Grooming for a new doodle puppy?

[Misty R.]

Hi all! I am loving my sweet goldendoodle puppy, Jack, but I'm a little nervous about caring for his coat properly. I've been researching, but I'm not sure that everything I'm reading applies to an almost 9-week-old puppy.

I'm really not sure whether his coat would be called wool or fleece...it's very full, fluffy, and fuzzy, and it doesn't shed at all. I have been brushing him, which seemed to be going okay, then I read that I should use a steel comb and start at the skin. Not so easy!! It just doesn't want to pull through easily, and I certainly don't want to hurt the little guy! But, I also don't want him to get mats. I'm not familiar with long-haired dogs, but his hair just seems like it would be one big mat waiting to happen! What should I be doing to his coat at this age? Is this difficulty in combing normal? Is there some type of product that is safe for puppies but will make combing easier?

Also, he does have a "puppy" smell, and loves to run around outside, so has gotten into a little mud...is it time for a bath? J&J baby shampoo seems to be a choice for some puppy owners...will that work? I also have some Mane & Tail at home, or I can buy something else.

Thanks in advance for any advice you may have! I'm just loving all of the good info on this site.

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Hi Misty ~ your little Jack is so darn cute!  I have two ALDs (one is a very thick fleece the other is very fleecy too, but does not have as dense of hair.  Neither shed.  I bought the Les Pooch brush when Charlie was a puppy (the one with the yellow top - it is for puppy coat).  They are not cheap, but I would not be without them.  Now that Charlie is an adult I generally use the double purple top one which is for denser hair.  There is a member on this sight (Kemp Radar) who sells them on his site Doodlecountry.com.  If you email Kemp, he will be able to help you choose the right brush.  You need to line brush and if you are not sure how to do that, look it up on this sight in the grooming group, I think they show an example.  Once you have a section brushed out, you then go through with a steel comb.  That way your little guy will not get mats.  If you are doing your own bathing, you really should be careful that all the little tangles are out before you bath, otherwise mats will start and be much harder to get out.

When the boys were younger, I used wet wipes to gently wipe them down and it made them smell better.  Now, they get a bath about every 2 mos or so.

Good luck.  I see you have joined the grooming group - that should help.  BTW - welcome to Doodle Kisses!

[Julie Taylor]

Jack is the cutest. I don't have answers. Shaka , I bathe him about once a week. He love sto have his hair dried with a hairdryer, and then I brush him. I use the Furminator brush. This was recommended by our breeder. It works well. We are new to puppy hood as well. Shaka is 4 months old.  I am learning right along with you.

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Hi Julie - I just saw your post concerning weekly bathing of your puppy.  Have you checked with your vet on that?  Mine vet did not recommend weekly bathing when my doodles were puppies because it dries out their skin and will then cause them to itch.  Curious what other replies will have to say.  BTW - Your puppy is so cute! 

[Melissa Angelini]

Hi,  Bathing a puppy once a week should be fine in my experience.  I have four doodles and bathe them once a week.  They are now 8, 6, 6, and 5 . I always bathed them once a week since they were pups and they were also breeding dogs. We have had many pups with our three females and I also bathed the pups from when they were about 3 weeks old once a week.  We have never had any problems with dry skin.  I have since became a groomer and the majority of my clients are labradoodles and it really depends on the dog and what the diet is and the skin typeand  what shampoo you use.  I recommend to my clients fish oil every day and I use Equaas products when I groom and if a client has a problem I would recommend the medicated shampoo and conditioner.There is also a a product by equaas call survivor for matts and shine.  Very little goes a long way. Rub a bit in your hands and run it over the pup and give a brush and you should be good.     Its great for matts and any kind of problem skin.  I  also recommend no processed treats.  I only give my dogs natural treats.  I feel it  has made a difference.  The more exposure to grooming the better for the pup.  I always did some kind of grooming to them every week.  Now they all fight to go on the table.  Good Luck with the new pup ! 

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Melissa ~ thanks for the info. Do you mean EQYSS?  That is the only close I could find googling!.

[Julie Taylor]

Thanks for the tip. I never thought otherwise on bathing him (oops!).. I have an appt this week with the vet and will ask. We give him, fish oil and flaxseed in his meals, if that makes any difference.  I should also add.. I bathe him weekly as part of my flea / tick prevention. So far so good.  I really appreciate you expertise~ thank you!

[Misty R.]

Thanks Linda. I will definitely contact Kemp Radar about the brush.

[Misty R.]

Thanks, Julie. I actually have a furminator for my other dogs, but it didn't seem like it would work on Jack's fuzzy coat.

[Marie Dennen]

Start grooming early! It is just like other training. They need to learn how to be housebroken. They need to learn how to walk on a leash. They need to learn how to be groomed. Doodles are HIGH maintenance when it comes to grooming depending on they type of coat they have and type of haircut you want. I love how you said his coat is just one big matt waiting to happen!! So true!!! I may have to use that. That tells me you get it. My perspective is from being a doodle owner AND a groomer. There is nothing worse than a doodle owner that shows up in the salon with a six month or older puppy that has never been to the groomer.  Those customers usually do not end up with the haircut they want because of the condition of the coat. Even if you plan on doing a lot of it yourself, get him in to a groomer, at some point in the dog's life you will need the services of a groomer and it is good to have different people handle him so he gets used to it. I have really scaled my business  and my doodle customers down. ( I am in semi- retirement , ha ha or at least trying to) But when I had my salon I offered  a puppy special until they were 6 months. It was discounted to encourage people to get in more often so I could train their puppy for a lifetime of grooming. Come to think of it, I think all my current doodles started with that special..Try finding a groomer like that and one that takes some time to teach you to brush and comb. I agree with line brushing. Get all the tangles out and keep the comb going through. It should touch the skin and glide through butter Earth bath has a no dye, no fragrance hypoallergenic shampoo, I like tropiclean puppy shampoo too. You can get both at the big box stores

[Gerri]

I, too, am a new doodle owner. McDuff is 14 weeks with a fluffy fleece coat. The girls at the vets call him Mcfluff. There seems to be a wealth of info here. So far I haven't had any problems with his coat but I will definitely use these suggestions to try to stay on top of it. Thanks