Doodles have gained immense popularity these days. A lot of people think that doodles do not shed because they get bred with poodles. They also believe that doodles are low maintenance dogs when it comes to grooming them. But the truth is far from it because a doodle’s coat as an adult might or might not be like a poodle. That is why there is a growing need for educating people about the challenges of grooming a doodle.
Under the Fluff
Doodles look exceptionally cute because of their fluffy coat. However, most doodle patents are not aware of how to take care of all that fluff. The breeders are partially responsible for this lack of information because they don’t tell their clients the nitty-gritty of grooming a doodle. It takes a lot of work every day to maintain that fluff. Without proper care each day, a doodle’s fur can get matted. Matted hair can cause a lot of problems for your doodle. Not only does it look shaggy, but matted fur can also be the ideal nesting grounds for fleas and mites. It is extremely difficult to look for signs of fleas under the matted coat, which means that an infestation can go unnoticed for a long time. Capstar flea control medication works well for doodles and must be used as a preventive measure. If the hair is too matted and you feel that there is a flea infestation, shaving the coat off might be the only remedy.
If you want to stop the coat from matting, it needs to be brushed first with a slicker brush and then combed with a metal comb. You must ensure that you comb from the root to the tip of every hair. Doodle’s coat can vary a lot, even in the same litter. The thicker the hair, the more difficult it will be to maintain. Try to avoid bathing your doodle at home. If your doodle needs a bath at home between grooming sessions, make sure that you blow-dry the hair. Towel or air drying doodles will get the coat matted fast. After blow-drying, make sure you brush and comb the hair thoroughly.
Frequency of Grooming Sessions
To make sure that your doodle has long shiny fluff, you must take it to a groomer at regular intervals. Ideally, you will need to take your doodle to a groomer every 4-12 weeks, depending on its maintenance at home. Home maintenance will also affect the cost of professional grooming your doodle. Depending on the upkeep, your doodle might need trimming or a complete haircut. If your doodle’s hair is extremely matted, the groomer might have no other option than to shave the fur. Many doodle parents get upset by this. But remember that you are responsible for the maintenance of your doodle’s hair. If it gets matted beyond a certain point, it might not be possible for a professional groomer to untangle them. Shaving the coat of a doodle is extremely painful for both the dog and the pet parent. But shaving might be necessary to reveal signs of parasites, hematomas, or skin infections.
Grooming a doodle can be quite expensive. The costs can vary between $50 to $250. It depends on a few factors, such as the type of fur, maintenance of the coat, and the doodle’s behavior during the session. You might get an estimate before the session, but it can vary after it is over, depending on the extra amount of work done by the groomer.
Grooming a Puppy Doodle
The breeder that you got your puppy doodle from might have told you that the puppy does not need grooming before a year. Unfortunately, that is false information. If you don’t take care of a puppy’s grooming, the coat might need to get shaved in the first session. Doodle puppies shed their fur entirely and get a new adult coat. It usually happens when they are about six months old. But if the puppy coat gets matted, it might cause problems for it, including the presence of fleas and ticks. Taking them to the groomer from an early age also gets them used to the process. Apart from hair maintenance, a groomer might need to clip its nails, clean the ears, and bath it.
Regular maintenance of a doodle’s fur is essential for both its appearance and its wellbeing. You should learn a few tips and hacks from the groomer about the upkeep of your doodle’s coat. Apart from regular grooming, the diet also plays a major role in the health of your dog’s fur. So make sure you feed it healthy food full of essential nutrients.
Other articles you might like: