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If there is anything Goldendoodles inherited from their Labrador Retriever parent, it’s the long and ever-growing fur on their body.
If you see a Goldendoodle before and after shaving, you’ll marvel in disbelief. The fur on a Goldendoodle can make this dog breed look twice their real body size. While the full hair may feel lovely and pleasant to touch, there are few disadvantages. When the fur grows too long, it can start to tangle and form knots. Some even may shed strands of long-term dead hair.
The good news is that you can take care of your Goldendoodle by giving a periodic shave. But then how can you shave your Goldendoodle? Let’s delve right into it. As we do a step by step guide, don’t feel overwhelmed. The steps are easy to get and the process doesn’t take the whole day (they are fun).
Step 1
Get the necessary dog grooming tools.
So we are here! The first step is simple (as promised). Get a clipper, scissors, grooming table, thinning shears, and treats.
A clipper
The clipper you will purchase is a dog clipper. It will be used wholly on the body for your dog, except for some places.
A pair of scissors
A pair of scissors is the next tool. It will be used to shave the hair off some parts of the head and face since a clipper will not be appropriate.
Thinning shears
The thinning shears will serve as a tool to blend the hair after cutting. In this way, your Goldendoodle won’t look like a clown; the fur will be the same height without a part higher than the other.
A grooming table
A grooming table is essential. It’s a table where your dog will sit on as you shave. The dog will sit steadily on the table while you shave.
Treats
Yeah, yeah! You saw that right- treats! Treats are also essential to keep your dog still and not get bored, especially when it’s the first time.
Step 2
Bathe your Goldendoodle
You must bathe your dog before shaving. By having a bathe first, the fur gets softened and makes shaving easy. After bathing, ensure to dry up, you can blow dry or use a towel.
Comb
- After drying, get a comb to straighten the fur and to rid it of water further. A wet hair will make it hard for the clipper to go through. So, make sure you dry correctly.
- Put your Goldendoodle on a table in preparation for shaving. The shaving is not guaranteed to run smoothly. So, you can attach the collar of the dog to the grooming table. You can further use a muzzle to hold the mouth together to avoid the dog biting out of fear.
- Note: A shaving process can also be managed by using a positive reinforcement technique. So, get a treat ready and be prepared to give plenty of praise. The treat will serve as a reward to encourage your dog to stay put and not view shaving as torture, rather, as a fun time.
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Start to shave your Goldendoodle
Put your clipper to use and start shaving. You can use a clipper and the accompanying blades. Alternatively, attach a comb to the base of the clipper.
Use a 10inch clipper blade, preferably.
The back and sides of the body
Here’s how to shave a Goldendoodle:
- Start shaving your Goldendoodle from the back. The upper back precisely. The upper back- from the base of the neck down to the hind legs.
- Next, move to the sides, and shave the hair. Use the clipper gently.
- After working on the back, move to the chest area. Then shave gently down to the belly and below. Do this gently until the hair is even.
The limbs
- Next, move to the limbs. Get a stand for this part because when you get to the feet, your dog will squirm and try to wriggle away. Treats and praises are vital for this part, coupled with gentle movement.
- Shave the limbs from top-down to the paws. You can use a clipper with a small blade size of about seven inches to shave around the paws and underneath. Carefully shave this area to rid your dog’s paw of matted parts.
The head
- Next, move to the head area. Gently use a clipper to shape the back of the head and slightly to the top. Use a size 9 clipper blade here.
- Note: Be very careful to watch out for the ears, so you don’t cut them.
- To complete shaving the head, use scissors. Use the scissors to prune all the hair around the head up to the face.
- Next, move to the ears. Use scissors for cutting the fur around the ear.
- Also, inside the ear, be careful to do a gentle trim. Do not cut too much hair to avoid infection. Just reduce it.
The face
Now, move to the face. A clipper can be used on the cheeks and forehead. Then move to the jaws and down to the neck.
The nails
The nails are up next. Use a manual nail clipper to reduce the length of the nails. However, do not cut the nails too short, else, it may start to bleed.
The finishing touch- Trimming
You’ve done a good job so far. Trimming is the next stage of the shaving process. Trim the body to make sure the hair is same lenth in all areas.
Combing
Now the final stage! Get a comb again and use it on the body to remove excess hair.
From the steps outlined, shaving a Goldendoodle may look a lot less stressful. In reality, however, it can be time-consuming for a first-timer. And this is why many choose to visit a professional to get it done. Don’t fret, though, after the first time, the subsequent times will be easier. So, shave that doodle!
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Kyoko
Kyoko is from a family of 3 and moved to New York with her parents and siblings when she was 13. Kyoko is fond of spending a great amount of time with pets, specifically her beagle Luna and cat Missy. Her boyfriend often complains that she spends too much time giving attention to their animals. Kyoko has written dozens of articles concerning pets and is aiming at owning a pet shop one day!
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