07/05/2026
HOW TO GROOM YOUR DOODLE 🐶
Or indeed any curly, longer length or thicker coated dog coat
The grooming tools that Doodle owners need really depend on the coat type that your Doodle has.
Some Doodles have very thick coats whilst others are thinner or wiry to the touch, some have fairly straight coats & others are very wavy & fluffy or have tight curls.
There are 5 items Doodle owners should have, to make daily grooming as easy & quick as possible for you and pleasant, pain free for your dog.
🐶 A slicker brush
🐶 A paddle brush
🐶 A leave in conditioning spray
🐶 A matt picker
🐶 A metal comb
SLICKER BRUSH
Generaly for most Doodle coats you need a long pinned slicker brush to start with, one who's pin can get right down the length of your Doodles coat to their skin.
I have seen so many Doodles who have their top coat brushed out well but underneath is badly matted or completely felted.
Slickers help to remove small knots and separate the coat ready for combing.
Please remember though that SLICKER BRUSHES ARE FOR COAT NOT SKIN.
You dont want to be inadvertently scratching your dog and making their skin sore by brushing your dog with long strokes on their skin. You also need to be extra careful around the face so you dont poke the pins into their eyes or nose accidentally, or scratch them around thinner skinned areas on their belly, groin or inside the legs.
Professional groomers use slicker brushes in a 'PAT & PULL' METHOD.
Pat the brush gently onto the dog then pull it gently through the coats length, away from the skin.
CONDITIONER
Spritz on a little leave in spray conditioner on any knots you find whilst combing & tease them out gently with the slicker.
There are many different brands available.
Once you have removed any knots you can then give your dog a very light spritz all over, brushing it through the whole coat, to freshen it and leave a film on the coat which will help make the next brushing session easier.
METAL COMBS
The most important tool that you need is a metal dog comb that you must use every time you have finished brushing the coat through with the slicker.
The comb will help you to find any little area's of knotting you may have missed and hetting those little knots out helps prevent matting.
If you can then gently tease them out with the comb thats great otherwise break the matt up into smaller sections with a matt picker before brushing out.
You can snip them knots out if needed but always use a small pair of scissors, manicure scissors would work well, and always point them away from your dog skin though to avoid nicking them.
Professional groomers need to be able to get a comb through the coat if the owner wants their dog left in a fuller, longer coat so regular & thorough grooming at home in between appointments will help to ensure they can do this.
If all knots are removed regulary from your Doodles coat it will not become badly matted and wont need clipping off short, its as simple s that!
PADDLE BRUSH
Finaly a paddle type brush with plastic/ rubber coated tips on the pins is ideal to use for a final brush over as its very comfortable for the dog and they usualy enjoy it.
My sweet friend Miss Molly is in the photo below and her Mum keeps her brushed & combed out beautifully so im able to give her a cute, fluffy 'teddy-bear' clip that her Mum loves! Isnt she gorgeous! 🥰
Ruth x
