Doodle Grooming Guidelines

Doodle coats require a regular brushing and grooming routine. These guidelines will help you to maintain your doodle's coat properly and keep the matts and tangles away!

Grooming Tools

Recommended grooming tools for Labradoodles, Goldendoodles, Cockapoos, Bernedoodles and other Poodle-crosses:

The Doodle Brush - our brush designed specifically for doodles!

Steel Comb

Blunt/Round-End Scissors/Shears

Thinning Scissors/Shears

Evening Primrose Oil Shampoo

Ear Cleaning Solution

Ear Powder

 

Regular Grooming at Home

We recommend brushing your Labradoodle, Goldendoodle, Cockapoo, Bernedoodle or other Poodle-crossbreed three times per week using The Doodle Brush. 

Brush through the coat thoroughly and follow the natural direction in which it grows, try to avoid back-brushing. Once you think you have got through and matting or tangles, use a steel comb to check and ensure that you are getting right down through the thickness of the coat to the skin. If you haven't, go back to The Doodle Brush again and repeat the process.

You should trim the inside corners of the eyes and across the bridge of the nose as required with a pair of blunt/round-end scissors. You can also use these scissors to trim the sanitary portion underneath your dog's tail; keep this area nice and short and they will take care of the rest! 

You can use thinning scissors to thin out the bangs/fringe and create an inverted 'v' to ensure a clear line of vision.

Primrose Oil Shampoo has a lasting affect on doodle coats, keeping them tangle-free for longer and making their coats much easier to brush.  

Ear Plucking

Labradoodles, Goldendoodles, Cockapoos, Bernedoodles and other Poodle-crosses often have hair that grows inside their ear canal. If this hair builds up, it can often lead to ear infections. It is recommended that this hair is removed on a monthly basis. It is very simple and straightforward to do as long as you keep on top of it and don't let it get out of control.

Put a little ear grooming powder in the middle of the ear canal, Bio Groom Ear Powder is used by many professionals. Massage the powder in for around 10-20 seconds. Then very gently, between a finger and your thumb, tease the hair out slowly, just a little at a time.

This is obviously not the most pleasant of things for you doodle to put up with, but they will soon get used to it and it is much better than the ear infections that could occur if this procedure wasn't done properly and regularly.  Search 'dog ear plucking' on Youtube for helpful videos.

Ear Cleaning

After your dog's ears have been plucked, it is good to use an ear cleaning solution to remove excess wax and dirt. You just need to put a little ear cleaning solution in each ear canal, and massage the outside of the ears for about 20 seconds. Then let go of your dog... he will shake his head from side to side, loosening the dirt and wax. Take some cotton wool and wipe all the dirt and wax out of the ear. This will keep them clean and fresh.

Professional Grooming

Since your doodle will shed much less than most dogs, they require regular professional trimming. Clippers are used on the body and scissors are used to achieve the correct head shape. You can maintain your dog's coat at any length you wish and you should work with your groomer to achieve this. The Doodle Brush will make it much easier for you to maintain your dog's coat at a longer length than traditional slicker brushes.