Today we're gonna talk all things doodle self-care!
When we were growing up, we had a Golden Retriever named Happy, and his grooming upkeep (despite the shedding everywhere) was pretty non-existent. We never had to pluck hair from his ears, cut his hair, etc. You can imagine, when we got our first doodles, it came as a huge surprise that these were areas of upkeep you needed to pay attention to!
So today's post is going to cover:
What areas of upkeep you need to maintain
Products that are helpful
The timeline of these maintenance activities
Tips & tricks
Grooming Part 1: Haircuts & Brushing
Did you know that Doodles, Poodles, and most hypoallergenic breeds have hair vs fur? Dogs with hair (vs fur) have coats that will continue to grow indefinitely, and so they require regular haircuts.
How often your doodle goes for a trim is dependant on two things:
How long/short you like their coat length to be, and
How well you keep up with maintaining it with brushing/combing in between haircuts.
If you like your dog's hair to be at that perfect "teddy bear" length, you will want to brush through tangles and matts several times a week with a good firm bristle brush & metal comb (making sure to brush all the way down to the base of their coat), and then take them for regular "upkeep" haircuts every 8 weeks. *This length can only be achieved when the coat is properly maintained between grooming appointments.
If you like your dog long & shaggy, you can go a lot longer in-between haircuts, however, it's harder to keep them matt/knot free the longer their hair is, and the chance of their coat needing to be shaved shorter when you do go for a haircut is a lot higher a possibility. A shave-down is not a bad thing -- you just need to have realistic expectations, and not expect your groomer to be able to work "teddy-bear magic" with an unmaintained and or knotty coat.
In summary:
Brush: At minimum weekly, or several times a week if you want more possibilities at your grooming appointments
Bathe: Once a month is a good habit. You can go longer, but that's what we like.
Haircuts: Every 8 weeks for the "teddy-bear cut" (which is roughly 1/2" body, 1" legs, rounded muzzle, head, ears, and paws) or up to every 4-6 months for a longer shaggy look, provided you're okay with a shave-down. Remember to always bring pictures of what you like to your groomer for reference!
➡️ PRODUCTS: SHAMPOO | BRUSH | COMB | BLOW-DRYER | CLIPPER KIT
Grooming Part 2: Nails & Paws
Your doodle will need their nails trimmed once every 2-3 weeks. The longer you go in-between trimming, the longer the "quick" (aka, the vein in the nail) grows. Staying on top of regular trimming not only helps the nails to stay at a good length and the quick not grow too far down the nail, but if the nails grow too long, it can disrupt their foot structure and hurt them when they walk.
In summary:
Put a reminder in your phone to trim nails every 2-3 weeks!
If your dog's paws are getting rough, dry or cracky, whether from extreme cold, heat or just too much fun adventuring, you can apply this super moisturizing (non-toxic) paw balm on a daily basis till they soften/heal back to their normal self. Always a great product to have on the shelf for just in case!
The groomer will trim the hair in-between the paw pads at their haircut appointment, however, if you're going quite long in-between haircuts, it's advised to take them in just for paw pad, eye and sanitary trims (or do it yourself at home -- below is a clipper/grooming kit you can have on hand for these things).
➡️ PRODUCTS: NAIL TRIMMER | PAW BALM | CLIPPER KIT
Grooming Part 3: Ears
I think this one aspect of doodle care is largely forgotten, but is oh so important!
Not all doodles are as hairy as others, however, it's quite normal (especially the more poodle % there is) for your doodle to get quite hairy inside their ear canals.
The hair can inhibit proper ventilation, and sweat, dirt & grime, earwax and water from baths/swimming, etc, can all make a great breeding ground for bacteria buildup and infections. That's why it's important to frequently check inside their ears, pluck excess hair (yes, pluck), and use some gentle cleaner to remove any wax/residue you may find.
The hair inside their ears comes out fairly easily, sometimes you can pull it out with your fingers (which is the best way to start, especially if your dog doesn't like you fiddling around in them) but its handy to have a pair of tweezers in case. Remember, the ear canal doesn't need to be bare, just not so bushy that ventilation is suffering. Pluck small amounts at a time for easiest (and gentlest) hair removal.
If they have wax buildup, yeast, or any other kind of fluid/debri, we love using Legendary Canine's ear cleaner. Its gentle, cleansing, and smells amazing.
In summary:
Check your doodle's ears at least once a month, removing excess hair and cleaning any wax if necessary.
TIPS: We highly recommend using a headlamp for this! It's no use trying to clean something you can barely see, so pull that camping headlamp out of storage or get a new one. You can thank us later ;)
A NOTE ON DIET/ALLERGIES: Your dog can get ear infections from allergies, whether environmental, chemical, or diet related. We were informed by our vet that a lot of dogs are allergic to chicken, and that irritation can be reflected in itchy and inflamed ears. When we removed chicken from our dogs diet, a few weeks later, the ear problems left too. So keep that in mind!
➡️ PRODUCTS: EAR CLEANER
Grooming Part 4: Teeth
A lot of people don't know that proper gut health and a species appropriate diet is actually a huge component to oral health, for any breed! Your dog's breath, teeth, and overall oral health is going to be 100% better on a high quality raw diet vs a high carb kibble, so keep that in mind before anything else.
As far as teeth brushing, it's always a good habit and one that you won't be sorry you started early with your pup. We recommend starting with your finger to get them used to you doing something in their mouth. Run your finger along their gums, up and down. As they get comfortable with that, you can start using a toothbrush. It doesn't have to be a specifically pet designed toothbrush, anything works.
Coconut oil is a good "toothpaste", is safe, and they enjoy the taste.
TIP: If your dog likes balls, try having them hold a rubber ball in their mouth while you brush. This props their mouth open naturally without you having to hold it open, and if you're lucky, they are distracted on the "job" of holding something they like in their mouth and will be less fussy.
Another great option for maintaining good oral health is yearly (non-sedation) teeth cleaning.
If you're in the Calgary area, we would highly recommend checking out Pooch Dental! Nadiya offers sedation-free, holistic teeth cleaning that is gentle, budget friendly, and gives an amazing before & after that will truly wow you.
Check her out below...
In summary: Brush their teeth a few times a week, for exposure & desensitization as much as cleaning.
Make sure to research and invest in a good quality raw diet for long-term health.
Schedule yearly teeth cleaning to keep on top of plaque/tartar buildup!
➡️ BUSINESS: POOCH DENTAL TEETH CLEANING
And there you have it! The 4 components of doodle self care you want to keep in mind for a happy, healthy, and attractive doodle companion ;)
We hope this helped you understand more about the breed and some of their needs!
-The Rocky Legend Doodles Team
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