Brushing and Combing

The amount of grooming your Labradoodle requires, depends on the kind of Labradoodle you own,  but it's a good idea to regularly brush and comb your Labradoodle whatever the type of coat he has. 

When you buy a puppy, your breeder will give you grooming advice, but getting your puppy used to being groomed and/or visiting a recommended groomer from an early age saves a lot of problems later on!

Doodles love to get dirty!  So when (not if) he does, be sure to brush the dirt out as much as you can FIRST before bathing him.  This stops his coat from tangling and also removes much of the dirt from his coat before bathing.  There are many kinds of brushes and combs available - a comb is useful to detangle any knots or small mats and a brush is helpful for general overall brushing.

PH Balanced shampoos are good to use with a conditioner and getting him used to being washed (even if he isn't dirty) is a good idea.  Keep some old towels especially for his bathtime.  After towelling him down after his bath, keep him in a warm dry place or use a hair dryer, but remember not to use the heat setting when using your own hairdryer.  It is possible to buy hairdryers especially made for dogs without the heat.

Brush him out a final time.

Teazles and burrs are notoriously difficult to get out, and many Labradoodle owners have told of their trials when their dog has been unfortunate enough to become entangled!  A professional groomer should be called on - and also in the case when your Labradoodle becomes badly matted, when shaving is sometimes the only answer!

The English F1 Labradoodle will need minimal grooming.  As they tend to shed, their coats rarely mat and the coat generally stays at one length once adulthood is reached.  A 50 50 coat will inherit the Australian coat to some extent.  Some 50 50s will need a trim every 2-3 months, and some may need just a scissor trim now and again.  You will be able to judge how quickly your dog's hair is growing once he gets his full adult coat at approx 1 year of age.  

Toenail Clipping

Check your Labradoodles toenails' every week.  A clipper is handy to have at home to do the job yourself, but if you prefer, your groomer (or your veterinary surgeon) will do it for you.  Should you do the clipping yourself, it's very important never to cut the quick, which will bleed profusely if you cut it accidentally.   Most clippers have a safety guide to help you, but the quick is more spongy than the hard nail, so you should cut only the hard nail.  Should you cut the quick, you can dip it into styptic powder to stop the bleeding.

Ears

Your Labradoodle's ears should be checked weekly also.  It is very important to keep his ears clean and hair free to stop infection.  Ear powder is available to dry the ear and safely pluck out the ingrowing hair (again your groomer can help with this).  Antibacterial ear wipes are also a good idea to gently clear any dirt from the ear, but never push cotton buds down your dog's ears.  This is very dangerous.