Guest post by Brett Elliot
Goldendoodles are bundles of pure joy, bringing with them the best of both breeds. Intelligence, an abundance of love, and the happiest faces ever seen on a dog. But with Goldendoodles, as with all dogs, comes responsibility.
Grooming requirements will differ depending on the genetics of the goldendoodle you have, and a little bit on the luck of the draw, unless you know the parent dogs’ coat genetics. F1b, F2, F3 and multigenerational goldendoodles tend to have minimal or non-shedding coats, inheriting more of the poodle. F1 Goldendoodles, which are a cross between a purebred golden retriever and a purebred poodle, are a toss-up and more likely to have a slightly shedding coat. You can use genetics to select a goldendoodle that has minimal to non-shedding coat.
There are pluses and minuses to each. But here’s a few things you may not have thought of:
Retriever Fur vs Poodle Hair
Brushing should be a regular part of grooming your goldendoodle regardless of what type of coat your fur-baby has. You’re not just caring for the coat, you’re also checking for ticks, burs, mats, and scratches. If you do get burs or mats or ticks, it’s easier to remove those from retriever-type fur. Poodle ‘fur’ is really just ultra-soft hair, and it’s a bit more sensitive to pulling which happens a fair bit after romping through thistle in late summer. And because it’s hair you need to give extra special attention to regular grooming. Letting a small problem fester too long can become a really big problem that is painful for your pup.
Heavy shedding gets everywhere. Literally.
If you’ve owned a heavy shedder, you probably already know this. Or if you have multiple dogs who are light shedders, you may be overwhelmed with dog fur as if you had a full-grown husky in the house. But when we say everywhere, we mean everywhere, and it can actually cause unexpected wear and tear on your home.
One HVAC company has even noted the importance of grooming your pets as all that fur gets sucked into the ductwork and makes its way to the furnace. If the furnace filter gets clogged up, it forces the entire system to work harder, potentially causing premature component failure. Who knew?
Similarly, owners of heavy shedders should be sure to do a little special maintenance on the washing machine. Dog hair goes onto your clothes, your bedding, their bedding, etc. and when you wash it, it comes off…right into the washing machine. Consumer Reports suggests that wet clumps of hair from our favorite furry friends can clog the drains, which doesn’t sound good. They have some helpful tips as well to get rid of all that hair.
For both HVAC and washing machines, the number one recommendation to prevent problems is to take good care of your pup with regular grooming, bathing, and cleaning.
You can train your dog to be calm during grooming
Some goldendoodles love being groomed. And some don’t! And others like it but cannot sit still and will lead you on a merry chase across the house. Here’s a couple of tips to get your goldendoodle acclimated to regular grooming.
First, you should be starting when your goldendoodle is just a puppy. You don’t need to wait for them to hit a certain age before you’re brushing them regularly. Because both poodles and golden retrievers are retrieving breeds, goldendoodles are notorious for putting anything and everything in their mouths and keep themselves occupied by tearing up whatever they can get their teeth on.
Pro-tip: keep the tissue box away from the puppy!
But you can use their natural mouthy proclivities to your advantage. Bring your puppy’s toys to one spot within arm’s reach while you groom your dog. Give them something to keep them occupied while you get them used to the sensation.
Spend extra time inspecting paws and ears while they’re distracted. Vets need to be able to inspect these areas, and grooming rituals desensitize them to the practice. And finally, get yourself some training treats to keep on hand. Whenever your pup lets you brush her calmly, reward her. Goldendoodles are very smart and commonly motivated by food. If they begin to associate regular grooming with treats and toys, they will be conditioned to behave politely while you groom them.
Guest post by Brett Elliot