How to Groom a Goldendoodle's Face

Goldendoodles are known for their teddy bear-like appearance. To achieve the teddy bear look, Goldendoodles need their faces groomed in a particular way. Thankfully, grooming your Goldendoodle’s face is not that complicated. By bathing your dog, trimming its facial hair a specific way, and taking steps to maintain your grooming job, you’ll be able to properly groom your Goldendoodle’s face.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Grooming and Trimming Facial Hair

  1. Use a fine-tooth comb or a flea comb. Then, comb your dog’s face one small section at a time. Focus on each cheek. Then, brush the area above the eyes. [1] Finally, focus on the dog’s neck area and under its mouth. [2]
    • When you see a matted area, gently lift the fur up, slide your brush into it, and at a slight angle pull the brush (and mat) away from the dog’s body.
    • Your dog probably won’t be happy when you try to remove mats. To calm it, hold it and comfort it by saying “good dog.”
  2. If your dog has light or moderate stains around its eyes, use wipes to clean the area. If your dog has heavy stains, use tear stain remover powders or other products. [3]
    • Read the directions on specific products before using them.
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  3. Use one hand to hold and comfort your dog. Use your other hand to hold the clipper. Make two swipes down each cheek with the clipper. Do this slowly. Be gentle, as your dog will probably be nervous.
  4. Use your scissors and trim the hair above your dog’s eyes. When you’re done, the dog should have bangs that are no more than 1-inch long (2.5 cm).
    • Don't trim your dog's whiskers.
    • Use safety scissors if you’re nervous about cutting around your dog’s eyes.
    • If you want, you can cut the hair shorter, so that there are no noticeable bangs. However, many Goldendoodle owners prefer bangs.
  5. Use scissors or a trimmer to trim the area around the dog’s eyes. Avoid cutting this hair too short. Your goal is to make the hair around your dog’s eyes blend into the hair on the top of its head and around its face.
  6. Cut the hair so it’s not more than a quarter of an inch in length (.6 cm). If the hair around your dog’s mouth is too long, it'll clash with the overall teddy bear look of your dog's cut.
  7. Gently tilt the dog's face upward. Then, using your clipper and a 1-inch (2.5 cm) attachment, shave the area under the dog’s mouth and above its neck. As you move down toward its neck, switch to 1.5-inch (3.75 cm) attachment. Create a seamless transition from the mouth to the neck. [4]
    • Depending on your dog's hair, you may need to use scissors to create a transition zone between the areas you trimmed with the different attachments.
  8. Use scissors to trim the hair around your dog’s ears just a little bit. When doing this, cut along the curve of the ear itself. Ultimately, the hair around your dog’s ears should seem as if it hasn’t been cut at all. [5]
    • Focus on patches of fur that are longer than the rest of your dog's ear hair.
  9. A mature Goldendoodle should have a “beard” that looks like an upside-down V on its face. The wide part of the V should end on both sides of the dog’s mouth/nose area. Typically, this hair is about a quarter of an inch (.635 cm) long or even slightly longer. If you cut your dog's hair too short, it won't have the upside-down V.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Maintaining Your Goldendoodle’s Face

  1. Pick a day every week when you’ll brush your dog’s hair. When doing this, brush in the direction that the hair is already pointed. If your dog has hair mats, brush under the mat and then outward. Ultimately, by brushing your dog’s hair regularly, you’ll help maintain your grooming job. [6]
  2. Use a wet cloth, dog-safe wipes, or similar products to wipe your dog’s face when it gets dirty. Pay the most attention to the area around the eyes and mouth. [7]
    • Some dogs may need to be wiped every 3 or 4 days.
  3. Remove any debris, such as twigs, leaves, bugs, or grass awns, which could go lower in the dog's ear canal. Be gentle while handling the dog's ears, and avoid putting anything inside them.
    • Don't dig in the dog's ear. If you have trouble removing a piece of debris, take the dog to the vet's office.
  4. The best way to avoid tear stains is to wipe away excess tears as soon as they appear. Reducing allergens can also help, as they can cause tear stains. There are many ways to reduce allergens in your dog's environment: [8]
    • Use a HEPA filter in your HVAC system.
    • Clean and vacuum your house regularly.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Washing Its Face while Bathing

  1. After putting your dog in a bathtub or another bathing area, wet your dog's fur. Do this by lightly spraying it down or by pouring water over its head with a cup. Use enough water so that your dog’s hair is completely wet. [9]
    • When doing this, hold the dog with one hand and comfort it.
    • Use water that is between 90 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit (32 and 35 degrees Celsius).
  2. Squirt some shampoo into your hand and rub it into your dog's fur. Pay particular attention to the area under your dog's eyes and around its mouth. While you should be gentle, make sure that the shampoo gets down to your dog's skin. [10]
    • When shampooing your dog’s face, try to use a tearless or “puppy” shampoo.
  3. Once you’ve massaged shampoo into your dog’s fur, begin the process of rinsing it off. Again, do this by either gently spraying your dog with a sprayer or by using a cup to pour water over your dog. When doing this, try to shield your dog's eyes with your hand. [11]
    • Rinse your dog until there is no shampoo or suds left in its fur.
  4. While you may be tempted to rub your dog with your towel to dry it faster, this may cause more mats and tangles in its hair. Instead, fold the towel into a square and gently pat your dog on its head, face, and neck. If you’re planning on grooming your dog’s face the same day, spend a little more time patting it down. [12]
    • After you pat your dog down, allow your dog to air dry for a couple of hours.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do you cut matted fur a Goldendoodle's face?
    Marie Lin
    Licensed Pet Groomer
    Marie Lin is a Licensed Pet Groomer and the Owner of Marie's Pet Grooming, a grooming salon based in New York City. Marie has over 10 years of pet grooming experience specializing in dogs and cats. She earned her pet grooming certification from the American Academy of Pet Grooming New York in 2009 and is also a member of the National Dog Groomers Association of America. She earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Hawaii Pacific University in 2007.
    Marie Lin
    Licensed Pet Groomer
    Expert Answer
    If you encounter a thick mat that you can't brush out, cut through it with scissors in the direction of the hair growth, not across. Then try combing it out again.
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  • Question
    How do you groom a Goldendoodle at home?
    Marie Lin
    Licensed Pet Groomer
    Marie Lin is a Licensed Pet Groomer and the Owner of Marie's Pet Grooming, a grooming salon based in New York City. Marie has over 10 years of pet grooming experience specializing in dogs and cats. She earned her pet grooming certification from the American Academy of Pet Grooming New York in 2009 and is also a member of the National Dog Groomers Association of America. She earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Hawaii Pacific University in 2007.
    Marie Lin
    Licensed Pet Groomer
    Expert Answer
    Talk to your dog in a soothing voice and pet it a lot throughout the grooming process so it feels more relaxed. Also, give your dog a treat after each step of the grooming process if it behaves well to help reinforce the good behavior.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      References

      1. ↑ Marie Lin. Licensed Pet Groomer. Expert Interview. 31 March 2020.
      2. ↑ http://www.petmd.com/dog/grooming/dogs-hair-knots-how-get-them-untangled-and-under-control
      3. ↑ http://www.allpoodleinfo.com/poodle-tear-stains
      4. ↑ http://www.timshellfarm.com/goldendoodles_reading_grooming.html
      5. ↑ http://www.asdcompanionlabradoodles.com/Groomer%20Inst.pdf
      6. ↑ http://www.petmd.com/dog/grooming/dogs-hair-knots-how-get-them-untangled-and-under-control
      7. ↑ http://www.petmd.com/dog/grooming/dogs-hair-knots-how-get-them-untangled-and-under-control
      8. ↑ http://www.allpoodleinfo.com/poodle-tear-stains
      9. ↑ http://dogtime.com/dog-health/general/1108-keeping-dogs-groomed-aspca
      1. ↑ http://dogtime.com/dog-health/general/1108-keeping-dogs-groomed-aspca
      2. ↑ http://dogtime.com/dog-health/general/1108-keeping-dogs-groomed-aspca
      3. ↑ http://dogtime.com/dog-health/general/1108-keeping-dogs-groomed-aspca
      4. ↑ Marie Lin. Licensed Pet Groomer. Expert Interview. 31 March 2020.

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