~Labradoodle Grooming~

All about coats, ears, feet, teeth and bathing...

Coats: Fleece coats are moderately curly, and long. They require little grooming until the puppy reaches between eight and fourteen months, at which time the adult coat replaces the puppy coat. Since the puppy coat does not shed, it must be stripped out completely to prevent matting. During the change from puppy to adult coat, your labradoodle must be brushed thoroughly each week.

Wool coats are very easy to care for and require little weekly care, especially if regular grooming is performed. Clipping 2-3 times per year depending on preference and a complete monthly brush out will usually keep a wool-coated labradoodle free of mats.

Face: Hair around the muzzle should be kept trimmed, especially around the mouth and chin (this will keep food in the dish and not on the labradoodle and in the home). Hair should be kept trimmed around the eyes for clear vision and eye health.

Ears: Special attention should be paid to the health of your labradoodle's ears. Hair can grow in the ear canal and needs to be plucked. To improve air flow and reduce the risk of ear infections, hair should be shaved around the ear canal opening and kept short on the neck.

Feet/Nails: Nails should be trimmed year round and hair around the bottom of the pads should be trimmed. Snow balls up around the bottom of the feet and in between the pads, so keeping the hair trimmed keeps your labradoodle and your home cleaner.

Teeth: To keep your labradoodle's teeth shiny, free of tartar and bright white, raw meaty bones are recommended. Bones must never be cooked!

Bathing: Your labradoodle requires little to no bathing. Even when covered in mud, if your labradoodle's coat is left to dry, the mud will fall out or can easily be brushed out. If you do bathe your labradoodle, shampoo should be squeezed through the coat, not rubbed, and then rinsed thoroughly. Your labradoodle should then be allowed to air dry completely before brushing.

Grooming preferences: Whether you keep your labradoodle trimmed short or long and free-flowing is a matter of personal preference and circumstances. I prefer to keep my labradoodles' coat short in the summer and mid-length the rest of the year.

This simply makes it easier for me to check for ticks and stay comfortable in hot weather. During the winter months, I groom around the face, feet and backside. This will help keep your labradoodle clean and fresh while indoors.

Note: If you take your labradoodle in for grooming make sure to give detailed instructions to your groomer. Tell your groomer what you want done or bring in pictures of a well-groomed labradoodle as an example. "Don't Poodle my Doodle"! Even a badly matted labradoodle can leave the groomer's table looking like a labradoodle if the groomer does not shave the muzzle and leaves the head nicely rounded.