Grooming Question from a new Doodle Mom

[Dawn Walton]

I was wondering how often you get your doodle groomed and how old they were when you got them groomed the first time?  Thanks in advance for your advice!

[Ginny Nightingale]

I sell labradoodle pups for a breeder and groom doodles--and here is the advice I give the new puppy owners.

Gently comb and brush your pup right from the beginning to get them used to it--handle them all over and make sure you gently pull hair from the ear canal--just so they don't freak out when their ears are touched at the groomers.

Then at 4 months, they should have an introductory visit to the groomer so they can learn the smells and sounds of a grooming table--have them trimmed a bit around the eyes, paws and tail end. Nails too. That is it.

At 6 months and every two-three months after that, the pup should get a full groom with upkeep at home which means combing as well as brushing (the comb will get mats that form at the skin).

At around the age of one year, the pup will go thru a transition where the puppy coat will fall out and mat into the adult coat coming in--many doodles become hopelessly matted at that age and the groomer has no choice but to shave them down--so be sure to have your pup trimmed fairly short at that age and keep up with the puppy coat transition. This picture shows how a puppy can have "felted mats" at the skin level that a clipper can not get thru--this is what you are trying to avoid.

Of course, if your doodle has a straighter coarser coat--you can probably trim it yourself! Some coats are harder than others. 

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Very interesting picture, Ginny... I've never seen anything like it. Reminds me of how sheep are sheered. That was one matted doodle.

Your advice is spot on.

[Tabnat]

Yes! Just had this happen with my sweet Doodle. She started to get matted around the middle of February. I thought it was her shedding her winter coat but it was really bad. I just took her this week and they had to shave her like this pup. I feel so bad for her. Is there a way to keep this from happening again? My groomer didn't offer any advice. We probably don't brush as often as we should but she's never gotten matted up until the last few months. She's a year and a half old. Mine also got red spots from being shaved and today I noticed they look like sores. Is this normal?

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Tabnat, most doodles go through a coat change from the puppy to the adult coat. During this time, they mat like crazy.  Some doodles (like my Ned) continue to mat foreeeevvvvveeeerrrrrr, but it is not as bad as this coat change.  Most of us keep our doodles a bit shorter during the coat change as well as brushing and combing about every other day.  You also need good equipment because most cheap brushes don't get down to the skin where the mats begin.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Ginny's advice is perfect. I did all the grooming on my two up until just last fall. They are 7 and 5 years old. It was a nice bonding time, I always got the look I wanted, (well, after I learned a trick or two), and ofcourse saved $$$. 

Somewhere along the line, I just got tired of doing it and finding the time became harder and harder. (After I retired, go figure!)  Also, There is no rushing a good grooming.  

To answer how often, when I did it, it was about 3 times a year. So about every 4 months.  Now that they go to the groomers, it seems like about every 3 months, as now it doesn't take me a month to find the time to set everything up and do them. Just a quick phone call and drop off on way to other errands.  So it comes down to time and money and type of coat, as to how often you will be able to have them groomed. Some mat at 2 inches and some can get 0ver 3-4 inches without a problem with matting.  THere are many owners on here that will have theirs done every 8 weeks too, so there's a wide range. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

We get our doodles groomed every 4 - 6 weeks.  Ned was first groomed at 4 months.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

I used to "groom" Roo and Tigger myself.  We had a pool and we (the doodles and I) swam everyday), so they got shaved (like the picture) to 1/4 inch by me about April and then a couple of times more until October when the water was to cold to swim.  Then the just grew out until April.

I kept their collar ring groomed short all the time, as well as under tail and beards.  I don't like beards on my dogs, no reason, just don't.

Since we moved to this house, no pool. Now they look nice all the time as they go to groomer every four to six weeks.  Expensive, but worth it, as I can't even cut my own bangs.  DH and I made a stab at it a few times, with very poor results.