Doodle grooming in Pinole

Doodles are some of the sweetest dogs I get to groom, and their coats are some of the trickiest. A Goldendoodle, Labradoodle, or Bernedoodle can have a flat, wavy, or tightly curled coat, and the curlier it is, the more the loose hair stays trapped and turns into mats.

What it is and who it's for

This is my bath and haircut, shaped around a doodle coat. It's for any Poodle mix, from puppies getting used to grooming to adults with a full teddy bear coat. It is especially helpful during the puppy coat change, somewhere roughly between six months and a year or so, when shedding puppy hair tangles into the adult coat and brushing that used to work suddenly isn't enough.

What happens during the groom

I groom one dog at a time in a quiet space in Pinole. No kennel row, no other dogs barking, and breaks whenever your dog needs one.

The groom starts with a bath and a thorough dry, since a clean, fully dry coat is much easier to work through. Then I line brush and comb down to the skin, paying extra attention to the spots that mat first: behind the ears, the armpits, under the collar, the inner thighs, the belly, and the paws.

The haircut comes next, at a length we agree on beforehand. Faces, ears, and feet can be kept fuller or shorter to suit you. I also keep hair out of the eyes, tidy around the bottom, and trim between the paw pads.

If a coat is matted tight to the skin, I won't put your dog through a long, painful brush-out. The kinder option is usually to take the coat short and start fresh. I'll talk that through with you honestly before I start.

What to do before you come

• Brush if you can, but don't worry if the coat has gotten away from you. Just tell me when you book.
• Think about the length you can realistically keep up with at home. Shorter is easier to live with and dries faster.
• Bring a photo of a look you like, if you have one.
• Let me know about any skin issues, sore spots, or worries about the dryer or having feet handled.

Good to know

• Most doodles do well on a schedule of every 4 to 8 weeks, depending on length and how much brushing happens between visits.
• Line brushing a few times a week, down to the skin, is what keeps mats from forming.
• Don't cut mats out with scissors. Skin pulls up into them and it's very easy to cut.
• Starting puppies early with short, gentle visits helps them settle into grooming before the coat change.

Call or text 415-606-1530, or use the booking form, and tell me about your doodle.