Goldendoodles are one of the most popular specialty dog breeds out there. They have friendly personalities and their coats are beautiful. At the same time, their coats require a lot of maintenance and most general tools simply won’t do the trick thanks to the unique nature of their coats.
If you’re going to have a Goldendoodle, it’s important to know just which tools you should have on hand for grooming. Obviously, you can use a professional groomer, but you also need tools to be able to complete some general upkeep in between grooming appointments. This helps to prevent mats and tangles from forming on your Goldendoodles coat.
In addition, grooming tools save you lots of money if you do all the grooming and maintenance at home as well. After a couple of grooming sessions, you’ve likely recouped all the money that you spend on the grooming tools for your Goldendoodle. It’s not as difficult as you may think, but it will take a couple hours of your time.
In this guide, we will share with you the best grooming tools for Goldendoodles. We have several categories to cover and some product recommendations for each category as well. We hope you’re ready to get your Goldendoodle perfectly groomed with a few simple tools!
We also have a separate article on How to Groom your Goldendoodle if you already have the tools!
Must Have Items for Grooming Goldendoodles
Goldendoodles have thick curly coats that can be maintenance-heavy and challenging due to mats and tangles. The curls on a Goldendoodle can lead to the need for frequent grooming to avoid the mats from providing discomfort to your dog.
Not all Goldendoodle coats are the same but you can count on a mixture of long hair and tight thick curls. These dogs have demanding grooming needs which includes brushing and frequent haircuts. You can easily keep up with these needs if you have the right equipment.
The following tools are must-have items when it comes to grooming a Goldendoodle. We’ve taken into account dog owners who are on a budget. Our grooming tools don’t feature any items that will break the bank.
Here’s a quick overview of the items before we go into a more in-depth review:
1) Dog Clippers
Dog clippers are perhaps the most important tool you can purchase for grooming your Goldendoodle. At the same time, be aware that you need to choose dog clippers that will actually work for your dog’s coat. Many of the cheaper dog clippers won’t cut through the thick coat of a Goldendoodle. The best value for the price is definitely the Andis ProClip dog clipper.
Clippers allow you to get a close and controlled clip on the dog’s coat. You can cut the hair gently and smoothly and you don’t have to be a professional to perform this maintenance on occasion.
At the same time, professionals have to be properly equipped and need to be sure they have professional clippers that are compatible with your dog’s coat.
Here are our favorite dog clipper tool for Goldendoodles:
These clippers are professional-grade, but they don’t cost a ton of money. After one at-home grooming session, these clippers have basically paid for themselves. They are designed to work for all types of coats and are highly-rated across the board. There are plenty of tried and true recommendations for Goldendoodle owners that promise these are a good choice.
Andis is one of the most popular clipper brands for professional grooming clippers and this is one of their more affordable choices. These are simple to use and have an awesome 2-speed motor to work with. The blade is detachable and can be changed as needed.
These are corded dog clippers, but the cord gives you 14-feet of working space so you should be able to maneuver pretty easily. They are durable and sturdy and a very well-made clipper option. We also have an article on the Best Cordless Dog Clippers if you don’t want an extension cord.
Benefits of the Andis ProClip:
- Operate cool and quiet
- 2-speed control
- 14-foot corded clippers
- Detachable blade design
2) Slicker Brush
The slicker brush is a very valuable tool to have on hand for Goldendoodle grooming purposes. These brushes are designed specifically for curly or long coats that tend to get matted or knotted easily.
Before you get started with grooming, you can use a slicker brush to gently work through any mattes or tangles for your dog. You can use this brush anywhere on the dog’s coat. Just work gently and work in short strokes and sections.
The slicker brush shouldn’t hurt your dog when you use it properly. Here are some steps for properly using a slicker brush on your Goldendoodle:
- Start by brushing in short strokes. Move slowly through your dog’s coat. Start at the neck area and work your way towards the tail. Always brush in the same direction of hair growth.
- As you come across tangles and matted hair, slow down and work on this area gently and individually. Use small strokes over the area until it detangles. Remember to be gentle and don’t pull or use excessive force.
- Once you’ve brushed from neck to tail on your dog’s back, repeat the same procedures for their sides and stomach area. Finish with the legs.
- If you run into matted areas that won’t brush out easily, you might want to consider cutting them out if possible. You can also use a comb.
- Finish the process with your dog’s face. We don’t recommend brushing the face much with the slicker brush unless you have to, but you can use it on their beard or on the top of the head if the hair is thick. Try not to press the brush too hard against your dog’s skin in the process.
- Always finish with a treat and high praise for your dog’s good behavior. This will reinforce good behavior while you brush your Goldendoodle.
The slicker brush is not a typical brush. It is designed for brushing through tangles and matted areas and removing debris or shedding fur as well. The bristles are fine wire and are tightly placed.
When you use a slicker brush, remember to be gentle and move slowly. Avoid placing extra pressure on the skin when using one.
Here is one of our favorite choices for a Goldendoodle:
Pet Portal - Pro Quality Self Cleaning Slicker Brush
This slicker brush is a nice large size that is perfect for working with a Goldendoodle. It is well-made and sturdy and will work efficiently on tangles and matted hair. This brush is also self-cleaning. You push a button and the bristles retract so you can toss out all of the hair easily.
This brush is comfortable to hold and use. It’s designed to be ergonomic for the person who is brushing their dog. The brush grooms and massages your Goldendoodles coat during use. It will penetrate deep into your Goldendoodle’s coat, but won’t scratch or damage their skin.
This is great for Goldendoodles but can be used for other breeds and animals as well.
Benefits of the Pet Portal Slicker Brush:
- Designed not to scratch skin
- Perfect size for a Goldendoodle
- Comfortable to hold and handle
- Gentle and well-made brush
3) Grooming Scissors
Next up are grooming scissors. For your Goldendoodle, grooming scissors will be used to clean up the coat and rid the hair of any excessively long hair. They are great for trimming. You can also use grooming scissors for mattes and knots that you struggle to brush out.
Here are our favorite grooming scissors for a Goldendoodle:
Moontay Professional Dog Grooming Scissors Kit
This kit comes fully-loaded with 4 types of scissors, all of which can be handy when trimming a Goldendoodle’s coat. You get straight shears, curved shears, scissors, and thinning shears as well. These are 7-inch scissors with rounded tips for safety precautions.
These are comfortable to hold, easy to use, and they are also reliably made with durable materials. These high-quality scissors won’t let you down when you’re working on a Goldendoodle’s grooming needs.
These are premium dog grooming scissors, perfect for at-home grooming or professional use.
Benefits of the Moontay Grooming Scissors:
- 5-pack grooming kit
- Premium quality scissors
- Comfortable and easy to use
4) Pet Shampoo
Your Goldendoodle’s hair requires tender loving care and cleaning. You will need to bathe them and wash their hair with the right shampoo to do it. It’s best if you can find something that smells good, but that will also be gentle on your dog’s skin and coat.
Remember that they often have long and curly hair so look for something that will manage a Goldendoodle’s hair needs without making them itchy and uncomfortable. It’s great if you can also use a conditioner or find an option that will smooth and soften the hair as well. We also wrote an in-depth article on the Best Shampoo for a Goldendoodle.
Here is our top pick for pet shampoo for a Goldendoodle:
Mane ‘N Tail Shampoo and Conditioner
Don’t be fooled by the horses on the label or the name of this shampoo and conditioner. It will work amazingly well on a Goldendoodle. This set is perfect for thick hair and curly hair alike. It rejuvenates and repairs hair to leave it shiny, healthy, and manageable.
This is a shampoo and conditioner duo so you get the added benefit of both. This is a steal of a deal because the bottles are large and they come at a good price. These have a nice creamy formula and the conditioner can even be left in for extra conditioning. If you have a Goldendoodle, you know that you use a lot of shampoo during each bath because they have tons of hair.
This set smells great and it does everything you need for your Goldendoodle’s hair care.
Benefits of the Mane ‘N Tail Shampoo:
- Great smelling apple blossom scent
- Perfect for long and thick hair
- Repairs, strengthens, and conditions hair
- Comes with shampoo and conditioner
5) Nail Grinder
As you progress with grooming a Goldendoodle, you need to consider their nails as part of the grooming process. You can use clippers or grinders or possibly even both.
We like the nail grinder because it grinds down the point of the nail, making it less sharp when it comes into contact with skin or a surface. Grinding your dog’s nails can keep the nails healthy as well.
Many Goldendoodles have black nails, so it’s difficult to see the blood vein in their nail. You’re going to want to use a grinder instead of a clipper so you don’t cut their nails too deep.
Here is our top nail grinder pick for Goldendoodles:
Casfuy Dog Nail Grinder Professional Set
This is a professional nail grinder set that is really great for paw and nail grooming. It can be used on dogs of all sizes and is equipped with a grinding wheel as well as a cover for the wheel so it only touches the point it needs to.
This grinder works quietly so that it doesn’t upset your dog. It’s powerful with 2-speed options: slow and faster. This is a rechargeable option that comes in black or white. It also has a blue light that indicates when the power is on.
These nail grinders are simple, effective, and easy to use.
Benefits of the Casfuy Nail Grinder:
- Electric nail grooming option
- Operates with low noise and vibration
- Includes grinder and cover
6) Nail Clippers
Another very important part of dog grooming is nail clipping. Goldendoodles can be somewhat large with fast-growing nails, so clipping can be a chore. You also need to know how to safely clip your dog’s nails without hurting them.
Having a good pair of clippers makes a significant difference.
We love these nail clippers for Goldendoodles.
Shiny Pet Nail Clippers
These nail clippers are specially designed with a semi-circular blade so it fits nicely to your pet’s nails. It is sharp and effective for a quick and clean cut. These make it much easier to cut your dog’s nails accurately and at the right level.
These come with awesome instructions that will help you through the process if you’ve never cut your dogs nails. They are small and comfortable to use. In addition, they are gentle yet sharp enough to get the job done easily. The nail clippers are slightly small, but the design gives you full control to cut your Goldendoodles’s nails.
Benefits of the Shiny Pet Nail Clippers:
- Unique semi-circular blades
- Gentle and effective
- Easy to use and control
7) Pet Grooming Gloves
Pet grooming gloves are another valuable option to have on hand especially when you are bathing your Goldendoodle. Your Goldendoodle will be prone to shedding and will attract tons of debris in their coat. Their coat is a mixture of long and curly hair and sometimes they just need a good petting to get the dead hair out.
Using grooming gloves allows you to pull away shedding hair by simply petting them with your hand. The dog is calm and you are working on grooming at the same time. Get something that will be gentle and effective.
Here is our favorite grooming glove tool for Goldendoodles:
HandsOn Pet Grooming Gloves
These gloves are loaded with round tips that brush through and help groom your pet’s coat. They also have flexible rubber noodles on the fingers. The pieces are non-abrasive and gentle so your dog won’t even notice what is happening.
These are made with sturdy fabric and they are easy to clean. They come in multiple sizes and color options as well.
Benefits for the HandsOn Pet Grooming Gloves:
- Multiple sizes and colors
- Gentle and effective
- Comfortable and sturdy
Conclusion for Best Grooming Tools for Goldendoodles
Grooming a Goldendoodle can certainly present its challenges. However, if you are properly equipped for the job, the process will go much more smoothly.
We’ve shared several must-have items here for Goldendoodle grooming. There are several other grooming tools that you may want to consider as well.
What you need may vary depending on the level of grooming that you are performing on a routine basis.
Here’s to grooming your Goldendoodles and keeping their coats healthy and beautiful. We hope that you enjoyed our list of the Best Grooming Tools for Goldendoodles!
Other articles you might like:
Garrett loves animals and is a huge advocate for all Doodle dog breeds. He owns his own Goldendoodle named Kona. In addition, he volunteers at the Humane Society of Silicon Valley, where he fosters dogs and helps animals. Garrett enjoys writing about Doodles and believes that dogs can teach humans more about how to live than humans can teach a dog.
Why Trust We Love Doodles?
At We Love Doodles, we’re a team of writers, veterinarians, and puppy trainers that love dogs. Our team of qualified experts researches and provides reliable information on a wide range of dog topics. Our reviews are based on customer feedback, hands-on testing, and in-depth analysis. We are fully transparent and honest to our community of dog owners and future owners.