How to Brush a Goldendoodle at Home: A Groomer's Step-by-Step (Part 2)

Your Goldendoodle is brushed. Your Goldendoodle is also matted. Both of those things can be true on the same dog on the same day, and it does not mean you failed.

In Part 2, Fear Free certified groomer Joy Burton gets specific about how to brush a Goldendoodle at home. The brush most Doodle parents own that should go in the trash, and the two to buy instead. Line brushing, step by step, in words you can use tonight. The comb rule that settles the front desk conversation before you ever get there. The six places mats always start. Skunk brushing, which is exactly as delightful as it sounds. And the red flags that tell you a salon is not the right room for your dog.

We also get into crates and cage free grooming, what a good groomer does the second a dog says they are scared, and the difference between fear and aggression that almost nobody names out loud.

Then the room opens up. The Doodle parents who joined this recording live named their own dogs and asked Joy about them, and she answered.

Her closing line is the one I want every Doodle parent to hear: it is never the dog.

New here? Start with Part 1, Why Is My Goldendoodle Matting When I Brush Every Day?

🐾 What groomers wish you knew about brushing your Doodle, on the house.

🐾 My favorite brushes and grooming tools, the whole shelf in one place.

Some links are affiliate links. If you use them, The Doodle Pro® may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only point at things I would use on my own dog.

CHAPTERS

0:00 Welcome back

1:45 Crates, kennel banks, and what cage free really means

7:14 When a dog gets scared mid-groom

8:50 Happy visits, the appointment before the appointment

11:58 What Joy will never do to a dog

14:04 Three things to do before your next appointment

16:35 The brush to throw out, and the two to buy

17:37 Line brushing, step by step

18:03 Why you need a Greyhound comb

20:44 The comb rule, and Swiss cheesing

21:43 Detangler spray, and what it cannot fix

22:53 Why the de-matting comb stays out of your kit

24:49 Skunk brushing and the Doodle Mohawk

26:11 The six places mats always start

28:58 How to find a groomer for your Doodle

30:23 Red flags at the grooming salon

32:20 The one thing: it is never the dog

33:01 Joy’s salon, and 25% off for listeners

33:47 Listener Q and A

41:33 Your one doable first step this week

THE TOOLS JOY NAMES IN THIS EPISODE

The slicker brush: look for long bristles that come out at a straight angle and then point slightly down. Flat pin brushes are built for short coats and will skate right over a Doodle. Match the brush size to your dog’s size. Chris Christensen is the investment version, Groomers Supply House and JellyPet are excellent for less, and Paw Brothers extra-long bristle is Joy’s pick if you are just learning the technique.

The Greyhound comb: a plain metal comb, about five or six dollars, any brand. This is the tool that tells you the truth.

Detangling spray: for maintenance and softening tangles before you brush. It will not remove a mat that is already too far gone.

An electric toothbrush: not for teeth. For desensitizing a puppy’s face to buzzing and vibration before a groomer ever holds a clipper there.

Shampoo and conditioner: Joy’s picks are NKITA Pet for a simple all-in-one, and Curly Wax if you want to bring the curl out.

🚫 The one to skip: the de-matting comb. Those hooked blades in the at-home kits are a professional tool. Joy does not even let her own bathers use one.

🐾 Want the printable tool list? Grab my Top Brushes cheat sheet.

FIND JOY BURTON

Joy Burton is a Fear Free certified professional groomer and co-owner of Well-Groomed Pets Orange County in Laguna Niguel, California.

Instagram: @groomwithjoy

Doodle Pro® listeners get 25% off their first service. Mention the podcast when you book.

WHAT’S YOUR DOODLE’S JOB TITLE?

Six questions, five results, and one of them is asleep on your couch right now. Take the quiz.

WHAT'S YOUR DOODLE'S JOB TITLE?

Every Doodle has a job. Some of them just picked it themselves. Sock
acquisition specialist. Neighborhood watch commander. Director of counter
operations.

6 questions, 5 possible results, and one of them is asleep on your couch
right now.

thedoodl

Corinne Gearhart is the founder of The Doodle Pro®, a science-based training platform helping Doodle parents raise calmer, well-mannered dogs using positive reinforcement. She is the host of The Doodle Pro® Podcast and author of Your Doodle’s Daily Schedule Blueprint™.

📘 Get the Doodle Schedule Blueprint:
https://thedoodlepro.com/doodle-schedule-bonus/

🎧 More episodes:
https://thedoodlepro.com/podcast

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Welcome back. If you're joining me for part two, hello again. And if you're brand spanking new here, you can absolutely start with this one, though part one's waiting for you right behind this in the feed. Quick catch up. Just last week, I sat down with Joy Burton, professional dog groomer, force-free certified, and she runs Well Groomed Pets Orange County. We talked about the divide between groomers and doodle parents. Why doodle coats mat when nobody told us they would, and why doodles don't shed is the myth causing the most damage. And what your groomer actually means when they say your dog is mad. And I left you hanging on purpose. Right before we ran out of time, I asked Joy about crates. So many of us are searching for a crate-free salon because it sounds kinder. And I wanted to know what a fear-free certified groomer actually thinks about that. Her answer starts us off right now. From there, this episode goes exactly what you've been waiting for it to do. The how to. What Joy does the second a dog tells her they're scared, what she'll never do, and why she's so clear about it. The brush to throw out, and the two to buy instead, including an inexpensive one for beginners. Line brushing explained in words you can use tonight. The six places Matt's hide on your doodle and how to spot a truly good groomer in the first five minutes. Then we open it up. The doodle parents who are in the room live get their turn and they bring real questions about real dogs. Let's get back to it.

SPEAKER_01 1:45

So I have a grooming salon in Lacuna Nigel, and I absolutely do use kennel banks. I think that it's important to keep the dogs separated. One, not everyone has the space for cage-free grooming. And the word cage has taken on this dogs are trapped and things that, but that's not the case. My dogs have access to water. They've got a cushiony mat in there. We play calming music. We miss calming pheromones. Other dogs, when they get groomed, should not be subject to dogs in their face the entire time. You never know how one dog is going to react to another dog. For me, as the business owner, it takes so much stress away by knowing that the dogs are in the back, separate, calm. They have their own peaceful environment. The dogs love it. A lot of the times we're poking the dog to wake them up to go back to their pet parent because when they're done with their room, they want to curl up. They don't want to be bothered. And so I think there is a misconception that crates are harmful to dogs or that kennel drying is even harmful to dogs. We personally do not use kennel dryers, but they are safe. They are well maintained and even recognized by the AKC as safe to use on dogs as long as they're used properly with timers, low heat settings, things that. So it's all about the proper usage of these things, proper usage of kennel dryers, proper usage of kennel banks in your system. And personally, it's also if your dogs are not fixed and they're intermingling with each other, there's a chance that your dog could get pregnant at the groomer. That's crazy. I yeah. I think there's a lot of risk.

SPEAKER_00 3:21

You aren't dressed enough.

SPEAKER_01 3:23

Yeah. So there's a lot of risk. And then it also requires someone to supervise the dogs constantly. So sometimes when I've been visiting or traveling somewhere and I take my dog to get a quick wash, I see dogs running all over the grooming room. That's so unsafe for the groomers. They could potentially step on a dog that and while they're working, they could cut the dog while tripping over another dog. What happens when there's a dog fight? So there's all of these risks. And not saying that cage-free grooming salons are unsafe. I do not think that at all. I think there's a proper way to do it. And some cage-free grooming salons, they don't have cage, but they have walls. So it's not necessarily, it's still a structure that the dog is clipped to and cannot leave from. But at least in kennel banks, the dog does not have to be clipped up against the wall and to be kept separate. They can circle, lay down, stretch out, drink water, even use the bathroom if they need to on their kennel mat without having to worry about another dog potentially triggering them, upsetting them, harming them, spreading a parasite to them. There's so many rests. So I would just say if your groomer is using kennel banks to keep the dog separate, they're keeping your dog safe.

SPEAKER_00 4:35

I have to say I completely agree. I've run boarding and daycare exclusively for doodles for a decade. The temperament screening that I do and the personality matching that I do and the full time have my full attention and supervision. And every guest pup I have is required to be comfortable in a crate because if I am not able to give my full attention, we take a nap and separate because they need supervision. And I just can't imagine, and I think there are dogs that are not comfortable in crates and haven't been crate trained or had something traumatic when they were younger with a kennel and finding someone who they take one dog at a time, or it's an individual groomer that they are working on one and the other one walks around or something. I think we those accommodations are great, but I can't imagine just taking in multiple dogs that I had a temperament screened and some are intact, some are not. It just feels like I'm not doing a service to dogs on a larger scale. If I was in my own salon, and it's an unnecessary risk to me.

SPEAKER_01 5:52

I've been in grooming salons where there are no use of any sort of keeping the dog separated or restrained, and it feels, smells, and looks chaos. What happens if you take your dog in to get groomed? He may get inside because they are intermingling with the dog or multiple dogs that you have no idea. So that's why I do not agree that dogs should be shared in kennel spaces, but I also I just I prefer personally just keep all dogs separate. These dogs do not know each other and they should not be forced to get to know each other when they're coming in for a groom. And that's also why we accommodate pet parents who do not want their dog in a kennel, perfectly fine. We'll book you first thing in the morning, you'll be in and you'll be out. Don't go far. We'll call you about 25 minutes before your dog is due for pickup. So that way you can be here right when your dog is getting off of the table. So we still accommodate speechless grooming and what we call express grooming for seniors, for puppies, for people who just do not want their dog in a kennel. That is perfectly fine. And we respect that, but we also respect the fact that we are responsible for 30 plus dogs at a time. And I'm sorry, I'm not risking their safety or their health just to say that we are cage-free. There's nothing wrong with kennel banks when used properly.

SPEAKER_00 7:03

What a beautiful way to accommodate certain needs for other pups while keeping everyone safe. Yes. Yeah. Safety number one. Agree. For you and the pups. Yes. Yes. And when we talk about fear-free and doodles being comfortable with grooming, what is it for you as the groomer when a dog is clearly stressed during a groom? Depending on the level of stress, I'll call it.

SPEAKER_01 7:30

I will work through the stressful experience to teach the dog that you're not being harmed, you're safe. My hands on you does not mean that it is a threat to your well-being or anything. So I will work through a dog who does not grooming. I actually specialize in it. So a lot of people will bring me dogs because they do not the grooming process or because they had a traumatic experience, or because they waited too long to bring their dog in. And now the dog is so confused about the grooming process because they're two years old and they've never been to the groomer. So I experienced it a lot. And I've also had groomers on my team go, I didn't realize this was that kind of salon. And I'm like what kind of salon? And they go, the one where you only deal with bad dogs. There can be no such thing as a bad dog. In my mind, I don't believe in good dog versus bad dog. I believed in a dog who is used to the experience and has been trained and an untrained dog who needs time to be rehabilitated and to learn that this process is safe and that he is okay. But there is no good versus bad. And I think that's so important to know your strengths as a groomer because my strength as a groomer is being able to slow down. I don't really have fear when it comes to dogs potentially biting, but I also don't put myself or the dogs in a dangerous situation. So once a dog reaches a certain heightened level, right? There's countless clients who have come in and I go, we're just gonna book you for what's called a happy visit. Your dog's gonna come in. I'm gonna walk them around the grooming salon, they're gonna go in and out of the kennel, they're gonna jump on and off the table, they're gonna jump in and out of the bathtub, they're gonna sit next to me while I comfort them and I spray the water. Just about desensitization. Does every dog need that? No. But some do. And it's important to take the time if you can or have the knowledge on how to do so to just slow the process down. Start from it's not honestly not even starting from the beginning, it's a pre-beginning, and just to desensitize them before we even get them in the top. And then we'll just start with a bath and blow dry. No table services, no nails, nothing else that is triggering, just a bath and wash. Once we build trust there, then we add things on gradually, then we move to a haircut. So sometimes it is a slower process. It can be a little bit more expensive or a little, maybe even a little annoying to have to slow it down that level from the pet parent perspective. But you do not want to take your dog somewhere where they are going to be held down, forced through a stressful service. And they, instead of looking forward to grooming and being pampered and loving this experience, they are, I mean, fully traumatized. And I have fully rehabilitated dogs from biting and not being able to even be touched to running in the grooming salon and jumping on the table, like leading me with their mouth, with their lead to get on the table because they want to start the service because they know it's going to be a good experience. And so my experience with dogs, that is if you're not willing to slow it down, refer them out to someone who will, or teach yourself how to rehabilitate dogs in just the same way that I have. And I mean, I love it when someone's like, You're not going to be able to get my dog groomed. I'm like, awesome. Watch me. It might take six sessions before we get to the haircut, but I guarantee you I can do it because I know what they are communicating. And it's always, almost always fear. There's a difference between fear and aggression. I honestly don't see a lot of aggressive dogs. I see fearful dogs who use fighting as a mechanism to protect themselves. Increase. Yes, exactly. And so if you respect the dog's need for space, but then go back in with, but you're safe, and I'm going to touch you again because I'm not harming you. Then they'll go, okay. Well, she's not going anywhere. So I might as well just get used to this lady. And I feel that happens all the time. And or a lot of times, my groomers will be dealing with a difficult situation, difficult nail trim, or a difficult shave down. They go, I can't do this dog. And then I'll come over and I'll do it. And they're like, How are you able to? It's just gonna, it's cooperating for you because it loves you better. And I'm no, it's because I'm communicating to them with my body language, with the way my fingers are even placed on their bodies, that they are safe with me. And so sometimes we just slow down, drop your shoulders, give them the energy you want to receive from them. And so when they slow down and do that, they go, Wow, he actually is perfectly fine. And yeah, so sometimes it just takes slowing down and communicating with your dog and letting them communicate that they're scared. And then you communicate, you take that, you transmute that energy and you give it back to them that they're safe.

SPEAKER_00 11:58

What I'm not hearing you describe is pinning down, forcing. I'm not hearing the things, the slings where a dog is put in a sling so they can't move, so they can get the nail trim kind of done by force. I'm not hearing corrections or sh or different noises to correct any sort of resistance or growl.

SPEAKER_01 13:07

Yeah. Now I will sometimes tell my groomers to shush their dog. No, calm them down. Because I do think that dogs relay a lot of their information through sound and smell, really. So it's really hard to communicate them in the grooming salon with smell. But one thing they can do is hear that your tone is not angry. And so if a dog bites, sometimes our first reaction obviously is going to be no, do that. But then if the dog is showing continued signs of anxiety and fear, you're like, just calm down, sweetie. And I'll oftentimes I will send the dog home and go, bring them back a different day. Or they will come in and I go, What's going on at home? And they go, Oh, well, we're in the middle of a move and we just had a baby and one of our other dogs just died. And I'm like, Okay, that makes perfect sense. Take them for a really long walk. And so I'll give them homework to do. And then they go, he was able to get his groom completed today. Yes, because we calmed everything down, took away all of the stressors. They're dealing with so much that they can't communicate. And if we're not able to listen, then we're not able to work with them in a way that works for them. And so I think it's slowing down and listening to your dog is how you can avoid a lot of difficult grooms. And if you're not able to complete it, that's not a bad sign that you're not a good groomer. It just means that you know your strengths enough to send them to someone who does know that that is their strength to deal with and handle. So when it comes to just everyday dog grooming, everyday pet care, shish over snaps, no no's, and just slow it down. Honestly, you'd be surprised what you can get accomplished when you just slow down the process.

SPEAKER_00 14:48

Joy, I could talk to you forever, obviously. Are you okay? We're going long. Are you okay if we spend oh good a little more time? I want to go into the how-tos. Yes, yeah, together. Okay, wonderful. So now that we understand more about the salon experience for our doodles and the whys, let's talk about the how to take care of our doodles coats and what we could do at home. What can doodle parents start doing right now, like six weeks before their next appointment?

SPEAKER_01 15:20

Not just more frequent brushing, but making sure, I know we touched on this in the beginning, making sure that you have the right tools to care for your dog. Making sure that if you have a doodle puppy, that you are desensitizing them. So, first, if they're a puppy, start with that desensitization. You don't necessarily have to be bathing or attempting any grooming at home, but just making sure that you are touching all of those trigger points, the faces, the paws, rear end, handling them, getting them used to loud noises, maybe turning on a little blow dryer, blowing it around them every now and then. I always recommend an electric toothbrush, especially if you have a poodle because their face is going to be shaved. So get that electric toothbrush around the eyes and around the head, desensitize them, just let them know they're okay. You don't have to force them through it if they're not liking it. Just take it slow, gentle, positive reinforcement. That's going to build that and establish a healthy relationship with things that are initially naturally going to be uncomfortable for your puppy, to getting them on a regular maintenance schedule at home. So making sure that you have a minimum of 30 minutes every other day to fully brush and fully comb your dog. Take that time to look over their skin, make sure there's no fleas, ticks, parasites, lumps, anything that you're missing. Check between their toes, especially during hiking season, to make sure they don't have any burrs or foxtails getting caught in between the toes. Just make making sure that you establish a regular, consistent, and positive brushing and combing schedule at home. And then three is making sure and confer with a professional for, I mean, Google when times are tough, whatever. But if you have the opportunity to call up a local dog grooming salon and ask them a question on what kind of brush do you recommend or comb, or do they even carry one in the store, maybe? But getting the right tools for your dog and making sure that you're watching videos or asking your groomer the white, the right way to brush and comb your dog to ensure that you're doing your part as a pet parent at home so that they have a more positive grooming experience when you bring them into a groomer.

SPEAKER_00 17:19

Let's talk tools a little bit. So I had held up this brush. Yes. And this is the Chris Christiansen Coral.

SPEAKER_01 17:28

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 17:28

Um, what are your thoughts on brushes, do's and don'ts? What to look for? That's not sponsored or anything. That's just my favorite.

SPEAKER_01 17:36

Of course. Yes. And I actually have, before I get into the do's and don'ts of the brushes, some pet parents may need to start with a less advanced brush. That is an incredibly advanced brush. It is perfect for doodles, but there is a great inexpensive brush. It's by Paw Brothers with extra long bristles. I sometimes think that that brush is a great intro brush to get used to it because the Chrish Christensen ones or the groom supply house ones, that the one that you just held up, and sometimes when used properly, they feel like it doesn't work because the technique that's being applied is not being done properly. So, one, you always want to make sure that you find a good, strong brush that has a nice ergonomic handle. You'll be using it multiple times a week. You want to make sure that it's comfortable. Yeah. Um, so making sure that that handle is comfortable and applying a line brushing method when you're doing your doodle. So you hold up the hair and you start in a line and you work your way up fully around whatever area you're working on, the leg or the section, section out the hair and move in a straight line up and then follow through with the comb before you move to the next section. That will make sure that you're brushing down to the skin and that you're not missing anything along the way.

SPEAKER_00 18:46

Beautiful. I don't have a greyhound comb handy, but that's so the Chris Christensen is pricey. It's an investment, but you'll use it the next decade with your doodle. Yes, you will.

SPEAKER_01 18:58

And there are so many other brands who are making similar brushes. Jelly Pet has a great one. Groom Supply House has a great one that's a little less expensive. I have the Chris Christensen one, I also have the Grim Supply House one and a couple jelly pets. So I would recommend getting a couple, just depending on your price range. It is possible, but you just want to find teeth that come out at a straight angle and then point slightly down. That's going to ensure that it's getting into the coat, grabbing any tangles and pulling them all the way out. You don't want anything that are just straight, flat pin mats. That is for more of a short to medium coat to just get the loose hair out. But when it comes to a doodle, you want to make sure that there is some length on those bristles and following through. Yes, with a greyhound comb, it is just a standard metal comb. You can get it on Amazon or anywhere else, probably. Yeah, there's very, very inexpensive depending on the size. But also, speaking of size, making sure that whatever size brush and comb you're using matches the size of your dog. So they make brushes, you know, this big for your smaller doodles, this big for your standard size, and some quite large ones for your 60 plus pound doodles, making sure that the size of your brush matches the size of your dog.

SPEAKER_00 20:08

And when you I now I have new brushes to test. So thank you for the recommendations. Something that stands out to me is can I do this with the pins? Um, something I like about these is the tips are polished. So that didn't scratch me at all. Yeah. But you can save money with the Greyhound comb. You don't have to go name brand with the Greyhound comb. And if you want to make sure that your doodle is matte free before you go in, if you find it kind of embarrassing to hear that your doodle has mats, checking with the comb is the secret, right?

SPEAKER_01 20:41

Yes, absolutely. You always want to follow through any of your brushing sessions with a comb, starting at the root all the way down to the end of that fur. You don't just want to lightly comb over the top. You really want to section that fur and make sure that they are not matted at the base. Because, I mean, more times than not, we often see a very detangled and beautiful top coat. And the moment we try to move that hair apart to see the skin, it is all matted together. So the comb will help you avoid that.

SPEAKER_00 21:10

So making sure the comb can go to the skin. And I've learned from groomers that when you're using your clippers, that has a comb that has teeth that has to go through the skin. So if our greyhound comb can't, you can't either use that guard and go through.

SPEAKER_01 21:28

Absolutely. If the comb won't go through it, the guard comb will not go through it. So, which is why we always have to end up, you know, potentially doing shavings once the guard comb can't get through it or the comb can't get through it. You can pretty much expect that whatever, even if it's just a small section, that it will have to be removed safely with a shave.

SPEAKER_00 21:46

Excellent. The Swiss cheese method I hadn't heard before, where you're just shaving out those kind of pieces. So yes, and that you're just doing the best you can. Yes. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 21:58

And it happens every now and again. But if you are Swiss cheesing your dog regularly, it's probably time for a full start. You definitely don't want there to be multiple patches of hair shorter all throughout the coat because that could actually lead to more matting and just you're basically delaying a shave down. So if you find that your dog is regularly being Swiss cheesed, is what we call it. It just is better to just take it all down and match the length so that you can maintain a dog that has the same length throughout its coat.

SPEAKER_00 22:27

Awesome. I have another product here that I have used with my doodles that I would love your foundation. This one's Mattex, just a detangler spray. I've heard different opinions from different groomers as to dry brushing versus using a mist of a detangler spray every time. Do you have An opinion, and if so, do you have a favorite?

SPEAKER_01 22:47

So I feel like if it is tangled, then using a spray that is fantastic to soften the coat so you can get in there with a comb and brush and it will be removed easier. But spraying it down a mat will not remove the mat itself. They call it matte X, but depending on the type of matting that we're talking about, mats can't just be sprayed and brushed and brushed relentlessly and removed because it also will just damage the coat. So you want to make sure that if you are using some sort of product, which I highly recommend, we love a good detangling product or a leave-in conditioner that we can use to moisturize the coat to work the mats and comb them out. Just don't expect it to remove a mat that is too far gone.

SPEAKER_00 23:29

Excellent. Yes, this is for ongoing maintenance in my house, not actually a mat. Yeah. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 23:36

I love a detangling spray though, for sure.

SPEAKER_00 23:39

And a tool that I see is really common in at-home maintenance kits with pet parents. I call it the Freddie Krueger comb. Um, but if you were to be on Amazon, you will see if you're buying a brush for your doo, you'll see it recommended next to it. The comb with the blades. And it's called a detangler comb. Can you talk to us a little bit about that? And for at-home use.

SPEAKER_01 24:05

Yes, a detangler comb is a professional grooming tool. I don't even let my professional bathers use it. I think there is too much of a risk. It is still a blade. And for me, it's just not worth the risk. If the coat is matted, let's just safely remove the mat rather than risk slicing the dog and sending it to the vet. I personally recommend against people using D-matting, that D-matting tool specifically at home without proper knowledge of how to use it. I've been grooming dogs for 11 years. I can't tell you the last time I picked up one of those. Are they a bad tool? Not necessarily. Other groomering professionals use them. They can be used properly by professionals. It is not a product I recommend to be used at home. That is just my personal professional opinion.

SPEAKER_00 24:51

Same. I agree. And if you're not even letting staff in your grooming salon, the bathers use it in a salon. There's things I'm an expert at. And using that tool is not one of them, and it's not worth the risk to me.

SPEAKER_01 25:04

So risky. Yeah. It's really risky. And even when I use it as a professional, it makes me uncomfortable. And it's also only a right-handed tool. So the thumb part on it is only fit for people with their right hand. So I'm left-handed. I wouldn't even be able to use that tool properly. So it's not even a one size fits all kind of tool for brushes. So just avoid having to break down the mats by doing regular brushing and combing. If you are doing the brushing and combing regularly and using the right techniques and tools, you will not have to worry about needing a rake.

SPEAKER_00 25:33

There's another term I hear groomers use of skunk brushing. Where have you is that new to you? Never heard that. No. If you think, and you might just now you might be like, oh, I get it now. But just going from the head down the back to the tail. And that's where because the dog is, you would be lying down or standing. And that's an easy spot to get to. They don't resist. Yeah. But then all of the frequently tangled spots. So now, have you seen skunk brushing in practice? Oh, yeah. Okay. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 26:02

I love that. I'm gonna definitely taking that one with me after this. Skunk brushing. That's hilarious. Yeah, I see it all the time. And I actually just saw it two days ago, I think, where I was, yeah, the back of the head and all down the middle of the spine is perfect, but sides, the legs, the underbelly, everything else. And that's just because it's the ease most easily accessible area on your dog to brush. But lay your dog down, section their hair out. You definitely don't want to be skunk brushing your dog because it's it's not benefiting them. And unless you want a mohawk, you'll want to make sure that everything else is done too, or the only thing that will be able to have any length is that strip down the back.

SPEAKER_00 26:42

That's why we see so many mohawks. So if you're working on this at home and you don't want to end up with a mohawk from that sort of brushing, what are the places that you, when you're feeling a pup to see if they're matted, what are the hot spots that you see the most matting?

SPEAKER_01 26:58

I see the most matting in the armpit area, the thighs and the backs of the legs, the base of the tail, or sometimes throughout the tail, behind and at the bottom part underneath the ear. The top part is always brushed out, but it's that base underneath that's not being combed through properly behind the ear and around the collar and chest. So the chest, because of the harness. So the harness is being worn for too long, or when you take the harness off your dog, their curls are pressed and they're not being brushed and combed out afterneath. So anytime you take your harness off of your doodle or poodle, brush those areas out. Also, sleeping in the collar, not necessary. Take your collar off of the dog at the end of the day. They don't need to sleep in it. And if you have a doodle or poodle, I highly recommend getting rid of a flat collar and getting what's called a rolled leather collar. Rolled leather flows through the curls so much more easily, and it's not going to press against your dog's natural texture. That's just going to flatten their curls and mat the fur. And a lot of the times I see lots of matting in this area and the chest harness area. So all you have to do is just remove it and brush and comb those areas out once you take it off every single day, and you won't experience any matting there. And then keeping the armpit area just nice and short. You don't have to shave it out, but just tell your groomer, just go a little shorter in the armpit area. They don't need the hair in the armpits, and it's always going to end up getting matted. And shaving out the armpit can be an incredibly risky thing to do because of the way the skin stretches in that area. So just as a regular part of their maintenance, if you're going to keep your doodle maybe an inch long, do a half inch in the underarm area just to keep it nice and short, because it's also can be very uncomfortable to brush and comb regularly just because of how stretchy the skin is. Do you feel the same for the belly? I love to keep the belly short. Yeah. Because you can also keep it twice as short as everything else you're doing on the outside. And one, dogs cool themselves down from laying their belly on cool surfaces. So the less hair that they have to get to the skin, they'll be able to cool themselves off a lot easier too. So keep the belly short. Brushing the belly, brushing around the nipples can be very, very uncomfortable for dogs. So you'll definitely want to just keep all of the high mat areas low maintenance by keeping them shorter.

SPEAKER_00 29:13

I think we're doing both of us a favor there. They don't enjoy it too much. It saves us a space, a place that they don't enjoy. And they still keep these adorable teddy bear looks. Yes. Yes, exactly. Nobody's checking their armor pits.

SPEAKER_01 29:26

Yes, keep keep them short. And especially that base of the tail, too, where in their sanitary area, instead of just focusing on the sanitary, keeping the underside of that tail nice and short too, so it doesn't get matted. But yes, just keeping them brushed and combed and the areas that matte frequently keep them a little shorter.

SPEAKER_00 29:42

Perfect. What if somebody's looking for a doodle groomer, not enough or fear-free certified? You're doing such amazing work, but you're not everywhere, unfortunately.

SPEAKER_01 29:53

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 29:53

What should doodle parents look for in a groomer?

SPEAKER_01 29:58

You definitely can tell by having a conversation with your groomer if they are going to treat your dog with compassion throughout the process. You want to find someone who is patient, but also skilled enough to know if your dog's getting too stressed out. I'm going to call the service or your dog's acting a little weird today. Normally doesn't act this way. I just want to call and make sure that everything's okay. Someone that has that level of awareness and level of compassion when handling your dog is going to do what's best for them, even if they're in disagreement with you. I will always stand up for what's best for my pets. And even if it's in disagreement with my pet parents, because they know me and because they know where my heart's at, they'll go, I trust you. Do what you think is best because they know that I will always have their dog's best interest. So you really want to find a groomer who is compassionate and that does not resent their profession. Because sometimes it can get hard. We all reach a point of burnout. And but sometimes if you are reaching that, it's your responsibility as a groomer to maybe take a step back or take less dogs so you can refind the joy in grooming that brought you to the profession in the first place. So if you are looking for a groomer, look for a clean salon. Beautiful. And some red flags. Some red flags would be dismissal, maybe not being willing to hear you out. And that doesn't mean that they're necessarily a bad groomer. They just may not be your groomer. So if you're trying to communicate any concerns or and if you feel like you're being dismissed or not listened to or shut down in the conversation, you're probably not going to have the best relationship with that groomer. And so you want to find a groomer that you can have a good relationship with. Some people just communicate differently, and that's okay. You want to find a groomer who speaks your language and where you feel respected, or if you are wrong about something that you're recommending for your pet, someone that can go, oh no, no, no, don't do that. Do this instead. That's going to be better for your dog. So you want to find someone who is who can speak your language, but yeah. And then another red flag is mess, chaos. Every time you walk into the grooming salon and it is pure chaos, the grooming salon is dirty, it smells a little urine or something. There's strong smells, something that my clients love when they come into the salon. I should be getting my hair done here. We are meticulous about the cleaning, about regular vacuuming. And yes, every time you walk into the grooming salon, is it going to be perfectly clean? Absolutely not. We're cutting hair all day. Blow drying and yeah. It should, but it should not reek. For me, when I walk into a grooming salon and it smells really bad, like urine or something, I'm one, if dogs are peeing here that often, then they're probably being kept here too long. So there might be a scheduling issue there or something like that. Dogs pee and poop all the time in my salon. I've had it for three years and I've never had it smelling pee or poop. Me and my business partner, she is meticulous about using very safe, high-quality cleaning supplies as well. So it doesn't need to reek of bleach, but it also doesn't need to reek of urine. So for me, that is a known red flag. If every time you walk into your dog's grooming salon and you wouldn't want to be left there, why would you leave your dog there?

SPEAKER_00 33:04

If listeners walk away knowing one thing that changes how they think about grooming, what do you think you'd want it to be?

SPEAKER_01 33:11

One thing that it is, if you are having a hard time with grooming, whether in the salon or out of it, it is never the dog. It is just a lack of education in some aspect. So never blame the dog for behavior, never blame the dog for not liking grooming or being matted or being challenging to brush at home. Figure out what you need to do as their human or as their caregiver, what you need to change, what you need to learn in order to care for them in the best way, because it is never the dog's fault.

SPEAKER_00 33:45

Oh, thank you. If someone wanted to bring their pup to you, where are you located? And I think you have a special offer for listeners nearby.

SPEAKER_01 33:54

I do. So my grooming salon is called Wellgroom Pets Orange County. I'm one of the owners there. We are located in Laguna Nigel on La Paz. We are very proud, AKC certified and fear-free grooming salon. And if you are listening right now, then please come by, get your dog bathed or groomed. We'd love to offer you 25% off on your first service with us. We also offer amazing loyalty discounts when you rebook your dog to make sure that they are well maintained and we want to reward you for keeping them, um, reward you for keeping them well maintained. And so, yeah, if you're listening to this, come enjoy 25% off at Walgreen Pets Orange County.

SPEAKER_00 34:31

Thank you. And thank you for your leadership in this industry and just advocating for these pups. You've been so generous with your time. I saw a couple quick questions, if you don't mind. All right, let me just, I just see three little comments here. Um and Natalie said, Oh, sweet Natalie, her dog had a first-time traumatic groom. And so she's been trying to rehab with her pup. But she shared, Olive is very strong and cautious, but getting confident. We finally had success with the help of medication, but I struggle with finding a groomer to take her time and stop if needed, so she has a good experience. We're getting past it, but I'm trying to groom at home some. I do expose her to different grooming sounds at home, and that seems to help. Being a burna doodle, can you advise what is a good shampoo and conditioner for use at home? She has a little curly hair, but not too curly. I'm trying to learn because we're not having great success finding a groomer.

SPEAKER_01 35:28

Well, first, I'm so sorry that she had that negative experience because it does take quite the learning curve to get her back on track. But what I will say is that it sounds like there needs to be better communication with your groomer. Don't be afraid to set a boundary and say, all of us have been through a traumatic experience. Slow down the process to what she is comfortable with. And if she's not having a good day and is not a willing participant in the groom, call me. I'll come pick her up and we can finish another day. But you never you want to very much communicate that it's okay to call the service. So that way they know that they can either slow down and take their time, or if she reaches a point of stress to just end the service, you can come pick her up and you guys can start fresh another day without compounding any unnecessary trauma into what she's already experienced. So that would be the first step is don't be afraid to draw a hard line and say, I'll come pick up my dog if she's not having a good day today. And then, second, you said you wanted a recommendation of a shampoo and conditioner to use at home. Now, this one's a little hard because there are so many good shampoo and conditioners. I think Nikita Pets, so NKITA, is a great one. They are very, very natural. And one thing I love about their shampoo and conditioner is that sometimes you have to get a shampoo for this and for that. And you want to treat allergies and you want to moisturize the coat. So this is an all-encompassing shampoo and conditioner. If you wanted to bring out her curls, feel free to use curly wax because I personally know them and they have worked to develop a brand to that is supposed to bring out the best curls in your dog. So if you want to show more of those curls, curly wax would be a great one to use at home. But I think Nikita Pad is a safe, it can be used at a scale in a salon as well, which I love, but they also have stuff that you can use from home and it is a very simple ingredient list. So try those out. And I would love to how see how that goes for you in the future using that at home.

SPEAKER_00 37:27

And I think your suggestion about kind of happy visits. I imagine if Natalie called a salon and asked about a happy visit, their reaction would give us a clue as to how patient they are and how they approach dogs. And so we don't offer that or we're too busy. They're probably not a salon that's going to call it and stop mid-groom to take things slow.

SPEAKER_01 37:50

Yes. I I I highly recommend inquiring about anything that, or maybe don't even scale it. Maybe just stop by your dog screaming salon and and see how they would react to you. I just want to have them here for a second, give him some treats, maybe get a little love from the receptionist, or if a groomer has a free moment, give him a couple pets and give him a little love so that way he can leave, and then he will, or she will start to have a positive relationship with just coming to the groom and not even focus on having a positive relationship with grooming, but just getting through the door and that being stress-free.

SPEAKER_00 38:22

The smells, the noises, the just the environment. That can be a lot. Um Toby from North Dakota is another member of our Doodle Pro Honor Society. And she said, My Mia is a medium golden doodle who's eight months and in coat transition. I brush with the slicker crit held up so it's the Chris Christensen and go through with a comb after four to six days per week. She has been groomed every six to eight weeks since about four months, but she's super wiggly and I was told to find a new person already. At home, I have her lay down and treat after a few strokes or the split second before she's trying to get up. I give her the freedom to walk away during our brushing sessions and set a timer for 20 minutes and stop no matter where we are at. She has not had any mats yet, but my question is if I should be working on brushing and standing and if I should not allow her to walk away. It was hinted to me by the groomer we can't go to anymore that I should get the whole grooming set up for her.

SPEAKER_01 39:18

I would, so I I believe if I am remembering correctly, you said you brush her every four to six. Uh-huh. Um, so I would maybe up that instead of every, so that sounds about maybe once to twice a week, um, I would probably brush her more often. I would do three to four times a week for the brushing so she gets more used to it more frequently. And I would also definitely brush her standing up. Dogs are standing up throughout the entire grooming process unless they have some sort of a limiting mobility issue. Yeah. And so your dog should definitely be used to standing up. So if you have a partner or a child at home that could, you can put her on her leash and collar and almost mimic what it would be at the grooming salon. So holding leash and collar above the back of her head and sand her up and just gently brush her and reassure her. And yes, I would definitely get her used to being brushed and combed while standing up comb. She can walk away if it gets a little too stressful. Keep the brushing sessions under or at 30 minutes so it's not too long, but she should be able to stand there at least for 10 to 15 minutes without wanting to walk away. And if she is, maybe revisit, you know, where what area of the brushing is happening when she is walking away. Does she always walk away when I brush her belly or her chest? Maybe these are trigger areas for her. Maybe I need to slow down in those areas or something like that. So maybe note where she wants to be done with the service and slow down in those areas to see why that is a trigger point for her to want to get away from the session. But yes, definitely brush her standing up.

SPEAKER_00 40:50

And Toby um clarified, I meant four to six days a week. So lots of brushing happening. That's amazing.

SPEAKER_01 40:56

Okay, yes. Yes, for sure. Depending on how long she is, you may, I mean, six days. I I love it. The more brushing, the better. But maybe four, keeping four at a sweet spot because sometimes she might be walking away because her skin's not really being given a break from all of the brushing. So you do maybe want to just do every other day of the brushing. Three to four times a week should be plenty. If she is maybe two inches long, definitely closer to four to five, but making sure that her skin has a couple days' break so it's not always being pulled on every day.

SPEAKER_00 41:24

Or different sections, maybe. So there's two work days at the gym. Yes. Yeah. Exactly, exactly. Arm and leg day for sure. All right, perfect. Um, Natalie said, you are awesome. I really appreciate it. Thank you so much. We are going to be airing some of our guest interviews starting in May, and I'm going to send you all the resources I can't to share. I can't wait for Doodle Parents to hear all of your wisdom. And thanks for spending extra time with us today.

SPEAKER_01 41:53

Of course. It's my pleasure. Thank you so much for having me. And thank you for facilitating a space where this conversation can happen. I think it's so important. And I'm hoping that it will happen again as the industry continues to evolve and doodles continue to evolve.

SPEAKER_00 42:07

Thank you so much, Joy. You are a joy. I'm sure you've heard that way too many times. But we really appreciate it. Thank you. Of course, thank you guys so much. All right. I'll talk to you soon. If you take one thing away from these two episodes, let it be the sentence Joy said near the end. Because I haven't stopped thinking about it. It's never the dog. It is just a lack of education in some aspect. Not your dog, not you, not your groomer. The gap. And the gap is the one thing on the list we can actually close a few minutes at a time, three to four days a week. So here's your one doable first step this week. Not a full body brush out, not a perfect session. Pick one spot that they don't mind being brushed while your doodle's already lying down next to you. You work one small section down to the skin and run the comb through to check your work. That's it. That's the whole assignment. And if you want to see it instead of just hearing it, Joy filmed a full line brushing tutorial for the Doodle Pro Summit on the rug with a real doodle in real conditions. It lives in the Honor Society library along with every other Summit session. Which brings me to the room one more time. The questions you just heard came from Honor Society members who joined this recording live months before this episode reached your ears. They named their own doodles and asked a professional groomer about them. And Joy answered, That's not a bonus. That's the whole point of the membership. If you want to be in the room the next time an expert like Joy shows up, come join us at thedoodlepro.com slash society. Joy, thank you for your honesty, for your advocacy, and for loving these dogs the way you do. You can find Joy on Instagram at GREE, and if you're near Orange County, California, her salon is Well Groomed Pets Orange County in Laguna. She's giving Doodle Pro listeners 25% off their first service, and every link is waiting for you in the show notes, including my favorite tools for brushing doodles. Go be gentle with your doodles coat this week. And be gentle with yourself too. You're doing better than you think. This is the Doodle Pro podcast where we celebrate how doodles are different. Wonderfully so.