Grooming a Labradoodle includes brushing with slicker or pin brush, combing with medium-toothed comb, regular trimming, clipping and bathing. A glove or bristle brush can be used on the short-haired variety. A regular thorough brushing for the Scruffy type.

There is much variation in the coat of this popular crossbreed. It ranges from short, close, constantly shedding hair to long and flat, wavy, dense, and thick and woolly that sheds coat like a molt as well as sheds into itself to form felts if not groomed regularly.

Such a mixture of coat is also seen on one dog. Rarely – if ever – are they non-shedding as claimed by some breeders. The contrasting coats are often referred to as Fleece (woolly) and Scruffy (wiry).

Equipment needed:

Slicker and pin brush, medium-toothed comb, clippers, scissors, thinners, glove.

Identify the coat type before deciding whether to thin or clip coat, or to merely bathe and brush. The head is important as it can be clipped like the Poodle, scissored to a round shape leaving whiskers, or left Scruffy depending on coat type.

• Having decided on the type of coat, groom through with a slicker.
• If clipping has been decided upon, use a 5 or coarser blade to clip the body from the head down the neck and sides of the body to rear. Clip under the tail for hygiene.
• If the coat is silky it may be preferable to scissor to an even length all over.
• When this crossbreed resembles its Poodle parent more closely, the face and feet may be clipped with a No. 10 blade, and the body shaped into the Lamb trim.
• Bathe in tea tree and lavender oil shampoo or oatmeal. Condition if necessary, although often a conditioning spray brushed into coat will suffice, once it is patted dry with a towel or the hair has been blasted dry for a few minutes to remove excess water.
• Dry with warm air, brushing constantly if the coat is of the wool type. Use of a cabinet dryer is up to the preference of the individual — they can save time in a busy salon, but make sure the dog is thoroughly free of tangles and felts first.
• Clip over body to tidy loose hairs, or scissor to required length and the style preferred to suit the coat and the owner’s ability to look after it between trims.
• Check ears, teeth and nails.