How to Groom a Labradoodle at Home?

A labradoodle can be one of the most complicated dogs to groom. This is mainly due to the type of fur they have. However, if you’re looking to groom your labradoodle at home, we’re here to ensure you can do it in the best way possible.

Benefits of Home Grooming

It may come as a surprise to most people, but many dog owners actually prefer dog grooming within the comfort of their own homes. There are a couple of reasons why this is the case. The main reasons are as follows:

Cheaper

Let’s be honest. Dog grooming is not cheap. Especially if we’re about grooming a labradoodle, going to a professional groomer can be super pricey. Nowadays, grooming at home is usually preferable to save yourself a ton of money.

Less Stressful

If your dog is anything like mine, you know how stressful it can be to take them to the groomers. And while you’re actually there, they’d usually make a whole scene by whining about being there. To save yourself the stress of dealing with that, groom your dog at home.

Tools Needed for Labradoodle Grooming

Labradoodle Grooming is nothing like grooming your average dog. This takes a lot of work, and you need total dedication to complete it successfully. Here are the primary tools that you’d need if you’re going to groom your labradoodle:

Dog Comb

The most basic dog grooming tool you need at your disposal is a dog comb. We recommend getting a steel comb since it is the sturdiest and can last a long time without breaking. A dog comb will be handy to remove the mats and tangles.

Clippers

Getting a good set of clippers is an essential part of labradoodle grooming since you will be doing quite a lot of clipping here and there. You can even get clippers that were specifically made to cut labradoodle hair. These are essential in giving your dog a fresh look.

Detangle Spray

You’re almost bound to run into many tangles and mats with a labradoodle. This is why it’s virtually essential to have a detangle spray on hand. This can make detangling those mats much easier. If you brush your labradoodle regularly, this may not be necessary.

Dog Shampoo and Conditioner

You can’t have a grooming session without dog shampoo and a conditioner! Most people assume you get right into the clipping and styling with grooming, but you must take your dog a bath first. This can go both ways, depending on what type of dog you have.

Dog Nail Grinder

Dogs need a manicure and pedicure sometimes, just like we do. This is why you need to get them a nail grinder that grinds down their nails till they’re nice and short. The noise may scare your dog, but it’s not painful or uncomfortable.

Grooming Scissors 

In addition to having a pair of dog clippers, you will also need some regular grooming scissors. These trim the hair or fur on more delicate or tricky areas like the face, paws, and ears. These are almost essential if you’re looking to get into labradoodle grooming.

Grooming Table and Leash

Lastly, you can’t have a grooming session without the grooming table and leash. A grooming table is essential to ensure your dog is at your height level so you can groom the dog without breaking your back. The leash provides the dog doesn’t try to run away.

How to Groom your Labradoodle at Home

Now that we’ve understood why it is better to groom a labradoodle at home and what tools we need, it’s time to move on to how to actually groom them. We will break this section down with a bath time followed by grooming per body part.

Bath Time

• Leash your labradoodle so they don’t run away and slip in the process and hurt themselves.
• Use a shower head to get water into all their inner coats properly.
• Shampoo them first and wash them out. Then condition them and wash them out.
• Use a hair dryer to dry them properly. Make sure to get into all their coat layers.

Belly Grooming

• Make your dog stand by using a saddle or just nudging them to stand up.
• Use a #5 or #7 blade to trim their belly hair and keep them cool in the summer.
• Don’t overdo it, as Labradoodles don’t have much hair on their bellies.

Leg Grooming

• Keeping leg hair short is preferable to prevent it from getting dirty during walks.
• Use the same #5 or #7 blade to make the leg hair match the length of the belly hair.
• Start from the highest point in the leg and slowly make your way down to the paws.

Paw Grooming

• Labradoodle paws are going to be the most matted and would need to be shaved
• The best way to shave their feet is using the #1 blade and doing right into it
• On occasion, your labradoodle is not okay with this; you may need to use scissors

Face Grooming

• Most people prefer to keep their Labradoodle’s facial hair on the longer side.
• Using a #9 blade, to begin with can give them the perfect length of hair.
• Finish it with scissors to give everything a more clean and balanced look.

Tail Grooming

• A labradoodle tail is usually the slowest to grow, so it’s best kept on the longer side.
• You can use a clipper or razor and start from their bottom and make your way to the end.
• Depending on how often your dog poop, this may not be a pleasant task.

This is a detailed guide on how to groom your labradoodle at home. If you reach this far, you know that this is not an easy task. However, if you’re willing to put in the effort, it can save you a lot of stress and money from going to the groomers.