Introduction
Dogs are so mischievous aren’t they? They even make simple tasks like bath-time a nightmare, when they want to! Goldendoodles are no exception to this, with their personalities being especially excitable – no matter how cute they are!
It’s hard to stay mad at your pup for long, but after there’s shampoo on the walls and you’re soaked with water, you wonder if there’s an easier way. We’re here to make your life easier for you. Here are a few tips on how to groom your Goldendoodle.
1) Brushing Your Dog
First of all, start by brushing your dog. This is useful for untangling their fur and getting rid of any visible contents like leaves, fluff, and other debris they may have picked up.
It’s important to brush your dog at least once a day to reduce the frequency of picking up dirt and other unwanted materials. When picking the right brush, make sure you use a slicker brush.
They’re suited well to the Goldendoodle’s easily-tangled hair and avoid pulling out your dog’s fur.
This avoids hurting your dog and keeps the process easy for both of you. Slicker brushes are sold at your local pet store or most superstores.
2) Clipping Fur
Clipping your dog’s fur is a good way to start getting rid of the tangled hair that the brush missed. Always use a pair of clippers best suited to your dog, rather than just any old pair. This way it reduces the risk of cutting too much fur away, or not enough.
It’s useful to use a comb as you go along, to ensure that any knots don’t get left unrushed. Try not to get clippers and scissors confused, as scissors have a higher risk of hurting your pup. Grooming clippers are sold at most general pet stores and online.
3) Bathing And Drying
This can be the most daunting part for any owner, but it’ll get easier with time! Prepare a warm bath, (make sure it’s not too hot), and get your dog to sit or stand in it. If your dog is a tricky customer when it comes to bathing, you can lure them with a treat.
Or if you have an extra pair of hands, like a friend or a partner, then make use of them! You’ll need to scrub your dog’s fur with shampoo and make sure to get rid of any excess debris you may have missed earlier.
To do this easily, remember to rinse your canine down as you go along, otherwise, the shampoo makes it hard to see! Make sure you use shampoo designed for dogs. Shampoo for humans has a different effect on their skin, which can be harmful!
Once clean, it’s time to dry your four-legged friend. Be sure to leave your dog as dry as possible, because it’ll make trimming your dog’s fur a lot easier.
Use a towel to rid most of the wetness from their fur and let them shake the rest off, (you may get a little wet)! Remember not to miss your dog’s ears and eyes. They’ll need gentle care and can often go unnoticed! This reduces the risk of infections in their ears and eyes.
4) Trimming Your Dog’s Head
It’s always important to be as gentle as possible with your pup’s head! To be careful, use clippers for areas such as the eyes and ears to avoid injuring your dog. Make sure to cut the fur as evenly as possible and try not to leave the fur too short.
Aim for a length of around 2.5 centimeters, or about an inch. When trimming the ears, remember to get rid of any fur that could potentially block around their ear passage – we don’t want them ignoring you for dinner time!
Next, move onto their mouth, or muzzle area. You’ll need to keep this quite thin to avoid blocking their eyesight and their nose. The fur on top of the muzzle should be shorter than on the sides.
The length is up to you but it should keep in contrast with the rest of their head. The fur on the sides of the muzzle should be short enough so the hair avoids entering your dog’s mouth.
5) Trimming The Back Of The Head And Neck
This part is a bit easier. Use a dog fur trimmer to cut down the hair on the back of the dog’s head and neck to an even length. As you get closer to your pup’s back, be sure to blend the length of their neck fur to suit the length you want their body fur to be.
This keeps a smooth transition of the fur from the head to the rest of their body.
6) Trimming The Body Fur And Paws
Using electrical clippers, trim the fur to a length of about 2.5cm or one inch, once again. You can do this by using a guard on the clippers.
Make sure your dog stays relatively still or you may have uneven lengths of fur. Don’t be afraid to cut thicker areas more than once to increase effectiveness.
Next up are your dog’s paws. You’ll want to trim these a bit shorter than the rest of the body, to avoid dirt getting caught in the fur. It also stops the fur from getting caught on surfaces your dog walks on.
Don’t forget to trim between the dog’s toes! Bits of debris and knotted hair may go unnoticed here and need attention.
7) The Final Touches
Now’s the time for simple things like trimming your dog’s nails and brushing their teeth. Just as important as the other steps, stay gentle but firm. Keep your dog as still as possible to avoid injury or missing any bits.
Use ear cleaner to unblock your canine’s ear canal, to make sure they can hear properly. Ear cleaner may only be available in pet stores and at your local vet.
Finally, use the brush to go over your dog once more. This makes certain that no dirt has made it past your process and gives your dog one last check over to make sure the fur is straight.
Any uneven areas may be trimmed once more. After all of that, your dog will be looking stylish and feeling refreshed!
