Welcome to your one-stop resource for everything related to goldendoodle grooming! The graphics below are incredibly helpful for explaining to how describe different components of a goldendoodle haircut. Take screenshots of a few of your favorite pictures from our site to take to the groomer next time your doodle needs a trim. As you explore our site, you’ll find answers to some of the most commonly asked goldendoodle haircut questions such as:
When should a goldendoodle puppy go to the groomer for the first time?
If you’re wondering when to take your fluffy goldendoodle to the groomer for the first time, you’re not alone! They'll only have cotton-ball-like puppy coat this one time, and you’re not quite ready for them to look all grownup. But they seem kind of hot and, if you’re honest with yourself, you know their hair is looking a little out of control. What do you do?
The first trip to the groomer
Your puppy has (hopefully!) had their nails clipped and hair trimmed during their time at the breeder before joining your home. They should have already had their initial introduction to their lifetime of being groomed. Your goldendoodle puppy should visit a professional groomer for the first time after their 16-week immunizations. Be sure to request a “puppy clip.” The groomer will bathe them, trim the hair out of their eyes, give a sanitary clip, and trim their nails. Since they will need regular grooming throughout their life, both the dog and their groomer will benefit if they are accustomed to being groomed from a young age.
The first big girl or big boy haircut
The wavy, curly adult coat will start replacing the soft, fluffy puppy coat around 5-6 months of age. You’ll notice the new hair coming in is kinkier than the pure fluff on top. Waiting to cut the hair until the adult coat makes its debut beneath the layers of puppy fur helps ensure that the adult coat remains soft. Poodle groomers and poodle fanciers claim that shaving a poodle or goldendoodle down before their adult coat starts coming in could damage the adult coat, affecting the texture. While there isn’t any substantiated evidence that this is true, it’s worth avoiding just in case. Take your goldendoodle puppy for their first full big doodle haircut at 5-6 months of age, once their adult coat has started coming in. That doesn’t mean that your puppy might not benefit from a puppy clip in the meantime! Don’t let your puppy’s hair get out of control! As aforementioned, take them to the groomer for a puppy clip after their 16-week immunizations.
Before your first big trip to the groomer for that full haircut, spend time looking through pictures of goldendoodle haircuts.
Grooming at home
Waiting until 6 months for the first full big doodle clip does not mean you’re off the hook for grooming at home! You should regularly groom your puppy: brushing their hair, cleaning their ears, brushing their teeth, clipping their toenails, and checking for any anomalies (i.e. ticks, cuts, etc.). You want your puppy to become accustomed to being brushed from a young age. Do the brief bonding exercise with your puppy each night before bed to ensure she is used to being touched and handled. Your groomer with thank you. Trust me.
How do I trim my goldendoodle’s face myself?
It's been a while since your goldendoodle's last grooming appointment, and she's beginning to resemble Chewbacca. It's cold outside and she's not quite ready for a full groom, but poor Chewie can hardly see. How do you groom a goldendoodle's face? Don't worry! It's easy. You can do it!
First, gather your blunt tipped scissors(aka ball tipped scissors), thinning shears, and steel comb. Then tell your favorite Wookiee it's time for a transformation!
Let's Uncover Those Eyes!
Using your blunt tipped scissors, carefully trim the hair trim away from your goldendoodle's eyes at an angle, as shown in the picture. The scissor will cut a sharp line, so, once you have removed an ample amount of hair revealing your pup's eyes, use your thinning shears to rough up the line and give your dog a more care-free appearance.
Away With The Beard!
Gently brush your doodle's face using a steel comb. Then chop off the excess beard using your blunt tipped scissorsand trim the hair around her in an oval shape. Once your have removed the bulk of the excess hair, using your thinning shears to blend your lines. Your dog will seen be feeling much less like Santa Clause!
Fluff Off The Top
Pull out that steel comb again and carefully brush the top of your goldendoodle's head, being sure to remove any mats or debris. Next use your blunt tipped scissors to trim her top knot. I prefer a flatter top that gently angels into the ears without an abrupt line (as generally seen on poodles). Once you are generally happy with the overall shape, again use your thinning shears to blend your lines.
Long Ears No Longer
Gently brush the ears using a steel comb. Then snip off the excess ear length using your blunt tipped scissors, being careful not to cut the ear leather. I like to follow the natural shape of the dog's ear. Once are happy with the shape of one ear, use your scissors to trim the other to match. Pull both ears towards your dog's nose to make sure they are approximately the same length.
When you have achieved generally uniform ear length and shape of your liking, use your thinning shears to blend your lines. We prefer our goldendoodles with shorter ears. You may find that a different length looks best on your dog.
Step back and look at your dog. You will undoubtedly find a few stray hairs to trim.
A Fresh Face!You did it! You transformed Chewbacca into a cute, cuddly teddy bear!
How Much Does It Cost To Groom A Goldendoodle?
What should you expect when you take your goldendoodle to the groomer? Each time you take your doodle for professional grooming, the groomer will bathe your dog, trim her nails, pluck the hair out of her ear canals, give her a sanitary clip (trim under her tail & under her belly to keep the potty areas clean), and cut the remainder of her hair however you desire. As I'm sure you can imagine, this is a fairly time intensive process and as a result, most groomers will have you drop your dog off for a couple hours if not for the entire day. When you drop your doodle off, the groomer will ask you how you want her hair cut. It might take several groomings to determine you favorite doodle doo, so if you don't like the first clip, simply try a different cut next time.
The cost of professional grooming varies greatly. Factors such as the size of your dog, whether your dog's coat is matted, and whether you design a complicated clip involving a lot of scissoring. For a mini goldendoodle under 20lbs, professional grooming starts at $55 +tip (in VA) and goes up from there. Grooming for a standard goldendoodle can cost significantly more. Just as you tip your own beautician, be sure to tip your doodle's hair stylist as well. If the cost of grooming is a concern there are a few measures you can take to help stretch out the time between grooming appointments.
How often does a doodle need to go to the groomer?
It varies from dog to dog but largely depends on how short you have your doodle's hair clipped and how frequently you brush your doodle. For a curly coated doodle, expect to take them to the groomer every 2 months or so. For a wavy coated doodle with a shorter clip, you likely will be able to space their grooming appointments further out. Doodles with curlier coats require more frequent brushing to prevent matting than those with wavier or straighter coats. Having your goldendoodle's hair cut to a shorter length (i.e. 3/4") means it will take longer to grow out, thereby extending the time between grooming trips. In between professional grooming, your doodle will need you to trim hair out of their eyes and give her a quick sanitary clip. Find out the answers to many common doodle grooming questions in our interview with a professional dog groomer!
Don't Poodle My Doodle!
You may have heard the phrase "don't poodle my doodle!" This generally means that you want your doodle to have a shaggier appearance and you don't want the traditional clean feet & clean face associated with the poodle kennel clip. Even with a full face and rounded feet, your dog might still look a little poodly because it is! The best way to help your doodle maintain a shaggy appearance is to brush them regularly. Neglecting to brush your doodle can lead to mats. Mats are extremely difficult to comb out, even for groomers, and if there are too many your groomer will simply shave down your ball of fluff to remove the mats. The longer you keep your doodle's coat, the more frequently you will need to brush them. If you find that your doodle has mats, try to brush them out prior to taking them to the groomer. Bringing in a good example pictures helps the groomer know the exact style you're looking for.
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