If you have a Doodle dog, you may be wondering about how to keep up with grooming. Especially in recent times, getting your dog to the groomer can be impossible. It is always a great idea to have the necessary grooming tools on hand and know how to use them. In this article, I will talk about some tips and tricks for grooming Doodle Dogs to make bathing easier.
Before Getting Started
If you have never groomed your Doodle yourself, you may want to take a few steps before beginning. These steps will help speed the process along and keep your dog calm.
First, you will want to make sure that your home is quiet. Your dog is used to being groomed at the salon, but doing it at home can cause some stress. Having a calm home will help reduce the stress levels for you, too, if this is your first time.
Second, gather plenty of treats. These can be your dog’s favorite treat, or a training treat like Zuke’s Natural Training Dog Treats. These are the perfect portion size and easily fit into a pocket.
Third, you will also want to have all your grooming tools ready before you begin. For some dogs, it might be best to gather these while they are in the backyard playing.
That way, your dog won’t be anxious before you even start. We will be going through all the tools you will need for each step later, and what products we recommend.
Fourth, remember to go slow, take breaks, and be patient. This might seem like a hard task the first couple of times you do it, but it gets easier as you go. Taking breaks gives you and your dog time to calm down and breathe.
Be Aware Of Distress
Another thing to do before you start grooming is to be aware of any signs of stress. Look for
- Licking of lips
- Your dog looking at you from the corner of his eye
- Whimpering
- Panting
- And shaking or jerking
These are all signs that your dog is nervous and might need some reassurance. Tell them that they are doing so well and continue to talk to them calmly and soothingly. If you need to take a break, that’s fine! It is better to be safe than sorry.
And always be aware of the bite zone for dogs. You might not think that your dog could ever do it, but grooming turns some dogs into entirely different beings. Always stay away from your dog’s face when grooming. There is a viral video circulating of a woman cutting her dog’s nails with peanut butter on her head. Do not do this.
These people are asking for an injury. If you have to distract your dog, purchase a lick mat, like the Helpcook Dog Lick Pad. This will get the dog’s attention somewhere else and will keep you from being in the bite zone. Do not, however, use this if your dog is food aggressive.
Bathing Doodle Dogs
We always recommend starting all grooming with a good bath. You will need:
- Dog Bathing Suction Cup Tether to keep them in the tub.
- Othway Non-Slip Bathtub Mat to keep them from sliding all over the place. We like this one because it is easy to clean.
- Rinse Ace 3-Way Pet Shower Sprayer, if you don’t have a detachable showerhead. These come in handy and make the whole process faster.
- A conditioning shampoo like 2-in-1 Oatmeal Dog Shampoo.
- A bath brush like this one from Bodhi Dog.
- A Bone Dry Microfiber Towel to make sure that you get as much water soaked up before drying.
- A high-velocity dryer to make sure that you get deep into the thick Doodle coat. We recommend this Flying One High Velocity 4.0 Hp Motor
Now that you have all your tools ready, you can start with the step by step of Bathing Doodle Dogs.
Step One:
Safely secure your dog with the bathing hook, and get the temperature of the water just right. You don’t want the water too hot or too cold. Lukewarm water is best for bathing a dog inside.
Now soak your dog with the sprayer all over the body. Make sure that you soak under all legs and the stomach well. When doing the head, tilt your Doodle’s head up and spray away from the eyes.
Step Two:
Using your bath brush, scrub your dog. You will want to start with the body first and leave the head for last. Make sure that you wash every inch of your dog, even between the toes. And always be careful not to get soap in their eyes or ears. Ears can be a tricky thing with some Doodles.
They get infections quickly and continuously shake their heads. If you notice your dog shaking a lot, place your hand in front of their face above the nose. This position will stop them from shaking, and you can wipe their ears dry quickly.
Step Three:
Now that your Doodle has been thoroughly scrubbed, it’s time to rinse them clean. When you do this, you will want to start with the head, work your way down the neck and back, and then underneath and legs.
This way, no soap will be left on the skin, and it reduces the chances of soap running into their face. Depending on how long your Doodle’s coat is, you may want to do this several times to make sure that all the soap washes away.
Step Four:
Now it’s time to dry off. The microfiber towel soaks up more water than a terrycloth towel, and it’s gentler. These towels are great for preventing your Doodle from becoming staticky.
The microfibers gently lift water away while not damaging it. They are the most beautiful invention ever for grooming Doodle dogs. You will want to dry off as much as you can to prevent a long time under the dryer.
Step Five:
This step is the part that most dogs hate the most. You will want to make sure that your dog is still secured and maybe hand them a few extra treats. High-velocity dryers can be loud, but it cuts the drying time down by more than half.
Your Doodle will be almost completely dry within minutes. But some dogs are terrified of them. Take it slow, and if your dog is too frightened, give them a break. It is essential to try to dry them as much as they will allow you.
This can prevent yeast infections or bacteria from growing on their skin from wet, dense hair. But never push them beyond their limitations, you can always go outside to air dry if it is warm enough.
Brushing Your Doodle
Now that you have bathed your Doodle, it is time to brush them out. Brushing will give you the full teddy bear fluffy effect that everyone loves.
You will want to start with an Andis Pet Steel Comb to make sure that there are no knots in your Doodle’s coat.
If you don’t find any mats, you can move on to using a slicker brush like the Show Tech Transgroom Tougher Than Tangles Slicker Brush. This slicker brush will make your Doodle’s hair fluffy and soft after a bath. You won’t be able to tell that it was done from the comfort of your home and not by a groomer.
But, if you do find knots, it is best to get those out first. Using a grooming tool like the GoPets Dematting Comb will quickly remove the knots without hurting your dog. Remember always to be gentle and work slowly from tips to roots. If you pull too fast, you risk damaging your dog’s skin also. Once the knot is out, you can go back over them with the slicker brush for a full feathery effect.
Paw Pedicure
The last part of grooming your dog is to take care of their paws. Since your dog walks around all day, it is crucial to keep their paws clean and manageable. Managing nail length is just as important as anything else with grooming. Could you imagine walking around on your nails all day? It seems like it would be painful, and is proven to cause back injuries.
To cut your dog’s nails, you need a few things.
- Nail Clippers of your choice. The style really depends on what you are comfortable using.
- Lick mat mentioned above.
- Paw Paste to keep their pads moisturized. We recommend the Pet Head Oatmeal Natural Paw Butter.
- Styptic Powder by Cardinal Laboratories in case of accidents
When trimming your dog’s nails, be very cautious. Most dogs do not like this and will sometimes snap or wail. Accidents can also happen, so we recommend having a bottle of quick stop or Styptic Powder to stop any bleeding.
Once your dog is secured and happily distracted with his lick mat, trim the nail at a natural angle. You will know where to do this by looking at the pink (or quick) of the nails. You want to stay as far away from that pink area as possible. If your dog has black nails, you will want to take just the tips off.
After you finish trimming the nails, apply your paw paste to complete the pedicure. And you are done!
It’s Not So Bad
Some dogs will act perfectly fine for their owners, while others prefer the professionals. But the more you do it, the better it gets. Grooming Doodle dogs can be fun and rewarding. It can even be a particular bonding time between you and your dog. It’s all about how you react and calm your dog. We hope these tips give you what you need to get the job done right.
Below is a Pinterest friendly photo…. so you can pin it to your Doodle Board!!
