How to Trim a Goldendoodle’s Face

Can’t tell which end is which on your Goldendoodle? It’s time for a face trimming! And there’s no need to book a parlor appointment; you can save yourself time and money by doing it yourself at home. You’ll also save your pet the stress of being handled by strangers in a strange environment. Think of it as an opportunity to bond – and once you’ve both got the hang of it, you might even enjoy it. So let’s take a look at how to trim a Goldendoodle’s face.

How Often Should your Goldendoodle be Trimmed?

There’s no right answer to this question. It depends on what kind of coat your dog has. Goldendoodles are a cross between Golden Retrievers and Poodles; Poodles have coarse, curly hair that doesn’t shed but needs to be trimmed.

If your Doodle has poodle-like hair, you might need to trim his face once every four to six weeks. A dog with a silky, retriever-like coat might only require trimming three or four times a year. The type of coat your dog has will depend on what generation of Goldendoodle he is.

Use your judgment, and you’ll find a rhythm that suits you and your four-legged friend.

Home Trimming Tools

Before you can get going, you’re going to need some special tools for the trimming. Invest in good quality ones, made by a reputable brand. Cheap brands don’t last as long or work as well – even if they look identical. Always store tools according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Blunt, rusted, and chipped tools will hurt your dog and make the experience traumatic for both of you.

• Steel-toothed comb – also known as a tick and flea comb. The closely spaced metal teeth remove debris, dead skin, and parasites from your dog’s coat. Where the fur has become matted, you can use this to try combing it out. However, the nasty clumps will generally need to be cut out.
• Wire brush – also known as a grooming brush, slicker brush, or de-shedding brush. This will separate the hairs and remove loose bits. Give your Goldendoodle an all-over brush at least weekly with this; regular brushing is especially important if someone in the household suffers from pet allergies.
• Grooming scissors and thinning shears – often sold together. The scissors must be blunt-nosed, or you could hurt your dog and even poke an eye if he wiggles. The shears have one arm that looks like a comb and another with a sharp edge. It gives the fine-tuning trim that will keep you Goldendoodle looking cared for.

Electric or battery-operated clippers are also an option and will give a very professional finish.

How to Trim a Goldendoodle’s Face: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step #1 – Wash and Dry the Area to be Trimmed

Some groomers advise washing the whole animal. Doing that makes for a more complete “transformation,” of course. But if your Goldendoodle is stressed by bathing, it could make the procedure long and tiring for him. To wash just his head:

• Use a gentle sprayer or small jug. The water should be warm but not hot (about 90 degrees Fahrenheit or 32 degrees Celsius.).
• Always use a tear-free or puppy shampoo on the face.
• Towel off excess water and leave to dry naturally or blow with cold air if your pet will tolerate it.
• Never blow directly onto the eyes.

Step #2 – Trimming Around the Eyes and the Head

This part of the trim is more than just cosmetic – some Goldendoodles have hair that grows long and thick over the eyes. If left unattended, it becomes matted into clumps and obscures the animal’s sight (you’ll literally see them bumping into walls).

Always use blunt-nosed scissors when working around the eyes. And never trim too close – the hair over the eyes and eyelashes are necessary to protect the eyes. Brush the hair on the head and over the eyes forward. Catch it between your second and third fingers – use your fingers as a guide while cutting with the other hand. You want to create a thick brow, or “bang effect” that stands at least a finger’s width proud of the eye.

Make diagonal cuts to the hair underneath the eyes – slanted upwards in the middle. Then, “shave” the small notch between the eyes with the thinning shears. All the time, be sure to talk to your pet in a calming tone of voice. Finally, trim whatever hair on the head is left uncut after this – follow the head’s rounded shape. This is sometimes called the “top knot.”

Step #3 – Trimming the Muzzle

Trim your dog’s chin hair straight across and not too short (the trimmed ears must line up with the chin.). Muzzle hair must be left long and shaped loosely to give the face a rounded but boxy look. Imagine a heavy-based teardrop from the center of the forehead. Use the thinning shears to “blend” the cuts. Note – try to avoid trimming your dog’s whiskers. It won’t hurt, and they will grow back, but dogs use their whiskers to sense things in their environment.

Step #4 – Trimming the Ears

This step is also more than cosmetic – dogs are prone to yeast infections in their ears, and excess hair makes it difficult to keep the ears clean and dry. You should be checking your dog’s ears regularly to remove any dirt or pests.

Gently push the ears open against the head and trim the hair in front of the opening. Fold them back over and trim the ends to line up with the chin. Be careful not to cut the ear leather! “Feather” the ends with the thinning shears and blend the tops of the ears into the “topknot.” The overall effect should be a round, or very slightly oval, face.

Conclusion

It’s as simple as that! Both of you have earned some treats. You might take a few tries to perfect the shaping, but imperfection is part of the charm of Goldendoodles. We love that they look a bit scruffy, like a slightly worn favorite toy. It’s just that we want them more teddy bear than Chewbacca!