Keeping Your Bernedoodle or Sheepadoodle Coat Healthy

That fluffy coat is definitely part of what makes Bernedoodles and Sheepadoodles so darn cute, but it also comes with some upkeep! Grooming is one of those things I really want families to think about before their puppy ever needs a full haircut. It’s so much easier to introduce brushing, handling, baths, and trips to the groomer while your puppy is young than to wait until you have a bigger dog with a lot more hair who has never experienced any of it before. You don’t have to have some perfect grooming routine figured out the week your puppy comes home, but you do want to start building those habits early.

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We already spend a lot of time handling our puppies here, and there’s a reason for that. From the time they’re tiny, they’re getting used to people touching their paws, ears, faces, and bodies. Once your puppy comes home, you can keep building on that in really simple ways. Brush for a few minutes, play with those little paws, look in their ears, and get them comfortable with you touching around their face. It doesn’t need to turn into a big production every time. In the beginning, I care a lot more about your puppy learning that grooming is no big deal than I do about how long you can get them to sit still for a brush. Something else I always want families to understand is that Bernedoodle and Sheepadoodle coats can vary. Your puppy may have a looser, wavier coat or one that becomes thicker and curlier as they grow, and that will affect how much maintenance they need. Brushing the top and making everything look fluffy isn’t always enough either. Tangles can hide closer to the skin, especially behind the ears, around the collar, under the legs, and in other spots where there’s a lot of rubbing and movement. A slicker brush and metal comb can be really helpful for checking that you’re actually getting through the coat instead of just brushing over the top.

I’m also a big fan of finding your groomer early. Please don’t wait until your puppy is one giant fluff ball and absolutely has to have a haircut before introducing them to grooming. Look for someone who is comfortable working with Bernedoodles, Sheepadoodles, and similar coat types, and ask what they recommend for those first puppy visits. Your puppy can start getting familiar with the sounds, the table, the bath, the dryer, and having another person handle them without needing a huge haircut right away. It gives them a chance to learn the whole routine a little at a time, and your groomer can help you figure out what your particular puppy’s coat needs at home too.

You may also notice that what worked when your puppy was little suddenly isn’t working quite as well anymore. Puppy coats change, and that super soft fluff you started with won’t stay exactly the same. You might need to brush more often or change how you’re caring for the coat as it gets thicker. This is one of those times when having a groomer you already know is really helpful. They can show you what they’re seeing, point out areas you may be missing, and help you stay ahead of matting instead of discovering it after it has gotten uncomfortable for your dog.

I know a lot of families love the longer, fluffy Bernedoodle and Sheepadoodle look, and I totally understand why. Just remember that the longer you keep the coat, the more work it will usually take between grooming appointments. If you have a dog who is constantly outside, running through the yard, getting wet, finding mud, or collecting half the backyard in their coat, a shorter cut may make your life a whole lot easier. There’s nothing wrong with that! Pick a length that you like and that you can realistically keep up with. Your groomer can help you find that happy medium.

Grooming really does become part of life when you have a Bernedoodle or Sheepadoodle, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. Start small while your puppy is young, keep those early experiences positive, and be consistent at home. The handling and early work we do here gives them a start, and then you get to keep building on it once they’re yours. A few minutes with a brush might not seem very important when you have a tiny puppy curled up in your lap, but you’ll be pretty thankful for those early habits when that tiny puppy turns into a whole lot more dog and a whole lot more hair!