How To Groom A Doxiepoo [Step By Step Owners Guide]

Grooming your Doxiepoo is vital to ensure their coat looks great and they feel comfortable. But what is actually involved? What do you need to do and how often? I decided to document what is required for all Doxiepoo owners. I would like to share this information with you here today.

So, how do you groom a Doxiepoo? To groom a Doxiepoo, you need to brush, bathe and trim your dog’s coat. You’ll also need to cut their nails and clean their ears. While brushing should be done daily/multiple times per week, trimming the coat can be done infrequently, every 6-8 weeks. Cutting the nails and cleaning the ears should be done weekly.

The Doxiepoo is the offspring of a Dachshund and a poodle and is considered one of the most unpredictable cross-bred dogs.

You never know what to expect with this hybrid as they might have the curly coat of the poodle or the long body of the Dachshund, or a Dachshund fur and a poodle body.

The above information is a general idea as to what is required in their grooming.

However, as you can imagine, each dog comes with its unique maintenance needs as they will vary from dog to dog.

In the following sections, we will help you to take care of your dog’s coat, by explaining exactly what you will need to do and the best ways to do so. Be sure to read on!

The Doxiepoo Coat

Doxiepoos come in several coats – they are in many ways an unpredictable breed.

Some Doxies are considered more hypoallergenic than others, but thanks to their heritage, this breed is known to shed relatively little if at all. Poodles do not shed, whilst Dachshunds are known to shed very little.

A Doxiepoo’s coat can come in a variety of colors, lengths, and textures.

Generally, there are five types of coats that a Doxiepoo may have: long, short, wire-haired, straight, and curly.

These coats look quite different visually, but they also have different properties. As such, each coat will have different grooming requirements.

Should the offspring take after the Dachshund parent, their fur is likely to be more coarse and short. This type of coat does not require as much grooming.

On the other hand, should the offspring take after the poodle parent, the coat is more likely to be like that of a poodle. Curlier and more prolonged.

The poodle coat requires frequent brushing and even the occasional trim, to prevent knots and matting and to keep it in optimal conditions.

Colors range from black, brown, camel, gray, white, or a mix of two or more of these colors.

Clearly, it is hard to predict the coat of any given litter; a lot depends on the genes each pup inherits.

How Often Should You Groom A Doxiepoo?

How often you should groom your Doxiepoo depends on the type of coat they have and the level of grooming you want to provide.

If your dog inherits the poodle coat, long and curly, more attention and maintenance will be required to keep their coat in optimal condition. You will need to brush them regularly, and doing so daily is advised.

The long or curly coat is susceptible to matting and knotting – which can be painful and uncomfortable for your dog. They will also require a trim every 6 to 8 weeks.

If your Doxiepoo has short to medium, slightly wavy fur – this is an easier coat to manage and you may even be able to brush them as little as 2/3x per week.

Either way, your Doxiepoo needs their coat brushed. It is just the frequency in which you will need to do so. Generally, the curlier the coat your dog has, the more they will need to be brushed.

Some Doxies are nervous about grooming so it is also best to start doing it from a young age.

They will gradually become more comfortable until brushing and clipping as an adult dog become a natural and expected occurrence. It will also ensure their coats grow out optimally, to begin with.

Slicker brushes (like this highly reviewed one on Amazon) are the best type to use for the Doxiepoo breed – along with other poodle cross-breeds. These are great to work with, easy to clean, and are not painful to use on your dog like other brushes can be.

Doxiepoo owners generally look to trim their dogs every couple of months (every 6-8 weeks).

A shave may take place a couple of timers per year. A shave ahead of seasonal changes tends to work well.

While you can take this own yourself, you may find it a struggle or not how you want to be spending your time.

You may even decide to acquire the services of a professional dog groomer. Seeking out one with expertise in the breed or other poodle cross-breeds is advised if possible.

Below are the steps that you need to follow to meet their grooming requirements and to keep your dog’s coats in optimal condition.

How To Groom A Doxiepoo (Step by Step)

Regularly grooming your Doxiepoo will enable you to give some time and attention to your dog. You’ll notice a closer bond, and you’ll also be able to help them to feel more comfortable.

It also offers the opportunity to inspect them and help to detect any potential issues before they arise. Regular grooming should include:

Taking your dog to a professional dog groomer is expensive.

Thankfully with this breed, you can learn to do it all by yourself from the comfort of your own home. Here are the steps you will need to take:

Step #1: Obtain All Of The Required Supplies

When grooming your Doxiepoo, there are some supplies that you will need to use.

Items that you will need to purchase include dog-friendly shampoo, a slicker brush, nail clippers (or grinder), scissors, and potentially clippers/shavers.

Then there will be other items in which you should already have in your home – like towels.

• With shampoo, you need to buy a product designed for use on dogs. This will protect your dogs coat and skin as many shampoos designed for humans contain harsh chemicals which can cause issues, irritation and harm to a dog. This is one of the best shampoos to get from Amazon.
• A slicker brush is regarded as the best type of brush for the Doxiepoo breed. It will enable you to remove any knots and tangles in your dogs coat. Slicker brushes are comfortable for your dog, they are easy to use and very easy to clean (with the push of a button). Here is the best reviewed one to buy on Amazon.
• Nail clippers will let you trim your dogs nails and keep them at a safe length. Equally, you should purchase some that were designed to be used on dogs. These are the right dimensions and include a safety mechanism that will prevent you from cutting your dogs nails too short which can cause pain. These are the ones to buy on Amazon. Alternatively, a grinder can be used, which while more costly, are very safe and comfortable on dogs.
• Dog Hair Clippers/Shavers – These will enable you to clip and shave your dogs coat every 6-8 weeks. You’ll want some that are quiet and do note vibrate excessively. These are some very well reviewed ones on Amazon.

I personally use Amazon for all my pet supplies because you can read the reviews, get all of the required supplies in one order and get them delivered the next day with Prime.

The products I link through to above are the best in their category.

Step #2 – Groom Prep

With all the supplies ready for use, you then need to locate a location within your home for you to be able to groom your dog.

This will ultimately depend on your home and the rooms/space that you have available.

Some dog owners will use their bathrooms; using the bath to bathe and the shower head and temperature controls to provide the water.

Others like to use a kitchen or utility sink.

Outdoor areas are also a good option; so long as an area is closed off to prevent your dog from attempting escape during the process.

With this option, you also need to be careful of the weather – rain, and wind in particular!

Any of the options above work well; but having towels handy for drying and on the surrounding area on the floor is a good idea to collect the mess from grooming.

Step #3 – Inspecting

You should begin every grooming session by inspecting your dog and its coat. Begin with a full-body stroke and use your hands and fingers to feel for any lumps, bumps, irritated skin, patches of hair loss or abnormalities.

Depending on whether you find anything, you may need to consider contacting your vet.

Step #4 – Brushing Your Doxiepoo

Brush your Doxiepoo with a slicker brush before bathing to work through tangles and mats in the coat. You’ll also be removing loose hair here too.

One of the benefits of this breed is that their coats do not shed. While this is great news for your home, clothes and upholstery, it also does mean you must brush your dog often to remove dead hair. It also allow air near the skin to encourage new hair growth.

Begin brushing your dogs face before moving onto the legs, back and belly.

Focusing on one area at a time works well and you can keep your dog calm and comfortable whilst removing any mats in their coat.

Brushing is best done done daily with a Doxiepoo. If you have the time available, multiple times a day.

As the coat can vary between Doxiepoos, a good rule of thumb is this. The longer/curlier your dogs coat, the more brushing will be required.

Be firm when brushing but also careful, monitoring your dog for any signs of stress or discomfort.

Step #5 – Bathing

With your dog’s coat brushed, you will next want to bathe your dog.

Place your dog into a bath/sink or suitable area outside and use lukewarm water to begin wetting your dogs coat.

Be sure to saturate the coat with water; using your fingers to ensure that the coat is washed the full way through.

Be careful with the temperature of the water – it needs to be lukewarm. Hot water can harm your dog, whereas cold can stress them out.

If you are using a shower head, be aware and careful of the pressure. You do not want to blast your dog.

Then, lather some dog-friendly shampoo into your palms and fingers and run it through your dog’s coat.

Start with their head, ensuring none of the product enters their eyes, ears or mouth. Next, you’ll want to move on to the rest of their body. Be sure to massage the shampoo through all of the hair on your dog’s coat.

Next, rinse all of the shampoo out of your dogs coat with lukewarm water; again being careful that none of the shampoo enters their eyes/ears or mouth.

Use your fingers to run through the coat and to ensure all of the shampoo has been washed out.

Finally, use a towel to hand dry your Doxiepoo. You may want to place your dog onto some towels on the floor. This way, if they attempt to shake off excess water it does not go all over the floor!

When your dog is almost dry, you can leave them to dry off naturally. If you do this, make sure they are sufficiently dry. Otherwise, if they are too wet/damp it can cause illness and the development of a cold.

You can use a hairdryer on your dog to help speed up the drying process. If you do, make sure you use a lower/cooler setting and be sure to dry them from afar.

Step #6: Clean The Ears

You should clean your Doxiepoo’s ears regularly. Following bathing is a good practical time to do so.

Cleaning the ears prevents the buildup of wax which can cause itching, pain and irritation.

A dog that needs their ears clean will scratch their ears, rub their ears on objects and will generally look in discomfort. Their ears sometimes go on to develop an odor.

All of which are signs an ear clean is needed.

But, you should look to prevent these symptoms from arising ahead of time.

Cleaning your dogs ears with a cotton buds works well; just be sure not to penetrate too deeply into the ear and be careful when doing so.

Step #7: Trim or Grind The Nails

Regularly clipping, or grinding, your dog’s nails will ensure they do not grow out too long and become painful.

If nails are left to grow too long, your dog can even begin to walk improperly which can lead to hip and joint injuries.

When trimming/grinding the nails, you will need to hold your Doxiepoo tightly to prevent them from trying to wriggle out and escape.

Using dog-friendly nail trimmers (that includes a safety mechanism to stop over-clipping) trim all ten nails, one at a time.

Only cut a small amount of nail at a time – and make a clean cut. This will stop the remainder of the nail from snapping or crumbling away.

When cutting, cut from under the nail upwards. This will help you to see what you are doing and also stop you from cutting the ‘quick’.

This is living tissue which should not be cut. It will cause pain in your dog and it will bleed if done so.

When trimming a dog’s nails, bleeding is common and does happen even when you are extra careful. Styptic power is useful to stop the bleeding and to begin the healing process.

Having some available is advised for any dog owner. This brand is great and you can even use it on any open wounds, cuts or scratches that your dog may get.

If you are worried about clipping your dogs nail, consider that you can get your vet to do this for you and your dog.

Or, opt for a grinder instead.

Step #8: Teeth Cleaning

Routinely cleaning your dogs teeth will ensure that dental plaque is minimized and your dogs mouth remains hygienic and breath fresh.

Failing to do so can lead to health issues in your dog. Studies have also concluded that dental plaque can lead to heart disease, even in dogs.

There are many options when it comes to cleaning your dog’s teeth.

Firstly, you can purchase dental chews which are like treats designed to clean the teeth.

Another option is to purchase a dog-friendly toothbrush/paste and to manually brush your dogs teeth yourself.

Dogs are likely to fidget, especially in the beginning, if you opt for the toothbrush option. It may take some training and time until you manage to do get your dog to relax enough for it to prove successful.

If you do decide to do this, never use a human toothpaste. The majority contain fluoride which is toxic for dogs.

Dental dog toys are also available. This is a fun way in which you dog can keep their teeth clean and ensures they do so regularly, even while you are away.

Trimming/Shaving Your Doxiepoo

With trimming and shaving, you can either attempt to do this yourself at home or take your Doxiepoo to a professional dog groomers.

Professional dog groomers are the quicker and easier option, however, they can be expensive and you may need to travel in order to find a well-respected one with experience with this type of breed.

That is why, its a good idea to learn how to trim/shave your dog yourself.

Below is a useful step-by-step guide to follow that you can use if you decide to give your dog a trim/shave.

Be sure to invest in a good pair of electric clippers that were designed to be used on dogs.

Step #1: Prepare The Surface

Begin by putting your Doxiepoo on a table or a flat surface that is suited to keep them still, standing, and even.

It’s a good idea to cover the surface with a towel.

Step #2: Clipping

Start by clipping the back of your Doxiepoo’s neck and continue working down the back to the middle of the legs and then to your dog’s belly.

A number 5 blade is suitable for most poodle coats.

Step #3: Comb and Scissor

Use a pet steel comb to comb through the leg hair.

Using scissors, carefully trim the hair from below the knee so that it is even with the hair on the top of the legs.

Give the paws a close trim.

Trim the hair on the bottom of the paws in between the pads.

You can either lay your dog down on the ground and trim the hair that way or pick up the paws.

Using scissors, trim the hair on the tail.

You can give your Doxie a “poodle tail” by clipping the base of the tail and leaving a pom-pom at the end.

Trim your dog’s head with scissors; you can leave as much hair as you prefer on the dog’s face.

Carefully trim around the ears and remove any excess hairs inside the ears.

Finally

Doxiepoo bodies and coats vary quite dramatically between dogs. As such, it is hard to predict that maintenance will be different between Doxiepoo owners.

What may work best for one Doxiepoo may differ entirely from the next. This is why it is important to understand the type of coat your dog has and to set your expectations accordingly.

If your puppy inherits the poodle coat, grooming will be more involved and time-consuming.

While grooming can be done yourself with the steps outlined above, you may require/decide to hire the services of a professional dog groomer every two months.

This is going to depend on your preferences, proficiency, and personal circumstances.

Either way, whatever type of coat your dog inherits or whether you want to groom your dog or take them to a specialist groomer, regular brushing is essential. You will need to do this regularly and irregardless.

Mats and tangles can do a lot of damage to your dog’s skin if neglected for too long. They are also painful and if not brushed out can mean that your entire dogs coat has to be drastically shaved off.

So, you must brush frequently and be sure to get rid of any knots. The best way to do this is with a slicker brush daily – this way you will not forget and it becomes part of your routine.

While grooming may be a challenge, to begin with – you should soon find that your dog soon begins to enjoy the process. They’ll love the attention and time with you.

Plus, it will help them to look and feel better and you’re home will be cleaner too.

Just remember to research into the type of coat your Doxiepoo has, and groom using the steps outlined above accordingly.

Other grooming guides you may want to check out:

• How Long Does A Dog Grooming Take?
• Do You Tip Dog Groomers? [Is It Typical & Expected?]
• Dog Groomer Tip Calculator [How Much You Should Offer]
• 13 Gifts For Dog Groomers To Show Your Appreciation