Curly Coated Doodle? Try These At-Home Grooming Hacks!

Today we're gonna give you some at-home grooming hacks to "loosen" your dood's tight curls as well as how to just maintain their coat well!

Though you can't change your dog's coat type from curly to straight, that doesn't mean there aren't some little tips, tricks and tweaks you CAN do that will leave their coat looking airy and salon-worthy!

So without further ado, here are some things we like to do with our dogs!

1. Brush before baths

It's no surprise that a coat that's been brushed is going to be fluffier and less "set" in a tight curl, so keeping up with brushing several times a week is a good foundation for coat upkeep as well as keeping any matting or tangles at bay.

However, what you might not know is that brushing before a bath is actually quite helpful, because curls and knots tend to "set" when wet.

So though it feels like a hassle, try to remember to brush before your baths.

2. Monthly bath routine

People ask all the time "how often do I need to bathe them?"

The answer is, however often you want.

With that being said, I personally follow a 3-4 week bath routine, and would recommend that to all doodle owners!

It's not that they NEED a monthly bath, however, their coat does collect dirt, grime, sweat, and overall debris over the weeks, and all of those things contribute to tangles, matting, and a tight, slightly unruly looking mane.

3. Use conditioner

Conditioner is helpful in not only loosening tangles and knots, but it also hydrates the hair, and gives it a "protective coating" that's helpful in harsher, drying conditions like cough cough Alberta Winters

Don't just use any conditioner though, a lot of grooming products are full of chemicals, fragrances and dyes that can irritate and bother your dog, so we'd highly suggest this one from Kin & Kind!

Conditioner

4. Don't air-dry

I know, I know, especially in the summer, it seems like a nice, low-effort option, however, air-drying will set their coat extremely curly, and create the perfect environment for tangles and knots that won't feel nice to brush out. The only time air-drying works is when they've recently had a "shave down" haircut.

5. Invest in a pet blowdryer

This tip is a game changer! I'm not kidding you when I say I've never once regretted buying a "professional" blow dryer like they use at grooming salons.

I know "professional" makes it sound like a massive to-do, but actually, if you have a doodle and do any of their grooming maintenance at home, it is 100% worth you owning one of these.

 When you use a human blowdryer on your doodle, the heat (mixed with a little bit of air) eventually "dries" the hair, but usually in the mould it's in when wet, aka, curly. You can definitely get away with using this on a younger puppy whose hair is still quite airy and light, but it's not ideal after the first 2 months.

 With a pet blowdryer, the air flow is way more powerful, breaking up the curl and fluffing it.

A pet blowdryer will save you time, has safer heat levels for dogs, dries all the way down to their skin, and definitely offers you that beautiful fresh and fluffy look that looks like it came straight from the salon!

Once you've used it, it's hard to go back.

Blowdryer

6. Slicker Brush

Doodles have a lot of hair, and they need a brush that can properly penetrate their thick locks. A lot of people start with a brush that has plastic or silicone tips to the bristles because it's "gentler"--that is good if you just got a puppy and are starting brushing desensitization work, however, it's not a good option for continued use as they grow. Their coat needs something that can do more than smooth the top layer, so be sure to get a good, firm slicker brush and use it several times a week! (Click here if you want a little visual tutorial of how to brush your doodle)

Slicker Brush

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We hope this gave you some helpful ideas for at-home coat care with your curly dood!

-Rocky Legend Doodles

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