Let’s Talk About Doodles.
One of the most popular dog breeds around are Doodles, and there are so many different kinds! Purrfectly Pampered Pet Spa adores our Doodle clients and we serve them all, from Labradoodles to Bernedoodles to Goldendoodles and beyond. Here you will find some helpful information regarding the price of grooming your Doodle and the upkeep needed to keep them looking their best.
A Little History
Doodles were first bred in the 1980s in Australia by a man named Wally Conron. He was trying to breed the perfect guide dog for a blind woman whose husband was allergic to dogs, so he wanted to create one who wouldn’t shed much and was athletic and highly intelligent (à la a poodle) while also having traits such as the friendliness and faithfulness of a Golden Retriever, or the easygoing nature of a Lab. Today we have all kinds of different Doodle breeds, such as the Labradoodle (Labrador Retreiver and Poodle), the Goldendoodle (Golden Retreiver and Poodle), the Cavapoo (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Poodle), and the Bernedoodle (Bernese Mountain Dog and Poodle), just to name a few.
Pricing
Since Doodles are such a diverse breed they can come in various sizes and have coats that are wirey, fleecey, wavy, curly, or somewhere in between. It is a common misconception that Doodles do not shed, as some very well do due to their undercoat. The diversity of Doodles is what makes it difficult to nail down an exact price for grooming your Doodle, as it will never be a one-size-fits-all groom. Our price for Doodles 10 lbs and under start at $75 for a full groom. Doodles over 30 lbs start at $120.
These starting prices do not include any dematting and are subject to change depending on:
Dog size
Length of coat
Type and texture of coat
Coat condition
The last time your dog was professionally groomed
Desired style
Dog’s behavior
Total time it takes to groom your dog
Your Doodle Puppy
Successful grooming always begins at home. It is very important that you introduce your puppy to being handled and brushed very early on. The sooner, the better, as puppies can begin a professional grooming regime at 8 weeks of age. Remember to work especially with sensitive areas such as the face, paws, and tail. Your puppy’s first few appointments with us will be centered on getting them used to our tools and processes and the work you do at home with them will help us immensely. These appointments will include a bath, blow dry, full body cut/scissor (including trim of sanitary area), nail trim/file, ear cleaning (plucked if necessary), cologne spritz and a bandana. We will take the time to make sure your puppy is comfortable as stress can lead to a lifelong fear of grooming. Keeping your Doodle on a consistent grooming schedule is of the utmost importance in maintaing their coat and ensuring good behavior while being groomed. We recommend booking an appointment every 4-6 weeks.
Doodle Coat Care and Maintenance
While puppy coats start out soft and easy to manage, their adult coats will start to come in at around 4-8 months of age. You can expect your Doodle to have their full adult coat anywhere from 8-14 months of age. It is easy for severe matting to occur as the baby coat falls out and becomes trapped under the adult coat. This is especially true for Doodles who resist shedding. Regular brushing and grooming is necessary to keeping your Doodle’s coat mat-free, manageable, and looking its best.
Proper coat care for your Doodle consists of 3 main factors:
Frequency of professional grooming
At-home maintenance between grooms
Length of haircut
The length of your Doodle’s haircut is especially important to consider as longer haircuts will require more at-home maintenance and more frequent professional grooming appointments. Shorter haircuts still require at-home care but can be maintained longer between appointments. The standard recommendation is that no Doodle should go longer than 6 weeks between grooming appointments.
