What’s the best way to care for a Golden doodle’s coat?
The Golden doodle is a cross between a Golden retriever and a poodle.
The result is a dog that is part action-hound and part teddy bear, with a wonderful temperament and, depending on which parent the pup takes after, a range of different coat types.
To take the best care of your Golden doodle’s grooming needs, it helps to understand what type of coat yours leans towards in order to find the best shampoo for Goldendoodles as an individual.
Top 5 Best Shampoos for Goldendoodles
Both parent breeds have distinctive coats, and whether the pup takes after Mom or Dad influences what type of coat they have themselves.
For example, on one side take the Golden retriever coat.
A true working Goldie has a straight, slightly coarse longer haired outer fur with a dense insulating undercoat.
This is designed to be practically waterproof to keep the dog warm and dry whilst out hunting.
However, there is some variation on this fur type even amongst Golden retrievers because the strains of dog bred for pets (rather than working dogs) tend to have longer, silky, and slightly wavy fur compared to the denser, more water repellent working coat.
Then there’s the poodle with the crazy curly hair that grows like human hair and when left untrimmed can grow up to six inches long.
This is what’s known as a ‘single coat’ with a single outer layer of hair but lacking the dense under-layer of other breeds.
The poodle has a reputation (somewhat erroneously…but more of this later) for being a hypoallergenic breed suitable for people with pet allergies.
Indeed, the poodle’s hypoallergenic reputation is the reason the very first Goldendoodles were bred…to create a Golden retriever type dog that was low shedding and low allergen.
Although the science behind this is flawed, the resulting dog is such a delight that the breed quite rightly took off in popularity in its own right.
What is the best shampoo for Goldendoodles?
Discover how to keep your Groodles coat in tip-top condition by understanding their coat type with our guide to the best shampoo for Goldendoodles.
1. Paws & Pals
Our number one vote goes to this organic, vegan product from Paws & Pals.
As you know a puppy’s skin is especially delicate so it’s vital to use a product in sympathy with its natural pH.
This combined shampoo and conditioner harnesses the goodness of aloe vera (known for soothing moisturizing) oatmeal (calming and hydrating) and shea butter.
Other constituents include rosemary (for natural disinfectant properties) and coconut oil.
The resulting formulation is described as ‘tear-free’ and unlikely to irritate those cute puppy dog eyes…however, they don’t guarantee a splash-free bath!
The company’s ethos is all about caring for your pet with the minimum negative impact on the planet.
This means the ingredients are ethically sourced and processed, with you having the reassurance that the product isn’t toxic to your puppy.
We found that a little of this product went a long way.
It lathered well, but not excessively, and there was a heavenly scent.
It’s also nice that this is a shampoo and conditioner in one, which cuts bath time in half and saves the hassle of changing water, whilst still resulting in a super-soft coat.
Indeed, as well as being perfect for a puppy’s delicate skin, it is also kind to dogs with skin allergies.
This product is well worth a try if other shampoos leave your hound’s skin hot and itchy.
2. Healthy Breeds
Does you Goldendoodles coat not need clipping as often as other Groodles you know?
Some hints that your dog errs towards their Goldie parent are if their coat is soft and silky, if it has a slight wave rather than a definite curl, and if there’s a fluffy undercoat.
As the name ‘Healthy Breeds’ suggests, this company makes a range of shampoos that are carefully tailored for the needs of different coat types.
This Golden retriever shampoo contains moisturizing factors that cleanse and hydrate without over-loading the coat.
Yet the soap-free formulation is effective as wetting down that fluffy undercoat for an effective deep cleanse.
It does deep clean but this isn’t at the expense of stripping out those natural vital oils that condition and protect the skin.
It is mild enough to be used regularly and still leaves the coat looking glossy with good health.
Healthy Breeds contains added vitamins and essential fatty acids to condition and nourish.
It is a competitive price, however, those who prefer a natural product may be put off by the ingredients list.
These include fragrance and coloring, which might be best avoided if you know your dog has sensitive skin.
So if your dog is always scratching, prone to reddened or inflamed skin, or has a flakey dry coat, let’s look at a healthy alternative that is gentle on the skin and may suit them better.
3. Sofee
Sofee is great for the Golden doodle with their paws firmly in the poodle side of their heritage.
To check if this is the case for your Groodle, take a close look at their coat.
If the hairs grow long and are wavy, with little or no fluffy undercoat.
This is subtly different than the softer hair with a fluffy undercoat of a Golden retriever and your Golden doodle is best suited to a shampoo formulated for poodles.
For starters, it’s a natural product, free from parabens, artificial colors and scents, sulfates, phthalates, and mineral oils.
It has a gentle moisturizing action and is kind to sensitive skin.
This makes it ideal for the ‘hair’ of a poodle-type, making curls full of bounce and coarse hair soft to the touch.
We particularly liked the delicate fresh scent of this shampoo.
It was subtle but pleasant, and a bonus is it’s derived from the natural ingredients without the use of artificial perfumes.
However, for some people, the scent might be a little too subtle, so if you use shampoo to mask strong smells, this isn’t the right choice for you.
We were also impressed by how such a mild and gentle shampoo, lathered well, rinsed away cleanly and produced a noticeably soft coat.
Sofee has our vote of approval for being effective, yet gentle.
It gives coarse curls a touch ability that other shampoos don’t achieve, and yet is mild enough for weekly use.
For those pet parents who like strong smelling scents, this isn’t for you – but it’s pretty much the only drawback.
4. BotaniVet
Does your Golden doodle have sensitive skin?
Signs of this include itchiness after bathing or reddened inflamed skin.
Sensitive skin is a common trait in Golden doodles, which can leave you stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Your dog is dirty and you need to get them clean, but bathing leads to sore itchy skin.
Indeed, for these dogs keeping the skin is even more important as bacteria in mud, when left in contact with the skin can cause irritation and infection.
So what can you do?
This is why BotaniVet ranks up there as the best dog shampoo for Goldendoodles.
For a gentle wash, it’s ideal to avoid harsh chemicals and reduce exposure to chemicals such as phthalates, sulfates, artificial colors, fragrances, and preservatives as much as possible.
Basically, the more chemicals you rub over the surface of the skin, the greater the chance of triggering irritation.
However, BotaniVet is both natural and organic, so there’s no chemical soup to trigger sensitivity.
The shampoo’s cleansing properties are supplied by a blend of natural oils, including jojoba, coconut, and oil olives.
But another feature that’s different about this shampoo is that it contains Manuka honey.
Manuka honey has been used since ancient times as an antibacterial.
It can reduce the number of bacteria and fungi on the skin’s surface, and also has healing properties for sore skin and minor wounds.
Thus, not only does Botani-Vet cleanse naturally but it reduces the bacteria count which could cause skin infections.
We especially love how this lathers up well and rinses away so cleanly, leaving an oh-so-soft coat.
It is ideal for Goldendoodles with sensitive skin or those that are allergy-prone, so why not check it out?
5. Pro-Sense
A large Goldendoodle can take quite a bit of shampooing, so if your dog gets extra dirty or you own several dogs, then you may be in the market for a good quality budget shampoo.
The ProSense is fantastic value for money and yet still manages to tick all the right boxes.
This is a gentle shampoo that is in sympathy with the pH of a dog’s skin (this is different from human skin, hence why people products are a bad idea for your pooch).
It contains oatmeal, which is well-known for its moisturizing and soothing properties.
The formulation helps eliminate bad odors, so your Goldendoodle goes from stinky to sweet-smelling with a delicious lingering vanilla after-scent.
ProSense also contains panthenol, an ingredient popular in mainstream hair products because of its moisturizing properties.
Panthenol is a derivative of vitamin B5 and is what’s known as a humectant.
It does this by attracting water molecules and binding them into the hair shaft or skin.
In this case, it means a soft, shiny coat for your dog, rather than a healthy hair on your own head.
We liked how it left coats shiny soft and wasn’t harsh.
To get lather it’s best to add a little water to the shampoo in your palm and then work this into the dog’s coat.
It lathered just enough to be satisfying and yet not so much that it got in the dog’s eyes, plus it rinses out like a dream.
The vanilla fragrance in ProSense is subtle, which is pleasing for those who like a dog to smell like a dog and not overpowering.
Bottom Line
And finally, when choosing the best shampoo for Goldendoodle look for a moisturizing formula.
Ingredients such as oatmeal or coconut oil as a good indication that it has hydrating properties that are effective and yet kind to the skin.
Be aware that highly fragranced or strong smelling shampoos are likely to contain synthetic perfumes that have the potential to be irritant to delicate skins.
Shampooing your Goldendoodle means treading a fine line between keeping their coat clean and not stripping out the protective oils.
The trick is to use a gentle moisturizing shampoo, which is suitable for regular use.
By cleaning those curls after a romp in the mud, you can wash away bacteria-laden dirt without wrecking the skin’s delicate balance.
Happily, it’s also possible to find excellent shampoos for a variety of coat types.
So whether your Goldendoodle errs towards the retriever’s thick undercoat or is a more of a poodle-curl canine, you can find the ideal shampoo to suit every need and individual coat type.
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Shellie
A pet parent herself, Shellie knows the ins and outs of caring for a furry bundle of joy. She has been researching, reviewing and sharing her findings for the best dog products available for a number of years. A valued team member, Shellie's first-hand experience is invaluable.
