Whether your new Labradoodle puppy is settling in or you’re preparing ahead, this guide will help you create positive grooming habits from the start. If you are also preparing for your puppy’s arrival, our first week home guide covers settling in and establishing a gentle routine.
Australian Labradoodles look like teddy bears walking around on four legs with soft eyes and fluffy coats. However, not every groomer knows how to clip an Australian Labradoodle’s breed standard cut and may need guidance. You will also have to help your dog grow accustomed to frequent brushing to keep their fluffy coats clean and free of mats. In this post, we will cover what you can do from home and how to work with your groomer to keep your puppy’s coat healthy and adorable.
At Home
Once your puppy is used to it, weekly grooming can be a quiet moment for you and your puppy to bond. It becomes a peaceful ritual that is also essential to maintain their health. You can do a few things at home beyond brushing, but if you are not confident with things like nail trimming, you can speak with your groomer about having their help.
Brushing
When your puppy first comes home, brush their coat with a medium slicker brush and butter comb. You’ll want them to become completely comfortable with the grooming tools at a young age because grooming is constantly needed for an Australian Labradoodle’s coat.
As their coat grows longer, it will be essential that you brush them every other day to keep up with tangles.
Bathing
Brush all mats thoroughly before bathing, as brushing them once your dog is wet will be harder. Use a natural organic shampoo to protect your puppy’s sensitive skin.
Rinse thoroughly to avoid skin irritation.
Towel dry, comb through, and then blow dry on a gentle setting. Be careful not to use the blow dryer too close to the hair to avoid causing more tangles or damage to the skin, ears, and eyes.
Bathe your puppy as infrequently as possible to protect their sensitive skin.
Nail Trimming
Trim your puppy’s nails at least every other week to keep the quick from growing and the nails from getting too long. If you are uncomfortable doing this on your own, have your pet groomer or your vet do it.
If you neglect the nails, they will grow too long and present a serious risk of tearing off, resulting in expensive vet bills.
Ear Cleaning
Only use a small amount of cleaner and be careful not to get too far into the ear. If the ear gets too wet from the cleaner, it can cause an ear infection.
Check your puppy’s ears weekly for buildup. As necessary, use an ear cleaner on a soft cotton ball to gently clean their ears. If problems keep recurring, see our guide to Labradoodle ear infections for what to investigate.
Visiting The Groomer
Your puppy will need a brief face and sanitary tidy before completing their puppy vaccinations, usually within the first three weeks after coming home. This first appointment does not involve bathing. Choose a groomer you have already checked for excellent hygiene practices and experience in the gentle handling and health needs of young puppies. Bring a freshly washed blanket for your puppy to stand on, or arrange for the groomer to hold your puppy, so their paws do not touch shared salon surfaces. These precautions help reduce exposure to potential sources of infection, although they cannot eliminate every risk. Be sure to book your appointments in advance — good groomers are generally booked far ahead.
You can trim your puppy’s hair however you’d prefer, but the familiar teddy bear look is the breed standard. Review your groomer’s photos of other Labradoodles to ensure their style matches what you’re looking for.
The Worldwide Australian Labradoodle Association has online guides and videos that show exactly how the coat, face, and feet should be trimmed. Ensure your groomer is familiar with WALA’s guidelines before taking your dog to their first appointment.
Step 1 - The Body
With the comb attachment, start at the base of the skull and clip down the body and legs. Trim the entire body, including the tummy, being cautious when working between the back legs.
Pull your dog’s tail gently between their legs and run the clippers over the rump and base of the tail to catch any stray hairs, but avoid clipping the longer tail hair.
Step 2 - Sanitary Areas
Remove the E comb and use a #10 blade to trim between the back legs and, on male dogs, about a third of the way up the underside.
Lift their tail and trim just around the rectum to keep it clean. Don’t trim too far or too short — a small area is all that’s needed.
Step 3 - Paws and Feet
Comb the leg hair down toward the paw. Use the #10 blade to trim between the pads until hair is flush and neat. Then, with straight scissors, trim the hair evenly around the edge of the paw. The legs should stay fluffy — don’t expose knuckles or joints.
Step 4 - Eyes
Comb hair away from the eyes. Use thinning shears to trim the inside corners to about half an inch — this keeps eyes clean and prevents matting.
Step 5 - Ears
Brush the ear hair downward and trim the bottom edge with straight scissors, starting from the back of the leather to the tip.
Trim halfway down the front as well, maintaining a soft, natural line. Comb again to check for strays.
Step 6 - Head
Brush all forehead hair back as if into a ponytail. Hold between fingers at a 45 degree angle about 1 inch from the base of the skull, then trim what sticks out.
Comb hair forward over the eyes and trim an inverted V with thinning shears. Blend it softly so the cut is natural, not blunt.
Step 7 - Muzzle
Comb hair forward from the cheeks toward the nose. Use thinning shears to blend moustache into beard, keeping it neat but soft around the mouth.
Step 8 - Tidying Up
Use straight scissors to clean up any stray hairs missed during clipping – especially around the belly curves, legs and tail base.
Summary
- At Home:
- Introduce brushing gently and check the coat regularly; as it grows longer, brushing every other day may be necessary to prevent tangles
- Limit bathing to protect their skin
- Trim nails every other week
- Check ears weekly and clean only when needed
Visiting The Groomer:
- Plan the timing of a full groom around your puppy’s health, vaccine progress, local risk and the groomer’s precautions
- Book a bath-free face and sanitary tidy within the first three weeks home
- Make sure your groomer knows the Australian Labradoodle teddy bear style
- Book appointments early – good groomers fill up fast
Van Isle puppies are desensitized and prepared for grooming!
We gently begin trimming nails and introducing puppies to grooming tools at just three days old. These early, brief experiences are part of the foundation we build for confident, cooperative dogs.