Coat Care

The Australian Labradoodle's Coat

I first encountered Australian Labradoodle coats in Australia in 2008, when I spent five weeks at Rutland Manor. While brushing Beverley's dogs, I wondered how anyone could let a coat get into that condition. There were mats upon mats, and I spent hours brushing every day.

Then I welcomed my first puppy, with a beautiful, curly coat in shades of apricot. It was soft and silky and hardly seemed to need brushing. I looked after it and brushed conscientiously every week until she was ten months old.

That was when Caramel started matting. It felt as if it happened overnight. The more I brushed, the more frequently mats appeared. I remembered Beverley's words: 'They can mat overnight.'

Help Your Puppy Get Used to Brushing

The puppy you bring home has a beautiful, glossy, silky coat. It can be hard to believe that it will ever mat. At around 8–11 months, however, the coat changes and needs careful attention.

First: help your puppy get used to brushing from the very beginning. Do not assume there is plenty of time. One day the coat will start matting, and an unprepared dog may be unable to tolerate the time needed on a grooming table.

Second: do not shave your puppy's coat before the first birthday. That first puppy coat needs to be brushed out; it will not fall out by itself. Clipping a matted coat does not remove the hair that needs brushing out.

Third: do not use a slicker brush every day, as this can also damage the hair structure. If you enjoy daily grooming, choose a dog comb instead, although it will not be suitable for mats.

Key Coat-Care Principles

• Do not bathe too frequently. Frequent bathing removes the protective barrier and can make the coat get dirty even faster.

• Sand and mud can be removed with clean water or a Doodle Booster.

• Use good-quality shampoos, conditioners and detangling products.

• Trim regularly. Long coats look beautiful, but they are not always healthier or more comfortable for a dog.

• Do not trim the coat too short for winter.

• Brush regularly, as often as your dog's coat type requires.

• Dry the coat after every bath, brushing as you dry.

• Use good-quality omega-3, -6 and -9 fatty acids to support the coat and developing bones.

The good news is that, with consistent work, the coat becomes easier to manage again at around three years of age — provided the dog has not simply been shaved whenever mats appeared, but the puppy coat has genuinely been brushed out properly.

Do not let anyone tell you that spaying or neutering inevitably changes a Labradoodle's coat into something unmanageable. That is nonsense. Coat problems result from neglect and failing to follow a consistent care routine.

The Tools I Use

Les Poochs, also known as ActiVet, make slicker brushes. I use purple for routine brushing and red for matted coats.

For me, the Furminator SLICKER BRUSH has become a useful middle option. It has a flexible head and, although large, a narrower upper section. It is comfortable to use and works quickly.

The scissors I have used for years are ROSE LINE 82066 and 88080. My clippers are ANDIS AGR+ with a number 10 ceramic blade.

The Doodle Booster is excellent after muddy or sandy walks. It quickly removes sand from the legs and underside and helps prevent tangling. It is a wonderful tool, but not essential.

I recommend PSH grooming products and ARTERO conditioner. PENTALCLEANSE can be useful for families with allergies, helping remove Fel d 1 allergens and shed skin cells from the coat.

I also recommend Wanda Klomp's English-language book From Scruffy to Lovely. Wanda runs professional grooming workshops for Australian Labradoodle owners.

Head, Ears, Groin and Paws

Remember to trim the hair over the eyes, as it can restrict vision. If we wait too long, a dog may rely more on smell and then suddenly feel frightened by the world once the hair is removed.

Shape the head into a rounded outline, trimming not only the fringe but also the ears and beard. Constantly damp ears and a warm, wet muzzle create a favorable environment for yeast.

Clean ears when they are dirty. Clean the outer ear and the hanging ear flap; there is no need to probe deep inside.

Clipping the armpit and groin areas can help, because limbs rubbing against the chest and abdomen cause tangles there. Mats pull on the skin and hurt the dog.

Trim nails regularly and shorten hair between the paw pads, especially in winter when snowballs collect there.

Shorten the coat regularly over the whole body. It may be left slightly longer on the legs. A shorter coat is more comfortable for dog and owner alike and does not make the dog any less charming.

COAT CARE:

I have created a COMPLETE Australian Labradoodle grooming guide for you. I explain coat care, precise trimming and brushing, and how to work on individual body areas so your Labradoodle does not end up looking like a Poodle. For visual learners, I have included QR codes linking to short videos — around 40 of them — demonstrating exactly how to trim different areas.

The guide explains the tools and products I use, how I prepare a puppy for grooming, and many more practical ideas and helpful tips. It contains more than 120 pages of detailed, practical knowledge.

I invite you to explore the guide.

Coats, tools and practical examples

These photographs and illustrations show grooming tools and examples of trimming, coat length and everyday coat maintenance.

Continue exploring

Coat Types and Colors — Coat textures, colors and realistic expectations.

Allergies and Shedding — Shedding, allergies and each household member's individual response.

Temperament — Is This the Dog for You? — Personality, needs and a good match for your family.