Have you ever wished you could sit down with a professional dog groomer and pour out your copious questions about goldendoodle coat maintenance and grooming? Your dream has come true! We had the wonderful opportunity to interview Allison Camp from You Dirty Dog grooming salon in New Town, Ohio to get the inside scoop about what groomers recommend for goldendoodles. Here’s your chance to glean from her years of experience!
How often do you recommend that goldendoodles go to the groomer?
Allison: It depends on the look you want. Goldendoodles kept in clips with a longer hair length need professional grooming every 6-8 weeks. If you keep your goldendoodle in a shorter clip, you can take her for grooming every 8-10 weeks.
Do you prefer goldendoodle owners to show you a picture or give you a description of how they want their dog clipped?
Allison: I much prefer a picture over a description! I find that often times the description someone gives me doesn’t quite match the picture in their head. A picture is much better for showing me what you actually want.
How much does it cost to groom a goldendoodle?
Allison: In the Cincinnati area, grooming usually costs $50-$80 depending on the size of dog and whether the coat is matted. Goldendoodles often love to swim but chlorine really mats up the coat. If your dog will be swimming regularly in a chlorine pool, keep her in a short clip.
What brushes do you recommend for goldendoodles?
Allison: My two brushes of choice are a slicker brush with a curve at the end and a metal comb. I use these for all goldendoodles, no matter the coat type.
How often do goldendoodles need to be brushed?
Allison: Honestly, it depends on the hair length. A really short clip may not require any brushing until it starts to grow out while a longer clip may require daily brushing. More frequent brushing is needed for a curlier coat. Also be sure to brush the burs out of your dog’s coat after hikes and definitely brush your dog before and after baths.
How frequently should a goldendoodle be bathed?
Allison: You actually don’t need to bathe your goldendoodle between grooming appointments unless she is smelly or dirty. Try to bathe your goldendoodle maybe once a month at most. Bathing too frequently can dry out your dog’s skin, which may cause itching. If you notice that your goldendoodle has a continuous bad smell, check for a yeast infection. If you have cut back on the frequency of bathing and your goldendoodle still seems to be itching, try switching to a chicken-free, corn-free dog food like Fromm.
What shampoo do you recommend for goldendoodles?
Allison: I really like Fresh & Clean because it is an oatmeal based shampoo with a built-in conditioner, which means no additional rinsing. I also like Show Season shampoo.
Besides regular brushing and occasional baths, what other grooming should I be doing with my goldendoodle at home between appointments?
Allison: Check your goldendoodle’s ears regularly, plucking hair out of the ear canal as needed and making sure the ears don’t have a foul smell.
I want to give my goldendoodle a sanitary clip between grooming appointments. What clippers do you recommend?
Allison: Any Andis clippers would be a good choice. If you are just doing a sanitary clip, one or two speed clippers will suffice. If you plan on doing a total groom, consider purchasing more expensive Andis five-speed clippers.