How often to groom a doodle a doodle?
Most doodles need a professional groom every 4 to 6 weeks, and a brush through the whole coat every day or two. Here's how to find the right schedule for yours.
- Most doodles need a groom every 4 to 6 weeks.
- Brush to the skin every day or two, not just the top.
- The puppy coat change, at about 6 to 12 months, is when mats start.
answer
Every 4 to 6 weeks works for most doodles. Tight curly coats sit at the short end of that range. Looser, straighter coats kept short can sometimes stretch toward 8 weeks. Your dog's coat, how short you keep the cut and how much time they spend outdoors all change the answer.
the coat
Doodles are mixes, so two puppies from the same litter can grow completely different coats. Groomers usually sort them into three types.
- Curly coat. Tight curls like a Poodle's. It barely sheds, so loose hair gets trapped in the curls and turns into mats. Groom every 4 to 6 weeks and brush every day.
- Wavy coat. Loose waves, often called a fleece coat. It tangles less than a curly coat, but it never stops growing. Every 4 to 6 weeks for a longer cut, up to 8 for a short one. Brush every other day.
- Straight coat. Flatter and shaggier, closer to the retriever side of the family. It sheds more and mats the least. Every 6 to 8 weeks, brushed two or three times a week.
coat change
Somewhere between about 6 and 12 months, a doodle's soft puppy coat starts changing to the adult coat. For a few months both are there at once, and they tangle together fast. Brush more often through that stretch, and keep grooms on schedule. It's the age when most doodles get their first bad mats.
home
Brushing only the top of the coat is the most common mistake. The surface looks smooth while mats form against the skin underneath.
- Use a slicker brush and a metal comb with wide and fine teeth.
- Work in small sections. Hold the top layer up with one hand and brush the layer underneath, from the skin out.
- Finish each section with the comb. If the comb catches, that section isn't done.
- Spend extra time where the coat rubs: behind the ears, under the collar, the armpits, the back of the legs and the base of the tail.
- Keep it short and calm, about 10 to 15 minutes, with a treat at the end.
Brush before a bath, never after. Water tightens a knot and makes it much harder to get out.
a groom
- The comb catches when you run it through near the skin
- Small knots behind the ears or under the legs
- Hair growing over the eyes
- Long hair between the toes or around the bottom
- A dull coat, or a smell that comes back a day after a bath
If you see two or three of these, book sooner than you planned.
long costs
A doodle stretched from 6 weeks to 12 often comes in with tight mats. Mats pull on the skin every time your dog moves, trap dirt and moisture, and can hide sore spots underneath. The kindest fix for tight mats is usually a short cut, so the long, fluffy look you wanted has to start over. A coat in good shape is also quicker to bathe, dry and brush, which keeps the cost down.
questions
How often should a Goldendoodle be groomed?
Every 4 to 6 weeks for most Goldendoodles. A straighter coat kept short can sometimes go up to 8 weeks.
Can I stretch my doodle to 8 or 10 weeks?
Sometimes, if the coat is short and you comb all the way to the skin every day or two. If the comb won't go through, book sooner.
How often should a doodle be bathed?
About once a month is common, ideally at the groomer with a full brush out first. Bathing too often can dry out the skin.
Do doodles shed?
Most shed very little. That also means the dead hair stays in the coat, which is why brushing matters so much.
to keep
The shorter the cut, the longer you can go between grooms and the easier it is to brush at home. A short all-over cut is the easiest of all. A teddy bear cut is a good middle ground: soft and round, but short enough on the body to brush properly. A long, fluffy coat looks beautiful but needs brushing to the skin every single day. If you can't keep up with that, a shorter cut is kinder to your dog.
next groom
We groom doodles every day at Zuzu's. A full groom includes two baths with top-tier shampoos, a custom cut from nose to butt, a full brush out, a hand blow-dry, nails, ears and an anal gland check. Doodles are priced the same as any dog their size. Call (719) 472-4427 to book.
