Grooming, Grooming Tips

How to Brush a Doodle Dog: Step-by-Step Technique

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How to Brush a
Doodle Dog: Step-by-Step Technique

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Focus Keyphrase: how to brush a doodle dog
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SEO Title: How to Brush a Doodle Dog: Pro Tips (48
chars) Meta Description: Learn how to brush a doodle
dog the right way. Step-by-step line brushing technique from a groomer
with 16,000+ appointments. Stop matting for good. (152 chars)
Focus Keyphrase: how to brush a doodle dog

Content Brief

  • Title: How to Brush a Doodle Dog the Right Way (So
    You Never Pay for Dematting Again)
  • Focus keyword: how to brush a doodle dog
  • Word count target: 1,400-1,800
  • Audience: Australian Doodle owners frustrated with
    matting, wanting proper brushing technique
  • Internal links (3+):
    • /doodle-coat-care-guide/ (Doodle Coat Care Guide)
    • /doodle-matting-prevention/ (Doodle Matting Prevention)
    • /how-often-groom-doodle/ (How Often to Groom Doodle)
  • External links:
    • RSPCA pet care (https://www.rspca.org.au/pet-care/)
  • Product CTA: Doodle Brushing Guide on WooCommerce
    (https://www.woofspark.com.au/product/doodle-brushing-guide/)

Blog Post Content

If you’ve ever brushed your doodle for twenty minutes and still found
mats at the groomer, you’re not alone. How to brush a doodle
dog properly is one of those things nobody teaches you when you
bring your puppy home. Most owners brush the surface and miss everything
underneath.

Quick Answer: To brush a doodle dog properly, use
line brushing – a technique where you work in small sections from the
skin outward using a slicker brush, then follow with a metal comb to
check for hidden tangles. Brush every 2-3 days, focusing on friction
areas like armpits, behind ears, and under the harness. Five to ten
minutes done right beats thirty minutes of surface brushing.

Here’s the thing: a $90 dematting fee or a full shave-down is
completely avoidable. Indeed, learning how to brush a doodle dog the
right way takes about one session to learn and saves hundreds of dollars
a year. We’ve put together this step-by-step guide based on what we
teach clients at the salon every single day.

Why Most Doodle Owners Brush
Wrong

First, let’s talk about why this matters. About 40% of the doodles we
groom have hidden mats their owners didn’t know about. The coat looks
fluffy and clean on top, but underneath there’s a solid mat pressed
against the skin.

Marine’s Pro Tip: “I see it every week – owners who
brush their doodle religiously but only brush the top layer. They look
like teddy bears on the outside, but when I run my comb through, it
stops dead at the skin. That’s a hidden mat, and it’s the number one
reason doodles end up shaved.”

The problem is surface brushing. Also called “fluff brushing,” this
is when you run a brush over the top of the coat without reaching the
skin. It feels productive. Your dog looks good after. But the loose hair
trapped near the skin never gets removed, and it slowly compresses into
mats.

How to Brush
a Doodle Dog: The Line Brushing Method

Line brushing is the technique professional groomers use. It works on
every doodle breed – Cavoodles, Labradoodles, Goldendoodles, Spoodles,
Groodles, and every other poodle cross. Here’s how to do it.

Tools You Need

Before you start, gather these three items:

  • Slicker brush – fine, bent wire pins. This is your
    main tool.
  • Metal comb – wide-tooth end and fine-tooth end. For
    checking your work.
  • Detangling spray – a light mist on dry coat makes
    brushing smoother and gentler.

Step 1: Start at the Feet

Begin at the bottom of one leg. Hold the coat up with one hand so you
can see the skin. Brush a thin layer of hair downward with the slicker
brush, working from the skin outward. Then release another thin layer
and repeat.

Step 2: Work Upward in
Sections

Move up the leg in small sections, always brushing from the skin out.
Each section should be about 2-3 centimetres wide. Think of it like
parting hair at the hairdresser – you’re working layer by layer.

Step 3: Cover the Body

Once you’ve finished the legs, move to the chest, belly, sides, and
back. Always work in sections. Always start from the skin.

Step 4: Don’t Skip the
Friction Zones

These are the areas where mats form fastest:

  • Behind the ears – head movement and scratching
    cause tangles here daily
  • Armpits – leg movement creates constant
    friction
  • Under the harness or collar – equipment rubs and
    compresses fur
  • Sanitary area – moisture and movement combine
  • Between the paw pads – debris gets trapped

Marine’s Pro Tip: “The armpits are where I find the
worst mats, every single time. Owners skip them because the dog doesn’t
love having that area brushed. But if you miss the armpits twice in a
row, you’re looking at a mat that needs cutting out.”

Step 5: Comb to Check

After brushing a section, run a metal comb through it. If the comb
slides through to the skin without catching, that section is done. If it
catches, go back with the slicker brush on that spot.

This is the step most people skip. It’s also the most important
one.

Step 6: Reward and Repeat

Give your dog a treat. Keep sessions short and positive, especially
when you’re both learning. Five good minutes is better than thirty
frustrating ones.

How to Brush a
Doodle Dog: Schedule by Coat Type

Not all doodle coats are the same. Your brushing schedule depends on
what type of coat your dog has.

Coat Type How It Looks Brushing Frequency Time Per Session Matting Risk
Wool (tight curls) Poodle-like, dense Every day 10-15 minutes Very high
Fleece (soft waves) Classic “teddy bear” Every 2-3 days 5-10 minutes High
Hair (straighter) Retriever-like, flat Weekly 5 minutes Low

Most doodles have fleece coats. If you’re not sure which type your
dog has, our doodle coat care
guide breaks it down with photos.

Common Brushing
Mistakes (and What to Do Instead)

Mistake Why It’s a Problem The Fix
Surface brushing only Mats form at skin level, hidden under fluffy top coat Use line brushing – work from skin outward in sections
Brushing a soaking wet coat Stretches and damages hair, makes tangles tighter Towel dry first, then brush while coat is damp
Skipping after walks or play Dirt, leaves, and moisture speed up mat formation A quick 2-minute check on friction zones after every outing
Using the wrong brush Pin brushes and bristle brushes don’t reach the skin Use a slicker brush with fine, bent wire pins
Rushing through it Fast strokes hurt and miss tangles Short, gentle strokes in small sections

How to Brush
a Doodle Dog That Hates Being Brushed

Some doodles fuss, wriggle, or try to eat the brush. That’s normal,
especially if they’ve had a bad experience with matting or dematting in
the past.

Marine’s Pro Tip: “Start with just two minutes.
Brush one leg, give a treat, stop. Do that for a week. Then add the
chest. Then another leg. Baby steps. Most dogs who hate brushing just
haven’t been taught it can be a calm, positive experience.”

Here are some techniques that work:

  • Brush during treat time. Give a long-lasting chew
    and brush while they’re focused on it.
  • Start with the least sensitive area. Shoulders and
    back are usually tolerated best.
  • Never force past their limit. A short positive
    session builds trust faster than a long stressful one.
  • Talk to them. A calm, steady voice helps more than
    you’d think.

According to the RSPCA, positive
reinforcement during grooming builds long-term tolerance and reduces
stress for both dog and owner.

What Happens When You
Don’t Brush Properly

Here’s what we see at the salon when brushing gets neglected:

  • Minor mats (1-2 weeks skipped): Dematting fee added
    to your groom. Usually $20-40 extra, plus a longer appointment.
  • Moderate mats (3-4 weeks skipped): Partial
    shave-down. We save what we can, but problem areas get clipped
    short.
  • Severe matting (months skipped): Full shave-down.
    No choice – pulling mats off skin is painful and cruel. “We are starting
    fresh today.”

Consistent home brushing between grooms is how you keep the fluffy
teddy bear look your doodle is famous for. Our matting prevention guide covers
this in detail.

How Often
Should You Groom Your Doodle Professionally?

Even with perfect home brushing, your doodle still needs professional
grooming. Generally, that means every 6-8 weeks for a full wash and blow
dry, haircut, nail clip, sanitary and paw pads, and ear cleaning.

The shorter the groom, the longer you can wait between appointments.
Longer haircuts? You’ll need to come back every 4-6 weeks because they
mat easily. Our grooming frequency
guide has the full breakdown by coat type and length.

Get the Complete Doodle
Brushing Guide

We created a step-by-step digital guide based on exactly what Marine
teaches clients at the salon. It covers line brushing technique with
photos, which tools to buy (and which to skip), a brushing schedule for
every coat type, and how to handle common problem spots.

It’s the same routine Marine has used across 16,000+ grooming
appointments and over 1,000 doodles.

Get
the Doodle Brushing Guide here – and stop paying for
dematting fees.

FAQ

How often should I brush my doodle dog? Most doodles
with fleece coats need brushing every 2-3 days. Wool coats (tight curls)
need daily brushing. Hair coats can go a week between sessions.

What brush is best for a doodle? A slicker brush
with fine, bent wire pins is the best tool for doodle coats. Follow up
with a metal comb to check for hidden tangles near the skin.

How long should a brushing session take? Five to
fifteen minutes, depending on coat type and length. Short, regular
sessions are more effective than long, infrequent ones.

My doodle hates being brushed. What do I do? Start
with very short sessions (two minutes), reward with treats, and only
brush areas your dog tolerates. Build up slowly over a few weeks. Never
push past their comfort level.

What’s the difference between surface brushing and line
brushing? Surface brushing runs the brush over the top of the
coat. Line brushing works in sections from the skin outward, removing
loose hair trapped near the skin before it can form mats.

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Author Box

Marine Ponchaut | Head Groomer, WoofSpark Marine
started in a garage and built one of the Hunter Valley’s most trusted
grooming salons. With 16,000+ appointments, 186+ five-star reviews, and
over 1,000 doodles groomed, she knows these coats inside and out. Read more from
Marine Photo:
https://www.woofspark.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/007-KVONlTtZb7g.jpeg

Last Updated

Last updated: February 2026 This guide includes
Marine’s professional line brushing technique, a brushing schedule by
coat type, common mistakes to avoid, and tips for doodles who don’t
enjoy being brushed. Based on 16,000+ real grooming appointments at
WoofSpark’s Cessnock salon.

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