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They’re right. 😂
But after raising Doodles for decades, I can tell you that how you brush is every bit as important as how often you brush.
One of the most common grooming problems I see is a Goldendoodle that looks beautifully brushed and fluffy on the outside, but underneath that pretty top layer are tangles and mats sitting close to the skin.
The family has been brushing.
They just haven’t been getting all the way through the coat.
So let’s have a little dog-nerd conversation about what your Goldendoodle’s coat actually needs — and especially what you should do when that coat gets wet.
And although I’m talking specifically about Goldendoodles in this article, these grooming principles apply to many Doodle coats, including Labradoodles, Schnoodles, Bernedoodles and other Poodle crosses. Coat type varies from dog to dog, so individual grooming needs will vary too.
Why Goldendoodle Coats Require Special Care
There isn’t just one Goldendoodle coat.
Depending on genetics, a Goldendoodle may have a straighter, wavier or curlier coat. Coat density, furnishings and shedding characteristics can vary as well.
That means two Goldendoodles may require somewhat different grooming routines.
But there’s one principle that applies across the board:
You have to maintain the entire coat — not just the part you can see.
Loose hair, tiny tangles and friction can occur underneath that fluffy exterior. If they’re allowed to remain there, little tangles can eventually become mats.
Once matting gets tight against the skin, we’re no longer talking simply about appearance. Mats can pull on the skin, trap moisture and debris, and become uncomfortable for the dog.
The #1 Brushing Mistake I See
This is probably the most important thing I can teach a Doodle family:
Don’t just brush the top of the dog.
A slicker brush can make the outside of a Goldendoodle look gorgeous very quickly. You fluff everything up, stand back and think:
“There! All brushed!”
Not necessarily. 😂
You need to know what’s happening underneath that beautiful fluffy coat.
I like to work through the coat in sections so I can get down toward the base of the hair rather than simply skimming across the surface.
You’ll sometimes hear this called line brushing. You separate the coat into small sections and work methodically so you can actually see that you’re reaching down toward the skin.
And then comes one of my favorite little grooming tests.
The Metal-Comb Test
After brushing an area, take a good metal grooming comb and gently work it through the coat.
If the comb glides from near the skin through to the ends, you’re doing your job.
If the comb stops halfway through, catches or won’t pass through an area, you’ve found something your brush didn’t.
That simple comb tells you the truth about whether your Goldendoodle is actually brushed.
The slicker brush and metal comb work together. The brush helps separate and work through the coat, while the metal comb is your final check. If that comb won’t glide from near the skin through to the ends, there’s still a tangle hiding somewhere underneath — no matter how beautiful and fluffy the coat looks on top.
Pay Extra Attention to These Areas
Certain areas tend to tangle faster because they experience more movement, moisture or friction.
Pay particular attention to the areas behind and underneath the ears, under the collar, wherever a harness rubs, the armpits, chest, belly, legs, feet, tail, hindquarters, face and beard.
Don’t wait until you can see a mat.
By then, it may already be well established underneath the coat.
Water Changes Everything
This is where many Doodle families get into trouble.
Your dog goes swimming.
Or plays in the rain.
Or gets a bath.
Or jumps in somebody’s pool.
You towel him off, let him run around the house and eventually he looks dry.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean the coat is dry all the way down near the skin.
And water can make existing tangles considerably worse.
Moisture, friction and an already tangled coat are a bad combination. Veterinary grooming guidance identifies bathing, swimming and rain among the situations that can contribute to matting and recommends removing tangles before bathing and thoroughly drying afterward. PetMD guide to mats and tangled coats
So here’s a rule I want Goldendoodle families to remember:
If that coat gets thoroughly wet, your grooming job isn’t finished just because the dog stops dripping.
What Should You Do When Your Goldendoodle Goes Swimming?
Pool day? Beach trip? Lake weekend?
Wonderful. Let them have fun!
But afterward, take care of that coat.
If your Goldendoodle has been swimming in saltwater, chlorinated water, muddy water or anything else you don’t necessarily want remaining in the coat, rinse the coat thoroughly with clean water.
Then remove the excess water gently.
I don’t like vigorously rubbing a Doodle coat back and forth with a towel. All that friction can encourage tangling.
Instead, blot and gently squeeze the excess water from the coat.
Then I like to use a dog-safe detangling or conditioning spray.
A detangler isn’t a medical requirement every time your dog gets wet. It’s simply a very useful grooming tool. It adds some slip to the coat and can make brushing easier and more comfortable.
Then begin working through the coat.
Dry the Dog — Not Just the Top of the Dog
This is another big one.
A fluffy surface does not necessarily mean the coat underneath is dry.
With a dense Goldendoodle coat, you want to dry all the way through to the skin.
A pet-safe dryer can be extremely helpful. Keep the temperature comfortable. You’re trying to move air through the coat and dry it thoroughly — not make your dog hot.
As you dry, work through sections of the coat so you’re drying from the base outward.
AKC recommends thorough drying after bathing, swimming and wet-weather walks, particularly for dogs with dense or long coats, because lingering moisture can contribute to tangles, matting and skin problems. American Kennel Club guide to drying dogs
And once your Goldendoodle is dry?
Bring that metal comb back out.
Can you comb all the way through?
Behind the ears?
Under the legs?
Around the collar?
Through the tail?
If the comb is catching, you’ve still got work to do.
Don’t Forget Those Doodle Ears
Any time your Goldendoodle swims or has a bath, pay attention to the ears too.
Those floppy ears can retain moisture, so I don’t want the ear area left damp after swimming or bathing.
Keep the ears clean and dry and watch for unusual odor, redness, discharge, excessive scratching or repeated head shaking. Those symptoms deserve veterinary attention rather than simply assuming you’re dealing with a grooming issue. PetMD Goldendoodle care guide
Brush BEFORE the Bath
Here’s another mistake I see:
“My Goldendoodle is tangled. I’ll give him a bath and then brush him out.”
Please don’t count on the bath to fix tangles.
Water can tighten existing tangles and make matting more difficult to deal with.
Brush and comb your Goldendoodle before bathing.
If you already have significant matting — especially tight mats close to the skin — that’s the time to talk with your professional groomer.
Please Don’t Cut Tight Mats Out With Household Scissors
I know it’s tempting.
You find one little mat and think:
“I’ll just snip that thing out.”
Please be careful.
When a mat is tight, the dog’s skin can be pulled up into or very close to that mat. It can be difficult to tell where the mat ends and the skin begins.
That creates a real risk of accidentally cutting your dog.
For tight, extensive or painful matting, let a professional groomer — and when appropriate, your veterinarian — handle it. PetMD matting guidance
How Often Should You Brush a Goldendoodle?
There isn’t one perfect schedule for every Goldendoodle because coat type, length, density and lifestyle all matter.
A short coat maintained regularly may be much easier than a long, dense, curly coat.
And a Goldendoodle that swims three times a week has different needs than one who spends most of the day curled up on your sofa. 😂
But I would much rather see a family do short, frequent, thorough grooming sessions than wait until the coat is tangled and attempt one enormous brushing session.
And start young.
Brushing shouldn’t suddenly appear in your puppy’s life when he’s six months old and covered in hair.
Handle those paws.
Touch those ears.
Brush the legs.
Comb the face.
Let your puppy experience a dryer.
Make grooming a normal part of life.
How Often Should a Goldendoodle Be Professionally Groomed?
Again, it depends on coat length, coat type and how much maintenance you’re willing to do at home.
A common professional grooming range is approximately every four to eight weeks, although individual dogs may need something different. PetMD Goldendoodle grooming information
And here’s something important:
Your professional groomer should not be expected to undo weeks of neglected coat maintenance every time your dog arrives.
Think of this as a partnership.
Your groomer maintains the haircut. You maintain the coat between appointments.
The Routine I Want Families to Remember
If you remember nothing else from this article, remember this:
Brush → comb → bathe → gently remove excess water → condition/detangle as needed → dry completely → comb again.
And after swimming or getting soaked:
Rinse when needed → blot → detangle → dry all the way through → comb to the skin → check the ears.
That little routine can save you and your Goldendoodle a lot of trouble.
A Beautiful Coat Starts With What You Can’t See
We all love that fluffy Doodle look.
But good grooming isn’t really about making the top of the coat look pretty.
It’s about what’s happening underneath.
Can you get your comb through it?
Is the coat dry at the skin?
Are those friction areas free of tangles?
Are the ears dry?
Is your dog comfortable?
That’s what matters.
So the next time you finish brushing your Goldendoodle and think, “Look how fluffy you are!” grab that metal comb and do one more little check.
Because with a Doodle coat, the part you can’t see is often the part that matters most. 🐾
— Sherri Smeraglia
