In recent years, there has been a trend among dog lovers to choose doodles instead of many other varieties of mixed-breed dogs. Labradoodles, Goldendoodles and other poodle-mixed breeds tend to make great family pets because of their good nature, intelligence and trainability.
However, one reason that some pet parents are choosing doodles – low grooming maintenance – actually isn’t true. For those who have or are considering a doodle for their family pet, let’s take a look at the facts about their grooming requirements. Knowing the facts will not only help keep your doodle happy and healthy, but also help align your grooming expectations with reality.
No-Shedding Myth
Some doodle owners are misinformed on the topic of shedding. There is a popular belief that poodles and poodle-mixed breeds do not shed. In reality, they do shed. However, especially among the varieties that have tightly curled coats, the shed hair becomes trapped in the curly coat and does not spread around your house. Thus, it appears that doodles do not shed. Along with the trapped hair, then, comes additional responsibilities in the area of maintenance and grooming.
Low Maintenance Myth
Some pet parents are choosing doodles because they’ve heard they are low-maintenance pets when it comes to their grooming needs. Actually, because most doodle varieties have curly or wavy coats, they require almost daily brushing and combing. Using a slicker brush (the kind with fine metal pins) will remove the shed hair that becomes trapped beneath the curls. Daily brushing will deter matting, which is important because matting can lead to other serious health problems.
After brushing, comb through your doodle’s coat using a metal greyhound comb (also known as a finishing comb). Combing after brushing not only removes additional trapped hair but also helps to smooth wavy coats and fluff up tightly curled coats.
Bathing and Grooming Myths
As the owner of a dog with doodle-hair, you may hear that you can save money on grooming by bathing him at home. The truth is, a professional groomer is better equipped to manage a doodle’s bath. First of all, playful doodles may be hard to handle in a tub (especially Labradoodles, who mostly enjoy playing in water). Additionally, they shouldn’t be towel dried and allowed to air-dry when damp. Dampness can weigh down their hair and cause matting. Doodles must be gently – and completely – blown dry to avoid matting and to ensure their coat remains fluffy and soft.
Furthermore, along with bathing, doodle-haired dogs require professional grooming about once every month to six weeks to decrease the likelihood of matting and skin problems. Only doodle puppies younger than one year old won’t require frequent grooming because their coats must first undergo some developmental changes.
Doodle-dog parents, it’s always best to become educated by talking with a professional groomer, your veterinarian and other doodle-dog owners. PetWow can help! Schedule an appointment today by calling 513-738-9691 or email [email protected]. Our fully mobile Home Veterinary Care has provided top-notch animal care for more than 20 years, and we offer a pet taxi to provide round-trip transportation to our expert groomers. We now serve more than 20,000 pets throughout the Greater Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky area, and are looking forward to getting to know you and your pets. For more pet care tips, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest or LinkedIn!
