodle right there and then lay a towel down use a pet blow dryer. When blow drying you want to keep it 12 to 18 inches away from your dog and on a warm  setting NOT high or hot as it can burn your dogs skin. Test it on the back of your hand, if it feels hot then its too hot. Moving in a quick back and forth motion while you use your other hand to fluff and then brush. You want to keep this up until the under coat is dry to the touch.

Be sure to brush only in the direction of the hair growth. You should start by drying the head, ears, and top coat first, then dry the legs and belly area. Once your dog is dry, you can run the dryer through the coat on cool to cool down the coat. After that you want to feel through the coat to see if you can find any damp spots that need extra attention. Make sure there are no damp spots left behind, these will quickly turn into mats that you wont be able to comb out. You do not want to let your dog dry naturally because its easy for them to get chilled.

Grooming Tip: Never, Ever Ruffle

Avoid post-shampoo tangles by using firm, single-direction motions with your hands. Wring out the excess moisture from the coat and finger-comb conditioner through starting at the top of his body and working your way down toward his feet, then rinse thoroughly. Similarly, when drying his coat with a clean towel, use firm patting motions over individual sections of his coat rather than rubbing or ruffling, which can create tangles. When blow drying, constantly brush in the direction of hair growth instead of moving the hair with your hands.

Grooming Step 5: Comb Again & Trim

After you have completely dried your Goldendoodle you may begin combing through the coat again to remove any tangles. Make sure the coat is completely dry or it can create extra tangles.

You want to start with the head first. Using the grooming scissors you can groom the top of the head so it blends into the neck of the dog. 

Next, you want to use the electric dog clipper and long comb (1-inch attachment). The clippers may heat up in which case it is good to have some clipper cooling spray handy unless you have two sets of clippers to use.

Take two swipes down the cheeks on both sides. Then use the hand scissors over the eyes,  (not too short) so it blends with rest of your doodles head.

Then use the dog clippers and the 1 inch attachment and clip the neck, back, sides, chest and the belly. Use the clippers and go in all directions to make sure it is even. You want to stop around 1/2 inch above the elbows of the front legs and the back hips for the hind legs.  

For the legs use the 1 inch attachment again with the #30 blade and make a single pass down the leg, getting the front, back and sides of the legs. You only need one pass for the legs and go in a down motion for each side of the legs. You then use a comb and hand grooming scissors and comb up the leg and cut any hairs that are needed.  

Here are videos on how to groom a Goldendoodle:

On the feet you can use a Dremel pet nail grooming tool for pets to grind off the tips or you can use clippers to trim the nails. Then trim the feet, work from the front so that the nails are covered.  Continue trimming close to the foot but not so close that you can see the pads.  The curved grooming scissors are best for this.  Finally trim the hair on the feet between the pads so it is level with the pads.

TIP 1: Be careful that you do not cut into the pink quick as it is very painful for your dog. You wan to snsip off the white clear end only, you can see the pink vein and where it ends in the toenail.

This video goes over how to groom a goldendoodles paw and how to trim a goldendoodles nails:

Well Goldendoodles are beautiful creatures and are hypoallergenic they are also high maintenance. Preventing matting and ear infections is key and regular grooming on your part at home will save you the grooming bills

It doesn’t take long to realize that your goldendoodle’s impressive mane, while hypoallergenic, is high maintenance. Matting and ear infections are unpleasant for everyone, as is having to pay a groomer to repeatedly shave down your pooch. Regularly grooming him at home can keep your furry friend in tip-top condition.

How To Groom Your Goldendoodle At Home

Products Used In How To Groom Your Goldendoodle At Home Video Above:

Recommended Goldendoodle Grooming Supplies

We recommend the following items for your grooming needs:

DISCLAIMER: The above information is intended to be for reference only. The information is to provide you with help. It is not a substitute to care or treatment that may have been directed by your veterinarian. If you think that your pet has a medical or grooming problem, you should seek competent, professional help as soon as you can.

Disclosure: Please note that links to products mentioned might be using an affiliate link. Using an affiliate link means that, at no cost to you, I may earn a commission if you buy something through that link. ​​​​​​​