Doodle Dog Maintenance and Grooming Tips
Doodle dogs may not shed a lot, but they do require professional grooming every 4-6 weeks. As they’re part Poodle, you’ll need to schedule regular professional grooming sessions. But, that’s not all. Doodle dogs have weekly and daily grooming needs as well. Here’s a list of the main needs that you’ll need to attend to:
A well groomed Doodle dog remains healthy and comfortable and you are able to recognize any topical injuries or skin problems more easily.
Ear Cleaning
Most Doodle dogs have fold over ears. There are some Doodle dog mixes that might not, such as a Bordoodle or some Teripoos. Regardless of whether the ears fold over or stand upright, your Doodle dog should have his ears cleaned once, or twice a week.
Everything from mites and dirt to bacteria can cause ear infections in a dog (and they're even more prone to them if they eat foods that they cannot tolerate well). If you don’t give weekly attention to your dog’s ears, she may be more prone to getting ear infections. Ear infections aren’t just minor annoyances — they can cause hearing loss, damage to the middle ear, and/or fever from a bacterial infection.
Most dogs will show clear signs of ear irritation and infection. They shake their heads, rub their ears against solid objects, or use their paws to scratch at their ears. If the infection gets worse, you’ll likely smell a foul odor coming from the ear, see small granular dirt particles, reddish wax-type substance, and the ear may be warm. If it’s been going on a while, you might notice a topical rash from your dog’s constant scratching.
The only means of curing infections is the appropriate ear medication. Your veterinarian will need to inspect the ear and possibly take a sample of the infectious material. The prescribed cure is anything from ear ointment to antibiotics, depending on the cause, and severity, of the infection.
To prevent infection, clean your dog’s ears at least once a week, regardless of the type of ears your dog has. However, you may need to clean your dog’s ears more often — such as after bathing or swimming. (Water tends to remain in the ears, especially if the ears have a fold-over structure.) Dogs with upright ears allow moisture to dry out quickly, so you’ll only need to do a minor ear cleaning.
Doodle dogs who have Retriever or Spaniel heritage may have smaller ear canals than other dogs, making them ripe for contracting infections. This special structure — along with the heavy fold-over ears — retains moisture, dirt, and bacteria.
How to Clean Your Dog's Ears
You’ll need to begin acclimating your Doodle dog to all forms of grooming from the moment she enters your life. Working with her ears will be one of the easiest manipulations you’ll need to do in order to maintain her ear health.
Begin by rubbing your Doodle dog’s ears as you pet her. Dogs love having their ears rubbed, so she’s sure to allow and appreciate it. As you rub, manipulate her ears so that you touch all parts. Your Doodle dog will especially enjoy when you massage the base of her ears.
If your Doodle dog tends to get playful when you attempt to manipulate her ears, keep her busy with a lick mat. Put some peanut butter, canned dog food, or smear on some cheese. She’ll be so busy she won’t notice you working with her ears. You can use the lick mat for most of the work you do maintaining your Doodle dog. It offers a means of distracting her from what you’re doing as well as offering her a positive experience as you do it.
Here are basic ear-cleaning procedures to follow: (Should you still have doubt about your ability to perform ear cleaning, have your veterinarian show you the process.)
1. Squirt a couple drops of herbal ear cleaner into your dog’s ear.
2. Rub her ear for a couple seconds to loosen any dirt and grease.
3. With a soft cloth wrapped around your index finger (or a cotton ball), gently remove the loosened dirt from the outer canal features and inside of the ear flap.
4. Repeat with the other ear.
Never clean deep in the dog’s ear canal. You can damage the dog’s ear and hearing that way. If you think something might be located deeper inside your dog’s ear, have your veterinarian do a thorough cleaning and exam.
Doodle dogs have lots of hair in their ears. This can clog the air flow that is needed to dry moisture. From time to time, tweeze these hairs — only those that come out easily — so that the outer ear can remain dryer. If you’re not sure how to do this, take your dog to the groomer to have it done professionally.
Nail Trimming
Most Doodle dogs require nail trims every 3-6 weeks, depending on their age. Puppies require it more often as their nails grow quickly and are very sharp.
If your dog spends most of her time on soft surfaces (such as dirt, grass, or sand), she may need her nails clipped more often. Even if you walk your dog on sidewalks or along the street, you’ll still need to clip the nails on the sides of the feet as well as the dew-claw nails.
Regular pedicures prevent the quick (the pink inside of the nail) from growing long and increasing the risk of being nicked when trimmed. A nicked quick bleeds a lot and can be painful to your dog. Frequent trimming keeps your dog comfortable. It also is less uncomfortable when you cuddle with your Doodle dog, as your legs and arms won’t accidentally be scratched by long nails. Chronic long nails will create joint problems in your dog’s feet. The constant upward pressure of the nails can result in arthritis, making it painful for your dog to walk.
How to do it
As with ear cleaning begin with touching your Doodle dog’s feet (a lot) from the moment she enters your life. Gentle touching and massaging of her feet helps her relax and accept having them manipulated while getting her nails trimmed.
There are several ways to approach nail trimming, but early preparation is the best. Training teaches your dog about her environment and how to behave within it. Here’s a way to teach your Doodle dog to accept getting a pedicure:
Should your Doodle dog already have a fear of getting a pedicure and needs one immediately, you’ll need to have someone hold her for you as you trim her nails.
There are two ways to immobilize your Doodle dog:
Have some styptic powder (available at most pet shops, or online pet supply outlets) handy to help stop any accidental bleeding that might occur from cutting too closely.
Note: If your Doodle dog has dark nails you should use a Dremel tool to file them, instead of nail clippers. This is less likely to cause injury, as you can gradually remove excess nail growth without accidentally clipping so close as to cause your dog’s nail to bleed. It takes a bit longer, but your dog will be less likely to have a bad experience.
*I suggest holding the nail itself so that it doesn’t vibrate when sanded with the Dremel.*
Try to keep all grooming activities positive so that your dog will easily allow you to work with her. Use small increments, acclimating her slowly into the process. This will make your Doodle dog a more willing, and patient, partner.
Dental Care
Brushing a dog’s teeth is a part of routine maintenance that many pet parents overlook. But if you think about it, your dog’s teeth are as important to her overall health and well-being as your own. Would you skip brushing your teeth for a couple days? A week? A year? Absolutely not! And, it’s not just because teeth that haven’t been brushed cause bad breath. Without regular brushing, you can develop gum disease that may cause you to lose your teeth and can even harm organs such as your heart, liver and kidneys. The same goes for dogs!
How to clean your dog’s teeth
Even if you do brush your dog’s teeth regularly, she should get a yearly check up from your veterinarian. It’s easy to miss areas as your Doodle dog is likely very wiggly as you brush her teeth. A thorough check by your veterinarian can locate any unhealthy teeth or gums that might require attention. Some dogs are prone to tartar build-up and require a full scaling and polishing once a year.
Coat Maintenance
It’s important to begin acclimating your Doodle dog pup early to the grooming process. Delaying (just because her coat is currently puppy short) is not a good idea. Dogs learn best when they’re puppies and if your Doodle dog understands that grooming will be part of her everyday life, she’ll easily accept the process. Training older dogs to accept grooming can be challenging as well as a bad experience for the dog.
Most Doodle dogs enjoy being brushed along their necks, shoulders, backs and upper legs. But, you need to brush her face, ears, feet and tail, too. Most Doodle dogs don’t accept their tails brushed and need to be conditioned to accept it. Take your time and use positive associations so that your Doodle dog learns to enjoy that as well.
Doodle dogs require daily brushing and regularly schedule professional grooming sessions. Otherwise, debris will collect within the coat and tangles will occur. Some tangles can form down to your dog’s skin and cause discomfort. As new hair grows into the tangle it pinches your dog’s sensitive skin.
Many Doodle dogs love to dig and play in mud puddles. While they tend to have the same lanolin in their hair as purebred Poodles (this prevents dirt from staying stuck on their coats), they can still drag much of that dirt into your home. I suggest keeping a pin brush near the door of your home to do a quick brush off of their coats prior to entering.
Daily brushing is bonding time. You hold your Doodle close to you, speak soothingly and brush him all over. Doodle dogs love to cuddle and the daily brushing becomes another great opportunity to do so.
Checking Your Dog for Problems
Make it a point to go over your dog daily and check for injuries, cuts, bruises, parasites, and suspicious lumps. As your Doodle dog ages, this daily check becomes more important. Dogs rarely let you know that they aren’t feeling well or in pain — in fact, the dog’s nature is to not show weakness, so you’ll be the last to know when something’s wrong.
The first sign of an injury or illness can often be noticed by a behavior change. Maybe the dog isn’t as rambunctious or social as usual. Or, avoids steps, dark halls or maybe prefers dark corners. These are all signs something is wrong.
Daily checks will help you discover something that might be the beginning of a problem — for example, a wound that might become infected, a lump that might be the beginning of cancer, a flea that will bite and cause your dog to have an allergic reaction. All these things, and more, can be detected by a daily once-over.
Learn how to perform daily checks in the book, Doodle Dogs for Dummies.
Brushing Your Doodle
Doodles have anything from tight curls to long waves, so there’s many ways to approach brushing them. Generally, a pin brush (the type with plastic bristles and rounded ends) works very well. You can use this on any part of their body and it clears out tangles. If you want to fluff up your dog’s body, there are metal pin brushes (called Slicker brushes) for that; often a brush of choice by professional groomers. I don’t recommend these for everyday brushing, however, as their sharp pins can scratch your Doodle dog’s sensitive skin making her not appreciate being brushed.
I suggest a metal comb with spinning tines for the long hairs of your Doodle dog’s tail, her ears and the hair on her face. As her face has very sensitive areas, a comb gives you more direct control of where it lands than a pin brush.
It’s also important to brush your Doodle dog’s underbelly and the insides of her thighs. The hair in these areas is very fine and prone to tight tangles. Daily attention prevents the tangles and keeps her comfortable. Professional groomers often shave this area to keep it sanitary. Long hair around the sheath, urethra and anal areas can trap urine and feces, as well as bacteria. Keeping it shaved makes it easier to prevent these problems.
Professional Doodle Grooming
Grooming Poodles is not everyone’s cup of tea. It requires a lot of work – and a lot of patience. Normally the dog’s patience runs out far before the groomers. Grooming shops often have to work on the Poodles in segments. Once the dog tires, she’s allowed to rest for a while, then brought out onto the grooming table again for another round. Not only must the groomer be persistent, but the dog patient and remain still as long as needed. This can be tough for a puppy.
While Doodle dogs aren’t Poodles, their grooming can still require talent and attention to detail. Many of the techniques are similar and require the work of a talented groomer.
Before taking your Doodle dog to a groomer, be sure to call around or ask someone who has a Doodle dog where their dog gets coifed. References and reviews are important as they offer you a means of an educated decision instead of just taking chances. This is very important as a bad experience at the groomer can make your Doodle dog fearful of the grooming process. A professional groomer will ensure a safe and positive experience for your dog.
You should keep in mind that many of the big box pet stores offer grooming, but their grooming teams are often beginner groomers, not master groomers. This means that they may not be aware of the various Doodle styles and will tend to just shave off a good portion of your Doodle dog’s body hair. You need a seasoned professional for a Doodle groom.
Doodle cuts
There are 6 distinct Doodle dog grooming styles:
Learn more about types of Doodle trims via Doodle Dogs for Dummies.
Tips From Professional Groomers
Most professional groomers merely want their clients to have realistic expectations for the outcomes of their Doodle dog’s grooming session. To help understand the basis of this, you’ll need to be able to recognize your dog’s coat type, and let your groomer know your dog’s age and temperament when you make the appointment. This will have a lot of bearing on the groomer's scheduling. You don't want a frantic groomer, behind in their schedule, working on your dog.
Doodle dogs have two coat types: Harsh and Curley and Soft and Curley.
The harsh and curly coat is easy to style into the classic Poodle cuts that require a head pouf, leg and body pouf and muzzle pouf. The Soft and Curley coat lends itself better for the Lamb cut, Lion cut and Mohawk. The Kennel Cut and Teddy Bear cuts work well with both coat types.
Though part Poodle, many of the Doodle dog types still retain double coats and can shed a lot. You just don’t see all the hair because it gets trapped in the curly top coat. These coats are difficult to work with when creating a Poodle-type style such as the Teddy Bear or regular Poodle style (your dog just ends up looking like a short haired dog). Whereas the Lamb style is perfect as it’s supposed to be long and full anyway. The Lion cut also works well with the double coated Doodles, as does the Mohawk.
Groomers prefer clients who brush their Doodle dogs daily. This prevents mats which can be difficult for the groomer to work with as well as painful for the dog as grooming is being done. Doodle dogs have sensitive skin. If your groomer must de-mat your dog she may have to use clippers and that can mean razor burn for your dog.
A dog who receives regular grooming from you will be easier to work with at the grooming shop as she’s used to being touched, brushed and manipulated all over her body. Think of all you do with training, grooming and normal maintenance as preparation for a professional grooming. The better behaved the dog, the easier she will be to groom and the better the end product.
Groomers appreciate a client who prepares for their dog’s grooming appointment by bringing in a picture of what they want the final product to look like. Your groomer can tell you if it’s possible with your dog’s coat type and ask questions about what you like, or don’t like, about the style.
If you choose a specific style, be sure to understand actual measurements. Some styles are very short, others very long. For example if you request a Teddy Bear cut, you must realize the difference between the two types – one has a 1/4 inch body hair length and the other a 1 inch length. There are clipper combs that help guide the clipper, cutting it the chosen length. Groomers don’t like clients to say, “Wow, that’s shorter than I thought it’d be.” Or, “I’d really envisioned a shorter coat as it’s easier to care for.”
Grooming Lingo
Awareness of certain grooming terms will also be helpful. Terms such as tapering, feathering, stripping, plucking, shaving, clipping are among the many terms that all have different meanings.
For coats longer than an inch, the dog should be professionally groomed every 2-4 weeks. You should also brush your dog daily.
For coats shorter than an inch, the dog should be professionally groomed every 4-6 weeks, with brushing every other day, or otherwise needed if the dog enjoys digging, swimming or exploring.
Do a daily check in high friction areas, such as between the back legs, the dog’s underside, front arm pits, collar line or where a harness touches the dog. These areas become moist and can easily tangle.
- Ear cleaning
- Pedicure
- Dental care
- Regular brushing
- Body checks
A well groomed Doodle dog remains healthy and comfortable and you are able to recognize any topical injuries or skin problems more easily.
Ear Cleaning
Most Doodle dogs have fold over ears. There are some Doodle dog mixes that might not, such as a Bordoodle or some Teripoos. Regardless of whether the ears fold over or stand upright, your Doodle dog should have his ears cleaned once, or twice a week.
Everything from mites and dirt to bacteria can cause ear infections in a dog (and they're even more prone to them if they eat foods that they cannot tolerate well). If you don’t give weekly attention to your dog’s ears, she may be more prone to getting ear infections. Ear infections aren’t just minor annoyances — they can cause hearing loss, damage to the middle ear, and/or fever from a bacterial infection.
Most dogs will show clear signs of ear irritation and infection. They shake their heads, rub their ears against solid objects, or use their paws to scratch at their ears. If the infection gets worse, you’ll likely smell a foul odor coming from the ear, see small granular dirt particles, reddish wax-type substance, and the ear may be warm. If it’s been going on a while, you might notice a topical rash from your dog’s constant scratching.
The only means of curing infections is the appropriate ear medication. Your veterinarian will need to inspect the ear and possibly take a sample of the infectious material. The prescribed cure is anything from ear ointment to antibiotics, depending on the cause, and severity, of the infection.
To prevent infection, clean your dog’s ears at least once a week, regardless of the type of ears your dog has. However, you may need to clean your dog’s ears more often — such as after bathing or swimming. (Water tends to remain in the ears, especially if the ears have a fold-over structure.) Dogs with upright ears allow moisture to dry out quickly, so you’ll only need to do a minor ear cleaning.
Doodle dogs who have Retriever or Spaniel heritage may have smaller ear canals than other dogs, making them ripe for contracting infections. This special structure — along with the heavy fold-over ears — retains moisture, dirt, and bacteria.
How to Clean Your Dog's Ears
You’ll need to begin acclimating your Doodle dog to all forms of grooming from the moment she enters your life. Working with her ears will be one of the easiest manipulations you’ll need to do in order to maintain her ear health.
Begin by rubbing your Doodle dog’s ears as you pet her. Dogs love having their ears rubbed, so she’s sure to allow and appreciate it. As you rub, manipulate her ears so that you touch all parts. Your Doodle dog will especially enjoy when you massage the base of her ears.
If your Doodle dog tends to get playful when you attempt to manipulate her ears, keep her busy with a lick mat. Put some peanut butter, canned dog food, or smear on some cheese. She’ll be so busy she won’t notice you working with her ears. You can use the lick mat for most of the work you do maintaining your Doodle dog. It offers a means of distracting her from what you’re doing as well as offering her a positive experience as you do it.
Here are basic ear-cleaning procedures to follow: (Should you still have doubt about your ability to perform ear cleaning, have your veterinarian show you the process.)
1. Squirt a couple drops of herbal ear cleaner into your dog’s ear.
2. Rub her ear for a couple seconds to loosen any dirt and grease.
3. With a soft cloth wrapped around your index finger (or a cotton ball), gently remove the loosened dirt from the outer canal features and inside of the ear flap.
4. Repeat with the other ear.
Never clean deep in the dog’s ear canal. You can damage the dog’s ear and hearing that way. If you think something might be located deeper inside your dog’s ear, have your veterinarian do a thorough cleaning and exam.
Doodle dogs have lots of hair in their ears. This can clog the air flow that is needed to dry moisture. From time to time, tweeze these hairs — only those that come out easily — so that the outer ear can remain dryer. If you’re not sure how to do this, take your dog to the groomer to have it done professionally.
Nail Trimming
Most Doodle dogs require nail trims every 3-6 weeks, depending on their age. Puppies require it more often as their nails grow quickly and are very sharp.
If your dog spends most of her time on soft surfaces (such as dirt, grass, or sand), she may need her nails clipped more often. Even if you walk your dog on sidewalks or along the street, you’ll still need to clip the nails on the sides of the feet as well as the dew-claw nails.
Regular pedicures prevent the quick (the pink inside of the nail) from growing long and increasing the risk of being nicked when trimmed. A nicked quick bleeds a lot and can be painful to your dog. Frequent trimming keeps your dog comfortable. It also is less uncomfortable when you cuddle with your Doodle dog, as your legs and arms won’t accidentally be scratched by long nails. Chronic long nails will create joint problems in your dog’s feet. The constant upward pressure of the nails can result in arthritis, making it painful for your dog to walk.
How to do it
As with ear cleaning begin with touching your Doodle dog’s feet (a lot) from the moment she enters your life. Gentle touching and massaging of her feet helps her relax and accept having them manipulated while getting her nails trimmed.
There are several ways to approach nail trimming, but early preparation is the best. Training teaches your dog about her environment and how to behave within it. Here’s a way to teach your Doodle dog to accept getting a pedicure:
- Begin by teaching your dog some basic obedience, such as sit and down stays.
- Next teach your dog to give paw, or shake. (see book Click and Easy: Clicker Training for Dogs)
- Gradually hold her paw a couple seconds longer with each successful shake offer.
- When you can hold the paw, and your dog remains calm, introduce her to the clippers or Dremel trimming tool.
- Make noise with the nail trimming tool, near her feet. As she remains calm (or at the very least doesn’t pull her foot away), mark with a click and reward. Do this often for at least 5 minutes, so that your Doodle dog has positive associations with the sounds of the clippers (or Dremel tool).
- When she’s calm, you can begin clipping or sanding down her nails. Should she become wiggly, get someone to help you.
Should your Doodle dog already have a fear of getting a pedicure and needs one immediately, you’ll need to have someone hold her for you as you trim her nails.
There are two ways to immobilize your Doodle dog:
- Lift with one arm wrapped around her chest and the other around her rump, leaving her feet dangling, giving you access to her nails.
- Holding her body close, with one leg held securely, giving access to that foot’s nail
Have some styptic powder (available at most pet shops, or online pet supply outlets) handy to help stop any accidental bleeding that might occur from cutting too closely.
Note: If your Doodle dog has dark nails you should use a Dremel tool to file them, instead of nail clippers. This is less likely to cause injury, as you can gradually remove excess nail growth without accidentally clipping so close as to cause your dog’s nail to bleed. It takes a bit longer, but your dog will be less likely to have a bad experience.
*I suggest holding the nail itself so that it doesn’t vibrate when sanded with the Dremel.*
Try to keep all grooming activities positive so that your dog will easily allow you to work with her. Use small increments, acclimating her slowly into the process. This will make your Doodle dog a more willing, and patient, partner.
Dental Care
Brushing a dog’s teeth is a part of routine maintenance that many pet parents overlook. But if you think about it, your dog’s teeth are as important to her overall health and well-being as your own. Would you skip brushing your teeth for a couple days? A week? A year? Absolutely not! And, it’s not just because teeth that haven’t been brushed cause bad breath. Without regular brushing, you can develop gum disease that may cause you to lose your teeth and can even harm organs such as your heart, liver and kidneys. The same goes for dogs!
How to clean your dog’s teeth
- Introduce your Doodle dog to dental cleaning in as positive a manner as possible. Use a meat-flavored toothpaste (they come in beef, poultry, and liver flavors) that your dog will love, along with a long-handled toothbrush or a finger brush.
- Place a little paste on the brush and begin brushing the front teeth. These are the easiest to start with because they don’t require your pushing the brush farther into the dog’s mouth. Brush in a circular motion so that you cover each tooth. Remember to brush the back of each tooth (the side closest to the tongue).
- Be sure to give your dog frequent breaks to lick the paste off her teeth, which will keep the experience positive. When she’s relaxed, work on the teeth farther back in the mouth. Gently pull the dog’s skin away from the teeth, so you can access the teeth easier.
Even if you do brush your dog’s teeth regularly, she should get a yearly check up from your veterinarian. It’s easy to miss areas as your Doodle dog is likely very wiggly as you brush her teeth. A thorough check by your veterinarian can locate any unhealthy teeth or gums that might require attention. Some dogs are prone to tartar build-up and require a full scaling and polishing once a year.
Coat Maintenance
It’s important to begin acclimating your Doodle dog pup early to the grooming process. Delaying (just because her coat is currently puppy short) is not a good idea. Dogs learn best when they’re puppies and if your Doodle dog understands that grooming will be part of her everyday life, she’ll easily accept the process. Training older dogs to accept grooming can be challenging as well as a bad experience for the dog.
Most Doodle dogs enjoy being brushed along their necks, shoulders, backs and upper legs. But, you need to brush her face, ears, feet and tail, too. Most Doodle dogs don’t accept their tails brushed and need to be conditioned to accept it. Take your time and use positive associations so that your Doodle dog learns to enjoy that as well.
Doodle dogs require daily brushing and regularly schedule professional grooming sessions. Otherwise, debris will collect within the coat and tangles will occur. Some tangles can form down to your dog’s skin and cause discomfort. As new hair grows into the tangle it pinches your dog’s sensitive skin.
Many Doodle dogs love to dig and play in mud puddles. While they tend to have the same lanolin in their hair as purebred Poodles (this prevents dirt from staying stuck on their coats), they can still drag much of that dirt into your home. I suggest keeping a pin brush near the door of your home to do a quick brush off of their coats prior to entering.
Daily brushing is bonding time. You hold your Doodle close to you, speak soothingly and brush him all over. Doodle dogs love to cuddle and the daily brushing becomes another great opportunity to do so.
Checking Your Dog for Problems
Make it a point to go over your dog daily and check for injuries, cuts, bruises, parasites, and suspicious lumps. As your Doodle dog ages, this daily check becomes more important. Dogs rarely let you know that they aren’t feeling well or in pain — in fact, the dog’s nature is to not show weakness, so you’ll be the last to know when something’s wrong.
The first sign of an injury or illness can often be noticed by a behavior change. Maybe the dog isn’t as rambunctious or social as usual. Or, avoids steps, dark halls or maybe prefers dark corners. These are all signs something is wrong.
Daily checks will help you discover something that might be the beginning of a problem — for example, a wound that might become infected, a lump that might be the beginning of cancer, a flea that will bite and cause your dog to have an allergic reaction. All these things, and more, can be detected by a daily once-over.
Learn how to perform daily checks in the book, Doodle Dogs for Dummies.
Brushing Your Doodle
Doodles have anything from tight curls to long waves, so there’s many ways to approach brushing them. Generally, a pin brush (the type with plastic bristles and rounded ends) works very well. You can use this on any part of their body and it clears out tangles. If you want to fluff up your dog’s body, there are metal pin brushes (called Slicker brushes) for that; often a brush of choice by professional groomers. I don’t recommend these for everyday brushing, however, as their sharp pins can scratch your Doodle dog’s sensitive skin making her not appreciate being brushed.
I suggest a metal comb with spinning tines for the long hairs of your Doodle dog’s tail, her ears and the hair on her face. As her face has very sensitive areas, a comb gives you more direct control of where it lands than a pin brush.
It’s also important to brush your Doodle dog’s underbelly and the insides of her thighs. The hair in these areas is very fine and prone to tight tangles. Daily attention prevents the tangles and keeps her comfortable. Professional groomers often shave this area to keep it sanitary. Long hair around the sheath, urethra and anal areas can trap urine and feces, as well as bacteria. Keeping it shaved makes it easier to prevent these problems.
Professional Doodle Grooming
Grooming Poodles is not everyone’s cup of tea. It requires a lot of work – and a lot of patience. Normally the dog’s patience runs out far before the groomers. Grooming shops often have to work on the Poodles in segments. Once the dog tires, she’s allowed to rest for a while, then brought out onto the grooming table again for another round. Not only must the groomer be persistent, but the dog patient and remain still as long as needed. This can be tough for a puppy.
While Doodle dogs aren’t Poodles, their grooming can still require talent and attention to detail. Many of the techniques are similar and require the work of a talented groomer.
Before taking your Doodle dog to a groomer, be sure to call around or ask someone who has a Doodle dog where their dog gets coifed. References and reviews are important as they offer you a means of an educated decision instead of just taking chances. This is very important as a bad experience at the groomer can make your Doodle dog fearful of the grooming process. A professional groomer will ensure a safe and positive experience for your dog.
You should keep in mind that many of the big box pet stores offer grooming, but their grooming teams are often beginner groomers, not master groomers. This means that they may not be aware of the various Doodle styles and will tend to just shave off a good portion of your Doodle dog’s body hair. You need a seasoned professional for a Doodle groom.
Doodle cuts
There are 6 distinct Doodle dog grooming styles:
- Puppy Cut, also known as the Teddy Bear cut
- Kennel Cut
- Poodle Cut
- Lion Cut
- Lamb Cut
- Mohawk
Learn more about types of Doodle trims via Doodle Dogs for Dummies.
Tips From Professional Groomers
Most professional groomers merely want their clients to have realistic expectations for the outcomes of their Doodle dog’s grooming session. To help understand the basis of this, you’ll need to be able to recognize your dog’s coat type, and let your groomer know your dog’s age and temperament when you make the appointment. This will have a lot of bearing on the groomer's scheduling. You don't want a frantic groomer, behind in their schedule, working on your dog.
Doodle dogs have two coat types: Harsh and Curley and Soft and Curley.
The harsh and curly coat is easy to style into the classic Poodle cuts that require a head pouf, leg and body pouf and muzzle pouf. The Soft and Curley coat lends itself better for the Lamb cut, Lion cut and Mohawk. The Kennel Cut and Teddy Bear cuts work well with both coat types.
Though part Poodle, many of the Doodle dog types still retain double coats and can shed a lot. You just don’t see all the hair because it gets trapped in the curly top coat. These coats are difficult to work with when creating a Poodle-type style such as the Teddy Bear or regular Poodle style (your dog just ends up looking like a short haired dog). Whereas the Lamb style is perfect as it’s supposed to be long and full anyway. The Lion cut also works well with the double coated Doodles, as does the Mohawk.
Groomers prefer clients who brush their Doodle dogs daily. This prevents mats which can be difficult for the groomer to work with as well as painful for the dog as grooming is being done. Doodle dogs have sensitive skin. If your groomer must de-mat your dog she may have to use clippers and that can mean razor burn for your dog.
A dog who receives regular grooming from you will be easier to work with at the grooming shop as she’s used to being touched, brushed and manipulated all over her body. Think of all you do with training, grooming and normal maintenance as preparation for a professional grooming. The better behaved the dog, the easier she will be to groom and the better the end product.
Groomers appreciate a client who prepares for their dog’s grooming appointment by bringing in a picture of what they want the final product to look like. Your groomer can tell you if it’s possible with your dog’s coat type and ask questions about what you like, or don’t like, about the style.
If you choose a specific style, be sure to understand actual measurements. Some styles are very short, others very long. For example if you request a Teddy Bear cut, you must realize the difference between the two types – one has a 1/4 inch body hair length and the other a 1 inch length. There are clipper combs that help guide the clipper, cutting it the chosen length. Groomers don’t like clients to say, “Wow, that’s shorter than I thought it’d be.” Or, “I’d really envisioned a shorter coat as it’s easier to care for.”
Grooming Lingo
Awareness of certain grooming terms will also be helpful. Terms such as tapering, feathering, stripping, plucking, shaving, clipping are among the many terms that all have different meanings.
- Tapering – a gradual change in length
- Feathering – leaving the backs of the legs longer than the front (common on Spaniel styles)
- Stripping – using a special scissor or thinning knife to thins out the fur; generally along the dog’s back
- Plucking – pulling hair out of the inside of the ears
- Shaving – clipping down to the skin
- Clipping – using clippers with special combs that produce a specific hair length.
For coats longer than an inch, the dog should be professionally groomed every 2-4 weeks. You should also brush your dog daily.
For coats shorter than an inch, the dog should be professionally groomed every 4-6 weeks, with brushing every other day, or otherwise needed if the dog enjoys digging, swimming or exploring.
Do a daily check in high friction areas, such as between the back legs, the dog’s underside, front arm pits, collar line or where a harness touches the dog. These areas become moist and can easily tangle.