As a pet parent, you know just how important grooming is for a pet’s health and happiness. Regular grooming and cleaning keep your beloved pet in good condition.
Dogs, in particular, require a lot of care and attention. While many pet parents visit professional groomers, it is not cheap. To save a few bucks, you can groom your Golden doodle at home.
Grooming is not hard when you know what needs to be done when. There are some simple rules to taking care of your pet that you can follow and avoid the hassle of going to the groomer.
Grooming Your Goldendoodle
Grooming is a necessity, much like food, playtime, and regular visits to the vet. Some dogs require much more grooming than others. If you own a Doodle or a Poodle, you know just how important it is to take care of the fur.
Regardless of the breed, you must have your dog’s fur regularly brushed, washed, and trimmed. Clip their nails and make sure they are free of fleas and bugs.
Moreover, using a Goldendoodle shampoo is not enough, grooming takes care of your dog’s entire body, and bathing is just one small part of it. As long as you have the basic knowledge of how and when to groom your Goldendoodle, you can save yourself a fortune.
7 At-Home Care Tips for Your Goldendoodle:
Here are seven great ways you can keep your Goldendoodle’s grooming in top shape right in the comfort of your own home:
1. Know When Your Goldendoodle Needs a Bath
Bathing is a basic part of grooming. Dogs like to play outside and getting dirty is simply a part of life. Just like we need to take regular baths to keep clean, our dogs are the same.
The most important thing, however, is to understand that while you may take a bath daily, your dog does not require bathing quite a soften.
Goldendoodles, specifically, have very sensitive skin which can become dry easily. Bathing your Goldendoodle once or twice each month is enough. Your dog will remain clean without having its skin stripped of its natural moisturizer.
You can use a Goldendoodle shampoo recommended by your vet or one that has good ratings. Make sure to use a shampoo meant for puppies if you are dealing with a pup to avoid harsh chemicals.
2. Weekly Brushing Sessions
Goldendoodles are known for not shedding as much as some other breeds of dogs. While this is a good thing as far as cleaning up is concerned, it does mean that their fur requires extra attention.
Shedding is a natural process that gets rid of dead and fragile hair. Since Goldendoodles do not experience much natural shedding, you need to step in to help. Brush the fur of your Goldendoodle once a week.
Brushing is a great activity. It is relaxing for your dog, and you can bond with each other while doing it. Not only does brushing gets rid of dead hair, but it also detangles the fur and increases circulation, which helps with fur growth further.
If you want to indulge your Goldendoodle, there are leave-in conditioners available for dogs. Conditioners make taking out the tangles easier and make the fur feel soft, making it seem like your dog just got back from the groomers.
3. Trimming on the Regular
Related to a Goldendoodle’s lack of shedding is the need for regular hair trimming. Doodles’ hair can grow fast, which can cause a hindrance. Hair around the eyes and the mouth is especially troublesome.
While cutting your dog’s hair is not an easy task and requires a professional touch, a small trimming job is easily manageable at home.
Home trimming is recommended since your dog will feel more comfortable at home in a familiar setting. Make sure to have good-quality scissors made specifically for cutting hair. Kitchen shears will not do. Just snip away at the ends whenever you feel your dog needs a trim.
4. Clipping the Nails
Dogs’ nails can grow sharp fast. Overgrown nails are a danger to others as well as the dogs themselves. You can get clippers designed for dogs and owning one can save you from going to the groomers every month.
Remember to take off just enough, not too much or too little. It is helpful to put on relaxing music or do it while your dog is sleepy, so they remain calm. Do not rush the process and take your time, so you do not make any mistakes.
5. Cleaning out the Ears
Clean out your Goldendoodle’s ears while you are bathing them. If there is any hair inside, you can trim them since that can lead to bacteria.
You can use a cotton bud after the bath to clean out the ears on the inside as well. Many dogs find it uncomfortable but cleaning the ears is a necessary part of grooming.
6. Start Young
A helpful secret to good grooming is creating a habit. If you start with all these grooming techniques regularly when your Goldendoodle is just a pup, you are sure to get a more docile response.
Your dog will learn to expect to groom, even if they may not look forward to the idea. It is also easier to control puppies, especially when cleaning the ears or clipping the nails. Starting young is a huge help.
7. Replicate What You See at The Groomer
If you do not feel confident in your ability to clip your dog’s nails or bath them properly, then taking them to the groomer’s is a good idea.
It is, however, better to observe and learn the techniques they use and the products they apply. This way, you can learn to give the full treatment to your Goldendoodle right at your home. It takes some trial and error, but you can get the basics quickly.
Grooming your Dog in the Comfort of your Home
At-home grooming has many pros. Aside from the obvious one of saving your money and the pain of scheduling an appointment and going to the groomer’s, there are many other reasons.
Your dog is much more comfortable at home and prefers a familiar touch. Dogs can get anxious around strangers and new settings. With at-home grooming, you can save your dog the discomfort.
Another huge advantage is the bonding it creates. Brushing your dog’s fur or massaging them is a bonding activity for both of you. It creates deeper feelings of love and trust.
