Goldendoodles is a mixed breed between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. If you have ever seen one of these parent dogs, you’ll know that they require a lot of grooming to keep hair loss under control and prevent their coats from getting matted.
So, it stands to reason that a Goldendoodle would also require a fair amount of grooming attention.
When first introducing a dog into your family, you might not have considered the costs of grooming. However, many owners are then stung with this additional expense down the line. Not grooming your dog can lead to them being uncomfortable and even contracting skin infections from a build-up of bacteria.
So, keeping your Goldendoodle groomed properly is very important. Moreover, learning how to groom your Goldendoodle at home can be a valuable skill that saves you a lot of money in the long run.
Today we’ll be looking at how to groom your Goldendoodle at home, as well as the best products to use.
Goldendoodle grooming costs
Before getting a dog, you should always set a budget for everything that you’ll need to pay for in an average year. This could include healthcare, insurance, grooming, and much more. Creating your budget will prevent you from suffering the consequences of unexpected costs.
Many people do this of sorts, thinking about the food costs, medical bills, and toy expenses – but many people forget the cost of grooming. This is confusing as Goldendoodles need a lot of grooming compared to other dog breeds!
Goldendoodles don’t shed their coats (which is why they are considered to be hypoallergenic) and therefore can experience a large build-up of old hair within their coats. This means that they need a regular grooming experience to prevent them from becoming uncomfortable.
Larger Goldendoodles will need longer grooming visits and therefore cost more to maintain, but the price can depend on a number of factors.
As a general rule of thumb, Goldendoodle owners can expect to pay between $50 and $80 every two months for grooming. Now, this doesn’t seem like too much money, but it does add up quickly. In one year you can expect to pay between $300 and $480 on grooming costs alone – on top of everything else you need to pay for.
The importance of grooming
Not everyone wants to pay this much for grooming, but it’s important not to neglect your dog’s grooming needs. Goldendoodles coats can vary, but grooming will prevent their coats from becoming matted and tangled.
If a Goldendoodle is left with a matted coat for too long, it can lead to discomfort as the hair is pulling on the skin too much. In extreme cases, this can cause skin irritation and even lead to infections.
Infected skin can put your dog in unnecessary pain and lead you to have to pay additional medical bills.
If you don’t groom your Goldendoodle, their fur will get extremely thick which can also lead to overheating and more discomfort. It will also make it more difficult to notice lumps and other skin problems that need medical attention.
Grooming your Goldendoodle at home
So, we know the importance of grooming your Goldendoodle, but we also know how expensive it can be to do so. How can we get this price down so that everyone wins? The easy way to do so is to groom your dog at home.
As you’ll be grooming your Goldendoodle, you won’t have to pay yourself to complete the job. You will have to pay the initial cost of your tools, but you’ll be saving lots of money in the long run!
Essential tools needed for Goldendoodle grooming
There are 6 essential tools that you’ll need to groom your Goldendoodle, which we’ll look at below.
Slicker Brush
A slicker brush is a wire brush that can be used to get out any tangles of the Goldendoodle’s wavy or curly hair. Our favorite is the Chris Christensen Big G Dog Slicker Brush as it can be used all over your Goldendoodle without pulling on their skin and causing pain.
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To find out more about the absolute best brushes for Goldendoodles, check out our reviews.
Metal Comb
The metal comb can be used to get further into the coat than the slicker brush, ensuring that there are no knots left nearer the dog’s skin. The Cafhelp Combs comes with two size options to ensure that your dog always leaves the grooming session tangle-free and comfortable.
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Clippers, Blades, and Guards
You’ll want to invest in a high-quality set of clippers for your Goldendoodle to ensure that they don’t pull at the coat or hurt your dog. Goldendoodles have thick coats, so they’ll need some heavy-duty clippers to get through it all without spending too much redoing it.
Clippers recommended for Goldendoodles will have 3400 to 4400 strokes per minute (SPM). Detachable blades and guards are also recommended so that you can alter the length and style of your grooming style.
The HOLDOG Clippers come with a great amount of equipment for you to use while grooming your Goldendoodle. They’re also very quiet to run at below 50 decibels, preventing you from spooking your dog and increasing the likelihood of injury.
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Hair Dryer
Some people prefer to leave their dogs to air dry, but if your Goldendoodle doesn’t mind being groomed you might want to use a dog hair dryer to finish the job. This will leave them with a silky smooth coat and avoid that wet dog smell from setting in.
The SHELANDY dog hair dryer comes with lots of different attachments, a low noise level, and an adjustable voltage to keep your dog as happy and safe as possible.
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Grooming Scissors and Thinning Shears
Grooming scissors are essential if you want to get a clean look all over your dog. They are used in the hard-to-reach areas that the clippers cannot be used in, such as around the face, ears, and paws.
Grooming scissors for dogs should have a blunt tip to avoid accidentally harming your Goldendoodle. Our favorite is the Gimars scissor set, with three lengths to choose from depending on where you’re using them. These scissors are also slightly angled to help you get a rounded edge easier.
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This set also comes with some thinning shears. As Goldendoodles already have quite thick coats, thinning shears are a must – especially in hot weather.
Thinning shears cut different lengths into your dog’s coats, giving them a more textured style that is less likely to get tangled. So, thinning shears are important for both aesthetic and practical reasons.
Nail Clippers
Finally, the final essential grooming item you need is nail clippers. Allowing your dog’s nails to grow too long can lead to destructive tendencies and discomfort for your Goldendoodle. The Gonicc nail clippers are the best on the market, with a sharp blade and a strong grip over the handles.
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Optional tools needed for Goldendoodle grooming
Now we’ll quickly go over the optional tools that you might choose to buy when grooming your Goldendoodle. While these aren’t absolutely necessary to have, they can make the task of grooming your Goldendoodle much easier.
Detangling Spray
The detangling spray does exactly what it says on the tin – it detangles any knots that are in your dog’s coat to make brushing easier. This can prevent your dog from being in pain while you’re brushing them, making the experience much more enjoyable for you both.
Tropiclean is a great choice and also leaves your dog smelling fresh and lovely. Alternatively, you can use a detangling shampoo while you wash them before the grooming session.
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Grooming Table
You can use a normal table to keep your dog on while grooming them, but a specific table might be better to use with active dogs who don’t like to sit still. These come with harnesses to keep your Goldendoodle still while you’re grooming them.
The Polar Aurora grooming table is the best in our eyes. You can make your own at home using a table and a dog lead, but a specific grooming table can be much more convenient and beneficial.
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Grooming your Goldendoodle – Step by step guide
Now that you have all of your equipment, it’s time to start grooming! Below are a number of steps to follow to ensure that the grooming experience goes as smoothly as possible for both you and your dog.
Step One: Line Brush
Use your slicker brush to remove any tangles from your dog’s coat, starting at the bottom of a section and working your way up. Brush the hair up so that you’re exposing a line of skin at a time. Use small sections of hair and work your way all-around your dog.
Line brushing is a great technique that helps to ensure that you get every tangle possible. It will take a little longer to do, but your Goldendoodle will feel more comfortable for the rest of the experience.
Step Two: Bathe and Dry
Bathe your dog with detangling dog shampoo to get rid of any build-up of dirt and oil. Grooming your dog without bathing them will lead to an uneven cut and undesirable results. Give them a good massage while bathing to ensure that their coat and skin is as clean as it can be before cutting any hair.
Depending on the length that you’re planning on cutting off, you might decide that drying their coat now is not the best idea. However, if you’re using clippers with a guard on, you should blow-dry the hair beforehand so that you get the best finish with the clippers possible.
Step Three: Start Clipping
Begin clipping your dog with the desired clipper guard and blade attached. Start at the back of your dog, working around their body from the base of their tail to their neck. Don’t forget their chest, upper legs, and neck.
Do this by moving the clippers in small strokes all over the body. Once the clippers look like they’re getting clogged with hair, turn them off and remove the hair before starting again. This helps you to keep the clippers sharp and avoid you from having to repeat this process to get a clean finish.
Step Four: Clip the Head and Face
Depending on the style of grooming you want to follow, you might prefer to keep your Goldendoodle’s hair around their face long. If this is the case, skip the clippers and use your grooming scissors to give everything a trim. Finish with the thinning shears before moving onto step five.
However, if you want to clip the face and head fur short, be careful with your clippers. You might want to use a longer blade or guard.
Now take your scissors and trim around the ears, rounding the fur into the desired shape. You also might take the time now to carefully trim the hair inside of the ear canal.
Step Five: Clipping the Underside and Tail
Carefully trim the underside of your dog, their groin, bum, and tail. Be very careful around these delicate areas not to cause pain or discomfort to your Goldendoodle.
Step Six: Finishing with the Paws
Use your scissors to trim the hair on the top and bottom of your dog’s paws into a rounded shape. This will take a while to perfect, but the results will be more than worth it! Finally, trim your dog’s nails by being careful not to shorten them too much.
Final Thought
And that’s how to groom your Goldendoodle at home! It will take a while to perfect and the results might not look as good as if you were to take your dog to a groomer, but you’ll quickly learn different techniques to better your final product. Plus, you’ll be saving a lot of money!
