Should you consider adding a Doodle dog to your family, you have come to the right place. This article will discuss the common question, are Doodle Dogs high maintenance? Keep reading to learn more.
Doodle dogs have become increasingly popular in the recent past. They are a favorite for many dog owners because of their outgoing personalities.
They are friendly, playful, loyal dogs that make great family pets. These adorable dogs inherit the best traits from two different purebred breeds.
Generally, most Doodle dogs tend to have low-shedding coats considered hypoallergenic. This makes them a great option for individuals with dog allergies.
These dogs are highly intelligent and love to please their owners. Their high intelligence makes them easy to train and socialize with people and other pets.
While Doodle dogs have nonshedding and hypoallergenic coats, they are high-maintenance pets that need regular grooming.
You must brush and bathe them regularly to help them maintain their healthy and quality coats.
However, it is important to note that grooming needs will vary depending on the Doodle breed, coat type, and the conditions in which your furry friend lives.
In addition to regular grooming, these energetic and active dogs need plenty of exercise.
Doodle Grooming Needs
Doodle dogs can vary in coat types, so they must be taken individually regarding their grooming needs.
Whether you are grooming your furry friend yourself or you are taking them to a professional groomer, finding a regular brushing routine is highly recommended.
Once you find a professional groomer, which most Doodle owners prefer, finding a routine at home to “maintain” your pet between grooming visits is still necessary.
Good grooming will help your dog feel and look their best. Regular grooming sessions will also allow you to examine your dog’s nails, ears, eyes, teeth, ears, and coat for signs of any health issues.
Here are a few grooming tips for maintaining your furry friend.
Start as a Puppy
Once your Doodle puppy has received the necessary vaccinations, you should get familiar with a professional dog groomer.
The sooner you introduce them to a professional groomer, the easier it will be for them, in the long run, to get used to brushing, trimming nails, and baths.
Therefore, it is important to introduce your furry friend to a professional groomer at their puppyhood stage.
Brush Regularly
Most Doodle dogs have hypoallergenic coats that do not shed much. Therefore, brushing them is imperative.
Regular brushing is important as it can help remove excess hair and other particles in your furry friend’s coat. So be ready for a pile of hair after brushing your Doodle dog.
However, rather than leaving hair all over your house, you must deal with it when you brush them.
In most cases, brushing your Doodle dog at least four to five times a week can be enough to keep their coat in good condition.
However, if your furry friend has a particularly curly coat, it requires brushing at least daily.
Regular brushing not only keeps your dog’s coat healthy, but it also sets aside time to bond with your furry friend.
This can help build the relationship between you and your dog by showing them attention and affection in a hectic season of life.
When brushing them, it is recommended that you approach the whole process with care and gentleness. You should avoid pulling on their hair or tugging too hard on mats.
The brushing equipment you need will largely depend on the dog’s coat texture and length. Two main tools for brushing your Doodle’s coat are a steel comb and a slicker brush.
A slicker brush is good for fluffing your dog’s outer coat. While it is great at finding mats, it is not great at untangling them. A steel comb works best for curly-coated doodles.
If you encounter mats, you can use thinning sheers or blunt-tipped scissors to remove them.
All Doodle dogs shed, though some shed more than others. Regular brushing will help keep shedding under control.
Bathing
When many people think about the best care for their dogs’ coats, they may think about the more washing and the cleaner their coats will be.
However, that is not the case. Your dog should have regular but not frequent baths. Too frequent bathing removes natural oils and causes the coat to become dry and harsh.
Therefore, be sure only to bathe your dog every so often. Usually, it is recommended that you bathe them once a month. Not overwashing their sensitive coats will keep those important natural oils intact.
The natural oils help to moisturize the skin and prevent dry skin irritations. Therefore, unless your Doodle’s coat starts to smell, you should only keep bathing occasionally.
You should use a mild shampoo formulated for Doodles when bathing your furry friend.
Occasional Trims
Your Doodle may require regular trimmings every few months, depending on their coat and how fast their hair grows.
Regardless of the dog’s age, keeping their hair trimmed and at even lengths can help keep their coats from becoming too much out of control.
Besides, shorter-trimmed hair tends to shed less and can be less work in bathing and brushing. Keeping a Doodle’s coat on the shorter side can prevent painful mats from forming.
This can avoid difficult grooming situations and improve your furry friend’s overall skin health. You can start trimming their hair at the puppyhood stage.
However, be sure that your Doodle puppy is on up-to-date vaccines when taking them to a professional groomer to prevent unforeseen illnesses from being transmitted.
Your dog’s nails must be kept short to keep the feet healthy. If the nails are long, they can make the dog’s walking awkward or painful.
If you can hear the nails clicking on the floor, they’re too long. Such nails can break easily and cause a lot of pain. Therefore, be sure to trim them using a specially designed clipper.
They have safety guards to prevent cutting the nails too short. Some dogs may not like having their nails trimmed. However, you can get them used to it by starting it when they are still puppies.
Ear Cleaning
You will want to clean your furry friend’s ears once a month. You must clean their ears more often if they are prone to ear problems.
Clean the outer part of the ear only, using a cotton swab or a damp cloth soaked in ear cleaner.
Some Doodle dogs need the hair plucked just inside the ear to keep air circulating. You can seek help from a groomer if unsure how to do it.
Eye Cleaning
In addition to ear cleaning, you will also need to clean your furry friend’s eyes. Clean slight discharges with a moist cotton ball. Make sure you do not put anything irritating into their eyes.
Tooth Brushing
You can clean your Doodle’s teeth with special toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. If your pet balks at having their teeth brushed, get them used to it by rubbing their teeth and gums with your finger. You may then put a little of the toothpaste on your finger and let them sniff and lick it; do the same with the toothbrush. Chew bones and toys can also help to clean their teeth.
Health Issues
Generally, Doodles are healthy dogs because of hybrid vigor. However, they can be prone to a few health issues that are common to both their purebred parents.
The following are the common Doodle health issues.
- Hip dysplasia
- Ear infections
- Von Willebrand’s Disease
- Eye issues
- Patella Luxation
- Cancer
- Stomach and digestion issues
- Allergies
Conclusion
The coat of Doodle dogs is one of the many characteristics of these designer dogs. Most Doodles have nonshedding coats that are considered hypoallergenic.
These coats need regular care and maintenance to stay healthy. They need to be brushed and bathed regularly. Besides, you will need to trim their hair and nails.