Hair products

[KLN]

This is my first doodle and am hoping y'all can give me some advice in terms of shampoos or even other products. I've attached some pics of Finn and his "crazy" hair. He is seven months old and still a puppy but his hair seems crazy and out of control to me! He has real tight curls around his neck where his collar is but is otherwise it's pretty straight. Is this what a straight doodles hair is supposed to look like? It looks brittle and dry to me but since this is my first doodle maybe I just don't know what to expect? Do y'all use any shampoos or other products to help "tame" your doodles hair? He's due for a haircut but even after his last haircut, his hair still had this texture.

Thanks guys! I really appreciate all y'all's advice as I navigate through Finley's first year!

[Melissa and Willa Couch]

I think he is super cute.  I love the messy look.  However, I don't think his hair should be brittle and dry.  What type of food are you feeding him?  That can make a difference in coat health.  Disclaimer - I am not an expert.  :)   

[Pam, Jack & Vada]

[Julie Kudron]

Our groomer introduced me to a product called "The Stuff" you barely use any so the bottle is only about 1/5 empty in two years of use. After a bath, before drying, lightly mist him. Be careful though, because it makes the floor slippery since its silicone based. The Stuff helps his hair dry faster, keeps it silky soft, conditions it, and also repels dirt. I found last winter that if I spray Maxwells legs with it before he went out in the snow, it would keep those snowballs from forming on his legs! I have never seen it sold in stores, and did a google search for it and bought it online.

[Debi and Monty Moose]

I just ordered a bottle of "The Stuff" as it sounds like something my Monty will also need.  He is also very soft until you get to his rear end...then it becomes a little more stiff, so I hope this helps.  I also like the idea of keeping the snowballs off his legs in the event we get snow this winter.  :O  I also have a Golden whose hind end tends to mat, so this might also help her.  Thanks for the suggestion, Julie!

[KLN]

Thanks Julie, I will definitely look into that, it sounds like it might do the trick! And thanks Melissa, I think his "messy look" is cute too but it seems a bit too messy. :0). I'm feeding him orijen so I don't think that's the problem but a friend recommended fish oil so I might start adding that to his food too. Thanks guys!

[Kris and Sawyer]

Not much advice to give...Sawyer does not have a lot of curl to his coat. But I LOVE your lamp in the background! Very cool...

[KLN]

Thanks kris, target!

[Jolene, Sassparilla & Josie]

My Sassparilla has that same dry brittle feeling hair on her back and she has since we got her at 10 weeks, I think this is just one of the many hair types. From her rib cage up she's soft and straight but from there back, it's short curly and really dry feeling! We rotate from oatmeal based dog shampoos to head and shoulders (helps with her scratching). "The Stuff" has my attention too?

The messy bed head look is what first attracted me to the doodle breed, I love love love the scruffy look! Then their personality and love for water was the clencher although I have a defective doodle who can't swim! lol She kicks out to the sides as supposed to down and back so she can't keep her butt up. She still loves the water and that's what counts, a life vest solves the sinking butt issue. Ü

[KLN]

Haha, that's funny! Finley will not go anywhere near the water, so strange. And yes, his hair sounds exactly like sassparillas. I guess we got the "super bed head" doodles, lol!

[Julie Kudron]

Maxwell won't go near the water either. He's definitely not a swimmer.
As far as hair types go, he is usually very soft, but his rear end tends to be a bit wiry feeling compared to rest of him.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Ned has very curly areas under his neck and ears, but the rest is like dreadlocks if left alone, which I love. However, he has to be brushed and combed out because he mats.  Let me see if I can find a puppy picture of him that shows the curly-straight combo.

[KLN]

Oh my gosh nancy, that is Finn! It's almost the exact same coat and even close coloring! He is quite cute! ;0). I need to try and find a pic close to yours to upload!