Just like us, the better your pup feels, the better behaved they will be! We know caring for a new dog can feel daunting, but with a few good resources and some practice, you’ll settle into a comfortable routine in no time. We’ve curated the following information and resources to help you keep your pup looking and feeling great from the moment you bring them home!
How to care for your furry friend from day one
Care of your Labradoodle
- Slicker brushes work best. We use Chris Christensen slicker brushes!
- Brush to the skin, working from under the coat.
- Work from the feet up to the body, and the tail to the head.
- Brush in the direction of the hair, but add small amounts of coat to each stroke.
- At approximately eight months old, a dog’s coat needs very regular brushing to strip out the puppy coat so it doesn’t tangle and get matted in the newly forming adult coat.
- If you prefer a long coat, you’ll need to do a full comb out at least once a week to ensure that matts don’t build up (approx. 5-10 minutes per brushing).
Tips for Brushing your Labradoodle:
While you don’t have to lint roll your sweater constantly, you do need to regularly brush your Labradoodle’s coat to prevent matting and keep it looking beautiful. The sooner you start brushing your pup, the sooner they’ll get used to the feel of the brush and come to enjoy sitting or lying patiently while you do so.
BRUSHING
- Make sure to have the groomer only scissor-cut the face area—NEVER allow them to shave the face, snout, or around the eyes (unless you want your doodle to walk out looking like a poodle!). The snout and beard should be evenly trimmed with the rest of the face.
- The body can be trimmed shorter or left longer depending on your lifestyle preferences, but never trim it shorter than a five blade. Even if the body is trimmed shorter, the head should be left shaggy and blended with scissors into the back of the neck.
- To help eliminate knots in the movement areas like arm, leg, pits, or privates, you can have them trim a bit shorter in those spots.
Tips for the Groomer:
In addition to at-home brushing, it’s also important to find a good groomer. Ideally, you’ll want to find someone with experience grooming Australian labradoodles and/or someone who is willing to accommodate your dog’s unique needs.
Grooming
A printable PDF guide from the Worldwide Australian Labradoodle Association to take to your groomer—say goodbye to bad haircuts once and for all!
Reference Guide
This helpful video from the Australian Labradoodle Association of America demonstrates how to groom your Australian Labradoodle.
Demo video
Helpful Grooming Resources
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Brain training is just as important for your dog as physical exercise! Dogs who are bored are more likely to get up to no good, so the more you exercise your dog's brain, the happier and calmer they will be. Believe it or not, mental fatigue makes dogs (and humans) feel more physically tired than physical effort alone.
Provide simple, fun games and exercises for your dog such as hide and seek, scavenger hunts, and fetch and carry, and you’ll be shocked how easily they lie down for a nice long nap!
Mental Exercise
Brain training is just as important for your dog as physical exercise! Dogs who are bored are more likely to get up to no good, so the more you exercise your dog's brain, the happier and calmer they will be. Believe it or not, mental fatigue makes dogs (and humans) feel more physically tired than physical effort alone.
Provide simple, fun games and exercises for your dog such as hide and seek, scavenger hunts, and fetch and carry, and you’ll be shocked how easily they lie down for a nice long nap!
Mental Exercise
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Labradoodles have long (adorable) ears that trap and hold moisture, so regular ear cleaning is essential for your pup’s health. Check their ears every few weeks, and if they look dirty, get a cotton ball (or makeup remover pad, etc.) and wet it with an ear cleaner solution, then gently rub the inside ear flap and the folds you can see, but don’t dig down deep in the ear!
Ear Cleaning
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Just like us, Labradoodle puppies need regular dental care to keep their smile (and breath) fresh! We recommend brushing your doodle’s teeth as often as you groom them to prevent gum disease and other oral issues.
Teeth brushing & Cleaning
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You don’t need to bathe your Australian Labradoodle often, as their coats are designed to repel dirt. In fact, over bathing can harm this dirt-repellant quality in their coat and actually cause you to need to bathe them more often. If they get dirty, let them air dry and simply brush the dirt out. That being said, it is good to get them accustomed to getting wet, so when you do fully bathe them, make sure to use shampoo specifically designed for dogs, as their PH balance is different from humans.
Bathing
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While the Australian labradoodle is not a hyper breed that requires hours of activity each day, every dog needs physical exercise! A dog lacking exercise, no matter how much they’re loved, may become frustrated and poorly behaved. A good 30-45 minute walk daily should meet their needs. Running across the yard, chasing a ball at their own pace, or taking a jaunt around the neighborhood are all excellent ways to meet their exercise needs. But remember, if your dog is still growing, do not take him or her for long jogs, since developing joints can be harmed by repetitive motion on hard surfaces.
physical Exercise
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TIPS FOR NAIL CLIPPING:
- Practice clipping their nails 4 days in a row, rather than once and then wait for them to grow out again.
- Clip just the tip of the nail where it starts to curve downward, holding the nail clippers parallel to the bottom of the paw.
- Be careful not to clip too much, otherwise it will hurt and the nail may bleed.
- Lean towards clipping little bits more often rather than trying to get a lot off all at once.
Nail Clipping
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