Sheepadoodle grooming in Gloucester, MA

The AKC describes the Old English Sheepdog's coat as profuse and shaggy, of good hard texture, over an undercoat its breed standard calls a waterproof pile. The standard poodle's coat is curly, and the AKC places it at the very bottom of its shedding scale. A sheepadoodle can land anywhere between the two, and because the cross has no AKC breed standard, there is no single correct coat. Whichever way it falls, loose hair has nowhere to go: a curl traps it and a shaggy undercoat holds it.

Mats start where the coat is rubbed, pressed or left damp. On a sheepadoodle that means behind the ears, in the armpits, along the collar and harness line, on the inner thighs and across the hindquarters, the part the sheepdog standard describes as the most heavily coated on the dog. The feet are the other trouble spot. The AKC suggests keeping an Old English Sheepdog's feet clipped to cut down on problems and cleanup, and the same logic suits the cross.

The AKC notes that poodle owners who do not clip at home take the dog to a professional groomer every four to six weeks for a bath, grooming and a nail trim, and its sheepdog page warns that a full coat can mean several professional sessions a month. A sheepadoodle sits between those two pictures. A short, even length with brushing at home holds well at the six-week end; a long, shaggy coat is safer nearer four. Watch for the signs below that a visit is overdue.

Missing a cycle shows up on the bill as dematting, which is $15 for every 20 minutes of careful work on top of the full-service price. A few knots behind the ears might take one block. A coat felted along the hindquarters and legs can take far longer, and at that point a shorter clip is kinder to the dog than an hour of pulling. Either way the groomer gives you the estimate at check-in, and nothing starts until you agree to it.

Brushing that only smooths the top is the reason a sheepadoodle can look fluffy and still be matted underneath. Part the coat and work from the skin outward, a section at a time, then check each section with a metal comb. Our how-to on brushing a doodle between grooms shows the technique, and the guide to handling a mat before it spreads covers what to do when the comb catches. A face trim at $10 between cuts keeps the eyes clear.

Water is what turns a tangle into felt. From October 1, Gloucester's beaches open to dogs again, Wingaersheek on odd-numbered days until April 30, and a sheepadoodle that swims there and dries in the car arrives home half matted. Rinse the salt out, then dry the coat to the skin with a towel and a hair dryer on a cool setting. The same goes for a nor'easter walk. The Pup Van can bring the dog to its groom for $10 each way in Gloucester, Rockport, Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea.