This page is for Goldendoodle owners who want the right gear the first time. Three things shape every choice: the coat (curly and wavy doodle coats tangle fast and need a real grooming kit), the size, which runs from under 25 lb to well over 50, and an energetic, people-loving dog who goes everywhere with you, car included.
Our verdict. We haven't used this gear ourselves. If you buy only three things, make them a long-pin slicker, a steel comb and a clipper you can learn on. Mats start near the roots, so a brush that never reaches the skin doesn't help much.
Goldendoodle at a glance
Goldendoodles are a Golden Retriever × Poodle cross, and they aren't an AKC-recognized breed: there's no Goldendoodle in the AKC's breed directory, so there's no AKC size standard. The sizes below come from the Goldendoodle Association of North America (GANA), a breed club working toward a breed standard.
| Size (GANA) | Height at the withers | Typical weight | Harness to try | Car crate to look at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petite | Under 14 in | 25 lb or less | Front Range | Gunner G1 Small |
| Miniature | 14–17 in | 26–35 lb | Front Range or Flagline | Gunner G1 Medium |
| Medium | 17–21 in | 36–50 lb | Flagline | Gunner G1 Medium or Intermediate |
| Standard | Over 21 in | 51 lb or more | Flagline | Gunner G1 Intermediate |
Coat: curly, wavy or straight, per GANA, depending on the genes each puppy inherits. Shedding: GANA says dogs with two copies of the furnishings gene are typically non-shedding, and flat-coated (unfurnished) doodles shed more. GANA also notes a puppy's final size is the breeder's educated guess, so buy adult gear once your dog is grown.
What matters for Goldendoodle gear
The coat, mostly. A curly or wavy doodle coat comes from the Poodle side. The AKC's advice for a full-coated Poodle is blunt: if you don't brush and comb completely to the skin, "the hair will mat near the roots and will have to be shaved off". That's our reasoning for treating a curly doodle the same way; GANA doesn't publish grooming rules. A straight, flat-coated doodle is closer to a Golden and needs less.
Size changes everything else. A Petite rides in a small crate and walks in a small-dog harness. A Standard needs large-dog everything. Check your dog's adult weight against each size chart below.
Harnesses and mats. Straps sit in the same places every day: behind the front legs and across the chest. We'd brush those spots after walks so friction tangles don't settle in.
Doodles inherit health risks from both parent breeds, and no harness, bed or brush treats or prevents them. If your doodle has skin trouble under a matted coat, or limps, ask your vet before you clip or change gear. This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If you're worried about your dog, talk to your vet.
Best gear for a Goldendoodle
Best dog brush for goldendoodles: Chris Christensen Big G Slicker
Evidence level: Specs only
The maker markets the Big G for doodle and poodle coats. It's a professional-groomer slicker, handmade in Germany, with long, dense pins (30% more than other slickers, per the maker) that reach into a thick doodle coat. Work in sections, lifting the coat with one hand and brushing down to the skin with the other.
- Size to buy: Medium for Petites and Minis, Large for Mediums and Standards
- Keep in mind: firm pins; press lightly to avoid brush burn
Follow with the Andis Stainless Steel Pet Comb (evidence level: specs only). If the comb catches, there's a tangle the slicker missed. Find it now and it's a tangle; leave it a week and it's a mat.
More brushes in our golden retriever brush guide, which suits flat-coated doodles too.
Best dog clippers for goldendoodles: Andis UltraEdge Super 2-Speed (AGC2)
Evidence level: Specs only (Canine Journal's "Best Professional" pick)
Our clipper guide picks the AGC2 for thick, curly and doodle coats. It's a corded two-speed rotary clipper (3,400 or 4,400 strokes per minute) with a 14 ft cord, and it takes A5-style detachable blades. It ships with a #10 blade and no combs, so add Andis's universal snap-on combs (1/8" to 1"), which fit its #10, #15 and #30 blades. A comb over a #10 leaves the "teddy bear" length most owners want.
- Why it suits a doodle: built for heavy coats, with a long cord for a big dog
- Before you clip: Groomer to Groomer says a good bath and blow-dry is critical, and warns not to pull mats up into the blade, where skin can get caught
- Keep in mind: corded only, and heavier than cordless clippers at 17.6 oz
For a Petite doodle, a lighter cordless clipper may be enough; compare them in our dog clippers guide.
Best dryer: SHELANDY Dog Grooming Dryer
Evidence level: Tested by Whole Dog Journal
WDJ named it its best budget dog dryer: light, with variable speeds and a heater you can leave off. The slow start is the point for a young doodle; you can begin barely above a whisper and build up. Drying fully before you brush or clip is part of the routine Groomer to Groomer describes.
- Keep in mind: WDJ notes users report it's loud
See the dog dryer guide for stronger dryers, and the grooming table guide if you'll groom at home.
Best harness for goldendoodles
Medium and Standard: Ruffwear Flagline. Evidence level: tested by Treeline Review. Treeline named it its best harness for hiking. It has six adjustment points, a longer back and belly than most, front, back and rear clips, and a handle. That suits a lanky doodle with lots of coat to fit around. Treeline notes the neck isn't padded. Sizes run XXS to L/XL.
Petite and Mini: Ruffwear Front Range. Evidence level: tested by Treeline Review. Treeline's best harness for small dogs, with front and back leash points and four adjustment points. Treeline wouldn't recommend it over about 30 lb. Ruffwear's girth chart: XXS 13–17", XS 17–22", S 22–27".
Got a puller? Our stop pulling guide covers training and front-clip gear.
Best bed: Casper Dog Bed
Evidence level: Tested by TechGearLab and by Reviewed
A foam bed with a machine-washable cover suits a dog who comes home muddy. The Casper was tested by TechGearLab and by Reviewed (one year, one 50 lb dog). Sizes: Small to 30 lb, Medium to 60 lb, Large to 90 lb.
- Size to buy: Small for a Petite, Medium for Minis and most Mediums, Large for Standards
Older or very large doodles: see our orthopedic dog bed guide.
Best car crate: Gunner G1 Kennel
Evidence level: Independently certified (CPS)
The Center for Pet Safety lists the Gunner G1 Kennel with Strength Rated Anchor Straps as CPS Certified, 5 Star, in Small (30 lb test dog), Medium (45 lb) and Intermediate (75 lb). The Large isn't on CPS's list. That covers every doodle size up to about 75 lb.
- Size to buy: match the table above, then check your dog's height and length against Gunner's interior sizes (Intermediate 30×18×25")
- Keep in mind: certification covers the crate with Gunner's anchor straps, so use them
Compare crash-tested crates in our travel dog crate guide.
Goldendoodle owner FAQs
What's the best dog brush for doodles?
A long-pin slicker plus a steel comb. The slicker, like the Chris Christensen Big G, reaches into a curly or wavy coat; the comb shows if you reached the skin. A deshedding blade isn't the right tool for a furnished doodle coat, since GANA says those coats are low- to non-shedding.
What are the best dog clippers for goldendoodles?
For a Medium or Standard with a thick curly coat, a corded A5-style clipper such as the Andis AGC2, with snap-on combs to leave length. For a Petite, a cordless clipper with an adjustable blade may be enough. Bathe and fully dry the coat before clipping.
How big will my Goldendoodle get?
GANA's sizes are Petite (under 14 in, 25 lb or less), Miniature (14–17 in, about 26–35 lb), Medium (17–21 in, about 36–50 lb) and Standard (over 21 in, 51 lb or more). GANA says a puppy's final size is the breeder's educated guess, so size beds and crates at adulthood.
Is a Goldendoodle an AKC breed?
No. Goldendoodles aren't in the AKC's breed directory, so there's no AKC breed standard or official size range. GANA, a North American breed club, publishes the size categories most owners use and says its goal is to guide the Goldendoodle toward breed standards.
Should I shave my matted Goldendoodle?
We'd usually choose a short clip over brushing out heavy mats, and the AKC says badly matted Poodle coats have to be shaved off. Take care: Groomer to Groomer warns not to pull mats into the blade. If mats are tight to the skin, a professional groomer is the safer call.
Brush to the skin, comb to check, and size everything else to your doodle's adult weight. That covers most of it.
