Groodle Grooming Guide – 10 Professional Groomer Tips for 3 Coat Types

The Groodle, or Goldendoodle, is a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. Groodles come in various coat types, such as curly/wool, straight, or wavy/fleece, depending on their genetic makeup.

Each coat type requires a specific grooming routine. Groodle Grooming is extremely important to keep its coat healthy and aesthetically pleasing. Straight or flat coated Groodles will shed heavily if they are not groomed regularly. While fleece and curly or wool-coated Groodles will knot and mat if not groomed correctly and frequently.

Before we cover the techniques for grooming each type of Groodle coat, let us take a look at the different types of coats seen in this mixed-breed dog.

Groodle Grooming – Coat Types

• Curly Coat – This type of Groodle takes after the Poodle parent. The coat is characterised by tight curls. It is water-resistant and non-shedding.
• Wavy Coat – A wavy coat is a blend of the Poodle’s curly hair and the Golden Retriever’s straight hair. The waves are loose and form a gentle pattern throughout the coat. This type of coat usually shows low to moderate shedding.
• Straight Coat – Groodles with a straight coat are more similar to their Golden Retriever parents. These coats are smooth and long and tend to shed more than curly or wavy coat types. 

When searching for your perfect Groodle puppy, be sure to consider and research the coat types of the puppies for sale near you. The best Groodle breeders DNA test their breeding females and use double furnished poodle and ‘oodle’ stud dogs to ensure they produce non-shedding puppies with desirable coats.

Should Goldendoodles/Groodles be Groomed?

Yes, Groodles need regular grooming for the following reasons:

Coat Maintenance

Groodle Grooming is an important part of owning one of these dogs and you can expect to spend about 1-2 hours per week brushing and combing the coat to keep it matt and knot free. Although most curly-coated Groodles don’t shed too much, they still need to be brushed and bathed. Failure to do so can result in a dirty coat which can cause a host of skin issues. These can be uncomfortable for your pet.

Shedding Control

Certain Groodle coat types (some wavy/fleece and straight) shed seasonally. Regular grooming, including brushing and bathing, can remove loose hair and reduce the amount of hair that ends up on furniture and clothes. Keeping on top of Groodle Grooming each week ensures that a groomer won’t need to clip your dog’s coat extremely short due to matting.

Promote Skin Health

Regularly Groodle Grooming which includes brushing will help remove dirt, dead skin cells, and dander. This can promote good skin health and reduce the risk of irritation or infection. Grooming also allows you to check for any abnormalities, such as lumps, bumps, ticks, fleas, parasites or skin irritations, that may require veterinary attention.

Hygiene and Odour Control

Regularly bathing your dog can reduce your pet’s odour. Brushing your dog’s teeth or feeding it large raw meaty bones can keep its breath smelling fresh and clean. Teeth brushing and chewing of bones also prevents plaque and tartar, which, if neglected, can result in a host of health issues, including heart disease.

Now that you know the reasons why Groodle Grooming is essential, let us take a look at the steps of grooming.

Groodle Grooming Guide Based on Coat-Type

Grooming the Curly Coated Groodle

Although the curly-coated Groodle sheds very little, it still needs regular, deep brushing and combing to prevent mats and tangles.

Groodle Grooming Kit

• Slicker or pin brush
• Wide-toothed comb or grooming rake
• Vet-approved gentle shampoo
• Detangling spray
• Towel or hair dryer
• Hair trimmer (clippers or grooming scissors – straight and curved)
• Pet wipes
• Nail grinder or trimmer
• Styptic powder
• Dog toothbrush and toothpaste
• Ear cleaning solution for dogs (optional)

Coat Brushing

• Using a slicker or pin brush, thoroughly brush your curly-haired Groodle. This will remove mats and tangles.
• Begin at the neck and cover the entire back till the base of the tail.
• Repeat with a grooming comb and make sure the brush and comb reach the roots. 
• Use gentle strokes and do not pull the hair.
• Repeat the process for the chest, tummy, and leg areas
• Pay special attention to areas prone to mats such as behind the ears, legs, under elbows and tail.

Bathing

• After brushing, bathe your Groodle. Bathing can be done once a month.
• Standard and Mini Groodles are medium to large size dogs – if you don’t have a dog bath, use your shower to wash your dog in.
• Wet its coat thoroughly.
• Take a generous amount of shampoo and dilute it with water.
• Rub your palms along your Groodle’s body to work up a lather.
• If needed, use more diluted shampoo to cover the entire body.
• Pay attention around the face but do not let the shampoo enter your dog’s eyes.
• Rinse the shampoo after 5-7 minutes.
• You may repeat shampooing again.
• Rinse thoroughly.
• After shampooing, spray some detangler spray (specially designed for curly-coated dogs) or apply a doggy conditioner to your Groodle’s coat. Detangler and conditioner helps soften the fur, prevent tangles, and maintain your Groodle’s coat’s moisture. 
• Leave the conditioner on for the recommended time, as specified on the product label, and then rinse it off thoroughly.
• You can dry your Groodle using a towel or a hair dryer.
• If using a hair dryer, avoid using heat. Use the cool setting and direct the air away from your dog’s eyes.

Groodle Grooming – Coat Trimming

Curly-coated Groodles need a trim every 6 weeks or so.

• Trim along the edges to give a proper outline.
• Trim along the ears to give them a shape.
• If you have clippers, use a number 5 blade to trim the body of your Groodle.
• Shape face, beard, muzzle, ears, head, legs, feet and tail using straight and curved grooming shears (scissors) to look like a teddy bear style.
• If needed, seek a professional groomer to trim your dog’s coat.

Teeth Brushing (if not feeding your Groodle bones to chew)

• Brush your dog’s teeth every day. 
• Use a vet-approved toothpaste and a finger brush or a doggy toothbrush.
• Use a gentle circular motion. 
• Brush the backside of the teeth.

Ear Cleaning

• Inspect and clean your Groodle’s ears every few weeks.
• Use pet wipes to remove sticky gunk from the outer ear.
• If needed, use a dog ear-cleaning solution from time to time.

Nail Trimming

• Trim your Groodle’s nails every 4-6 weeks.
• Firmly grasp the paw and make a quick trim on each nail while avoiding the “quick”.
• Keep some styptic powder on hand to stop bleeding in case you cut the quick.

Groodle Grooming the Wavy or Fleece Coats

Tools Needed

• A slicker or pin brush, undercoat rake
• Dog shampoo and conditioner for wavy-haired dogs
• Towel or hair dryer
• Scissors or clippers
• Pet wipes
• Nail grinder or trimmer
• Dog toothbrush and toothpaste
• Ear cleaning solution for dogs (optional)

Brushing

• Follow the steps above to brush your wavy-haired Groodle.
• Use an undercoat rake to remove dead hair during the shedding season.

Bathing

• You can bathe your wavy-haired Groodle once every 3 to 4 weeks.
• Follow the steps above to bathe your wavy-haired Groodle.
• Instead of a detangler, use a conditioner to keep its wave smooth and easy to manage.
• Dry your Groodle with a towel or hair dryer. Use the lowest setting of the hair dryer.
• You may also let your dog air-dry.

Coat Trimming

• Your wavy-coated Groodle needs a light trim every 6 weeks.
• Trim the fuzz on its ears, tummy, legs, neck, and tail to keep your pet looking smart.

Teeth Brushing

• Follow the steps above for brushing your Groodle’s teeth daily or feed raw weight-bearing bones weekly for chewing.

Ear Cleaning

• Wavy-coated Groodles are prone to ear infections. Therefore, you must inspect and clean your Groodle’s ears every few weeks.
• Follow the same steps for ear cleaning as above.

Nail Trimming

• Follow the same steps as above.

Groodle Grooming the Straight-Coat

Groodle Grooming Kit

• A slicker or pin brush, undercoat rake, curry brush, de-shedding tool, or a pet-grooming glove.
• Dog shampoo and conditioner for straight-haired dogs.
• Towel or dog hair dryer
• Scissors or clipper
• Pet wipes
• Nail grinder or trimmer
• Dog toothbrush and toothpaste
• Ear cleaning solution for dogs (optional)

Brushing

• Using the slicker or pin brush, thoroughly brush your Groodle. This will remove mats and tangles.
• From time to time, and especially during the shedding season, use the pet grooming glove to trap loose hairs.
• Straight-haired Groodles need daily brushing and combing to remove debris, dead hair, and parasites. Brushing also removes and prevents knots.

Bathing

• Bathe your straight-coated Groodle every 4-6 weeks.
• Follow the same steps as above.
• After shampooing, use a conditioner to soften the fur, prevent tangles, and maintain your Groodle’s coat moisture. 
• You can dry your straight-coated Groodle using a towel or a hair dryer or let it air dry.

Coat Trimming

• Trim the coat along the edges and the ears to give a proper outline.
• If needed, seek a professional groomer to trim your dog’s coat.

Teeth Brushing

• Follow the same steps for brushing your Groodle’s teeth.

Ear Cleaning

• Clean your Groodle’s ears every few weeks.

Nail Trimming

• Follow the same steps as above for nail trimming.

FAQs – Groodle Grooming

Conclusion – Groodle Grooming

For a lot of Groodle owners, it can be hard to determine how often and how to groom a Groodle. The answer depends on many factors, particularly your dog’s coat type, its lifestyle, the length of the coat (hairstyle), and your schedule, etc.

We hope this Groodle Grooming guide gives you some tips to save money at the groomers while keeping your Groodle looking smart and feeling good.

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