Guest Post by We Love Doodles
Because of Covid-19, many groomers have been shut down which forces pet owners to find a way to groom their own dogs — especially doodle dogs. Since doodles are mostly non-shedding, they grow hair instead of fur that regularly sheds which means that they need to be groomed in order to prevent the inevitable tangles and mattes.
For many dog owners, it’s unlikely that you have ever groomed your dog before. If you’re like most people, you usually drop them off at the groomers and pick them up a few hours later. Well, grooming your dog isn’t an easy task, and it’s likely that you’re going to struggle for a few hours until you develop a good grooming process. Today we will give you 10 dog grooming tips to make your experience a little bit easier!
10 Tips for Grooming Your Own Doodle
- Patience is the key to a good grooming. If it’s your first time grooming your dog, understand that this isn’t a 30 minute undertaking. Budget at least 2 hours to groom your dog – and even that’s considered fast. Even though grooming is a several hour procedure, don’t feel like you need to get the entire haircut completed all in one sitting. Both you and your dog will benefit if you break it into several smaller sessions.
- Brush your dog first. Brush out all the tangles before using hair clippers and before bathing. If you don’t brush out all the tangles and mattes before cutting the hair of your dog, the haircut will turn out uneven. In addition, it’s very difficult (and painful for your dog) to cut through thick mattes. Always brush your Goldendoodle before you cut her hair! And bathing a matted doodle can make the mattes even worse. Brushing must happen before anything else!
- Bathe your dog. Prior to grooming and brushing, I like to bathe my dog to get rid of all the debris and loose hair within their fur. Bathing also helps make sure that your dog is clean and you won’t have to do bathe them during a separate session.
- Clippers blades get HOT. If you’ve never groomed your dog before, know that the blade clippers will start to get hot after about 20 minutes of use. Sometimes you have to take a break or buy some blade coolant in order to prevent hurting your dog.
- Ask a friend for help. If you have someone else in your household who is willing to help, ask for their assistance. It’s much easier to groom your dog with multiple hands. Someone can feed your dog treats or distract her while you cut her hair.
- Mistakes will be made. Your dog’s hair will always grow back so don’t worry too much about the mistakes. It’s highly likely that you’re going to make a mistake because your dog likes to move around while you trim her hair. It’s okay, you’re still learning and even the best groomers make mistakes.
- Nail trimming is part of grooming. While your dog is on her pet leash or grooming table, don’t forget to cut or dremel her nails. Most owners forgot to cut their dog’s nails and they tend to be overgrown. If dog nails get too long, they start to grow in a “C” pattern which can hurt the bottom of their paws.
- Don’t forget about teeth brushing. Teeth brushing is arguably more important than dog grooming. If you don’t regularly brush your dog’s teeth, chances are they will need to have some type of oral surgery before the age of two. You can prevent oral surgery with regular teeth brushing. While you’re grooming, it’s a great time to brush your dog’s teeth.
- Bring lots of treats. If it’s your first time grooming, the best way to distract your dog is with lots of treats. Whether it’s a bully stick or lots of chew treats, your dog will be more likely to let you groom them with treats.
- Positive reinforcement. Grooming your dog is also a chance to train your dog. When she sits still and lets you trim her nails or cut her hair, you should be praising her! Your goal with your dog is to make every experience a positive one and grooming is no exception. Positive reinforcement is the best way to train your dog and will make grooming your dog easier in the future.
Grooming your dog is tough, especially if it’s your first time. As you gain experience through practice and as your dog gets used to being groomed, the process not only becomes a lot easier but also a lot faster. For more dog tips and products, you can also check out Care Of My Dog. Remember to always have fun while grooming your dog. It’s going to be a good learning experience for both of you.
Ready to get started?
Here are a few helpful resources to check out before you begin: