About to Welcome our First Goldendoodle! I have questions!

[Melissa Hazlip]

 Hi Everyone!

 My family will be bringing home our first puppy in just a few weeks. We are waiting to hear on the gender, as the breeder is very specific about how she places her pups. She sent me to this site to get connected with other doodle owners!

 

 I wanted to know what your favorite brush is! We plan to keep our Doodles hair on the longer side, and there are a lot of options out there for brushes. What are your favorites? Feel free to expand on shampoos/conditioners, and any other grooming tips!

 Also, what are your favorite websites to look at for accessories, or unique collars/leashes/beds? I have been looking around, but am curious to hear your thoughts!

 Thanks in advance for all the help!

 Melissa

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Hi Melissa, welcome!

You will find a lot of help on these topics in the Groups. We have groups here on DK for everything, lol!

Grooming Group.

This will be your best bet for recommendations on brushes, shampoos, etc. 

Ring Around the Collar

Info on all kinds of collars, leashes, harnesses, etc.

And be sure and check out the Food Group, too!

I think I saw that you already joined the Puppy Madness group, which will be the most helpful, lol!

[Melissa Hazlip]

Thank you so much!

[Ginny Nightingale]

Oh how exciting for you! Can't wait to see the pictures--everyone here swears by the Les Pooches brush for brushing all those snarls out of the coat--they are pricey but worth it. One of our member, Kemp, sells them on a site called www.doodlecounty.com. Check it out--he will help you get the right Les Pooches brush for your pup once you know what  what size the pup will eventually be (based on the size of the parents--the brushes come in different sizes and types.)

Get that and a steel comb with  teeth that are closer together at one end with the teeth farther apart at the other end --that is needed to get down to the skin after you brush to get at those mats--there is a lot of advice in the grooming group and there are videos on youtube too! 

[BG and Gavin]

To add about the steel comb, make sure it has rotating tines.  This is my best grooming tool.

[Melissa Hazlip]

Thank you! I found one they suggest for larger dogs and am looking forward to trying it! I'll get a steel comb as well!

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

Welcome and congrats on your new family member.   I like to keep my Oliver natural and he is a big, hairy boy at that !!!  I have a Chris Christenson brust with long metal bristles or prongs its kind of for long and poodle hair.  The brush was pricy about $45 but well worth every cent.  My Sasha is more poodle like than my Ollie wher she has a very tight poodle coat and the brush works well on her as well.  I spent tons of money on brushes over the years and this is by far my fav. !!!

[Melissa Hazlip]

Thank you! I found a Chris Christenson 35mm brush with the metal prongs on amazon. Is that a good size? It says its for bigger dogs. I can't afford the Les Pooches brush but the CC brush is $33 on amazon.

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Congratulations, Melissa, on your soon-to-be doodle family member. I, too, would strongly recommend investing in a Les Poochs brush. If money is an issue, I'd skip some of the other cute accessories that are fun to buy and use, and instead put the money toward the purchase of a brush. Those brushes are essential to keeping most doodles' coats from matting -- especially important if you think that you'd like to keep your pup's hair long. The double wide ones with the bent bristles on both sides are well worth the investment. It'll save you so much time, keep your doodle looking great, and keep your hands from aching!