The Grooming Needs of Australian Labradoodles: A Complete Guide
Australian Labradoodle grooming guide need brushing 2 to 3 times a week (or daily during the 8 to 14 month puppy-to-adult coat transition), professional grooming every 6 to 8 weeks, weekly ear cleaning, nail trims every 2 to 4 weeks, and eye and paw hair trimming monthly. The fleece and wool coats that make this breed allergy friendly do not shed like most dogs, which means loose hair gets trapped in the coat instead of falling off. Without consistent care, that trapped hair mats fast, especially behind the ears, under the collar, and in the armpits. At Bestland Australian Labradoodles in Rome, GA, we start clipping puppy nails at 5 days old and introduce brushing early so every puppy leaves comfortable with grooming, and we send families home with a routine that keeps that momentum going.
Here is the complete grooming guide for your Australian Labradoodle, from tools and technique to the specific instructions your groomer needs to hear.
Australian Labradoodle Grooming Guide Schedule at a Glance
| Task | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Brushing | 2–3 times per week (daily during coat transition) |
| Bathing | Every 4–6 weeks, or as needed |
| Professional grooming | Every 6–8 weeks |
| Ear cleaning | Weekly, plus after every bath or swim |
| Ear plucking | At every professional groom |
| Nail trimming | Every 2–4 weeks |
| Eye and muzzle trimming | Monthly at home, plus at every groom |
| Paw pad and between-toe trimming | Monthly |
| Teeth brushing | 3–4 times per week, ideally daily |
Skip any of these and problems creep in fast. Consistency is easier than fixing matting or ear infections after the fact.
Essential Grooming Tools You Need at Home
You do not need a professional setup, but you do need the right basics. Skimping on tools makes brushing harder and the coat worse.
Must-haves:
- Slicker brushwith flexible pins (Chris Christensen and Big G are widely used by breed-experienced groomers)
- Stainless steel metal comb with wide and fine teeth
- De-matting comb or rake for stubborn tangles
- Dog-specific shampoo and conditioner (gentle, sensitive skin formula)
- Nail clippers or grinder sized to your dog
- Blunt-tip scissors for face and paw trims
- Thinning shears for blending
- Vet-approved ear cleaning solution
- Cotton balls or gauze for ear cleaning (no cotton swabs deep in the ear canal)
- Detangling spray to reduce friction while brushing
You can browse curated tools through our Georgia Doodle Shop if you want products vetted for this breed.
Brushing: Technique and Frequency
Brushing is the foundation of Australian Labradoodle grooming. Done right, it prevents matting, distributes natural oils, removes loose hair, and gives you a chance to check for skin issues, ticks, or lumps.
How often:
- Fleece coats: 2 to 3 times per week
- Wool coats: 3 to 5 times per week
- Puppies during coat transition (8 to 14 months): daily
The line brushing technique:
- Section the coat starting at the belly and work up
- Lift a section of hair with one hand
- Brush the exposed layer down to the skin with the slicker brush
- Follow with the metal comb to catch remaining tangles
- Move to the next section and repeat
Surface brushing does not work on this breed. The mats form at the skin level, and you have to reach them.
Focus areas that mat first:
- Behind the ears
- Under the collar
- Armpits and chest
- Belly and groin
- Back of the legs
- Base of the tail
If your comb catches, work the tangle out with fingers or a de-matting tool before it becomes a solid mat. Once a mat forms tight against the skin, it usually has to be shaved out.
The Puppy-to-Adult Coat Transition (8 to 14 Months)
Somewhere between 8 and 14 months, your Australian Labradoodle’s puppy coat begins to fall out and be replaced by the adult coat. This is the single hardest grooming period of your dog’s life.
What happens:
- Loose puppy hair gets trapped in the incoming adult coat
- Mats form fast, even with regular brushing
- The dog may resist longer grooming sessions
What to do:
- Brush daily during this period, not weekly
- Line brush down to the skin every session
- Book professional grooms every 4 to 6 weeks rather than 6 to 8
- Consider a shorter cut to make maintenance easier through the transition
- Do not skip sessions; a week off during coat change can create weeks of matting
Once the adult coat is fully in, usually by 14 months, maintenance becomes much easier.
Bathing Your Australian Labradoodle
Australian Labradoodles do not need frequent baths. Over-bathing strips natural oils and dries out the skin. Under-bathing lets dander and oils build up.
How often: Every 4 to 6 weeks, or as needed for muddy adventures.
Best practices:
- Brush thoroughly before the bath (wet mats tighten and become impossible to remove)
- Use lukewarm water, not hot
- Use a gentle, dog-specific shampoo (avoid human shampoos and anything with harsh detergents)
- Rinse until the water runs completely clear; leftover shampoo causes skin irritation
- Apply a conditioner and rinse well
- Squeeze excess water gently, then towel dry
- Air dry or use a low-heat setting on a dryer
- Brush again once fully dry
Avoid blow drying on high heat. It damages the coat texture and can cause frizz. If your dog swims often, plan an extra rinse after each swim to remove chlorine or lake water.
Professional Grooming: What to Ask For
Australian Labradoodles need professional grooming every 6 to 8 weeks. This is where families often go wrong. Many general groomers default to a Poodle cut or shave the coat too short. That is not what you want.
The Australian Labradoodle cut keeps the “teddy bear” look. Ask specifically for:
Body and legs:
- 3/4 inch to 1 inch length overall (not shorter than 1/2 inch)
- Consistent length across body and legs
- No blade shorter than a #5FC on the body
Head and face:
- Round, full “teddy bear” head
- Muzzle hair trimmed to blend with the head, not shaved
- Long eyelashes preserved
- Eyebrows kept full, tapered down toward the ears
- Hair around the eyes trimmed just enough to keep vision clear (an inverted V trim at the inner corner)
Ears:
- Cut at the leather in a triangle from the back of the ear to the jawline
- Underside of ear leather thinned or shaved for airflow (helps prevent ear infections)
Tail:
- Tapered from body length to a fuller “flag” at the tail
Paws:
- Rounded shape, hair between pads trimmed
- Nails trimmed above the quick
Print pictures of the cut you want and take them to your first appointment. A groomer who knows the breed will appreciate the reference. A groomer who does not is safer with clear instructions.
A “Labradoodle cut” is not a Poodle cut. If your groomer defaults to a Poodle style, find one who understands the breed or provide printed reference photos every time.
Your groomer should also handle nail trimming, ear plucking, sanitary trim, and paw pad cleaning at every appointment.
Ear Cleaning and Plucking
Australian Labradoodles have floppy ears with dense hair inside the canal, which traps moisture and creates a perfect environment for yeast and bacterial infections. Ear care is not optional.
Weekly at home:
- Squeeze a small amount of vet-approved ear solution into the ear canal
- Massage the base of the ear for 20 to 30 seconds
- Let your dog shake to release debris
- Wipe the visible portion of the ear with a cotton ball or gauze
- Never insert cotton swabs deep into the canal
After baths and swimming:
- Dry ears thoroughly with a soft towel
- Use ear drying solution if your dog swims often
At every professional groom:
- Ask the groomer to pluck ear canal hair to improve airflow
Signs of an ear infection include head shaking, scratching at the ears, a yeasty or musty odor, and dark discharge. Our guide on [common health issues in Australian Labradoodles](/blog/common-australian-labradoodle-health-issues/) covers the full symptom list and when to see a vet.
Nail Trimming
Overgrown nails are painful for your dog and can lead to joint problems over time. If you hear clicking on hard floors, the nails are too long.
How often: Every 2 to 4 weeks.
How to trim:
- Use dog-specific clippers or a grinder
- Trim just the tip, staying well above the quick (the pink area inside the nail)
- On dark nails, trim small amounts at a time and watch for a black dot in the center of the cut surface, which signals you are close to the quick
- Do not forget dewclaws on the inner front legs
If you cut into the quick, apply styptic powder or cornstarch to stop the bleeding. It happens to everyone; the dog forgives you.
Introduce nail trimming early. Bestland puppies have their nails clipped starting at 5 days old, so they arrive already comfortable with paw handling. Keep that going with weekly touch-and-treat sessions even if you do not need to trim.
Eye, Muzzle, and Sanitary Trims
Small trims between professional grooms keep your dog comfortable.
Around the eyes:
- Use blunt-tip scissors to trim hair growing up from the muzzle that blocks vision
- Never trim eyelashes; they can grow 1.5 to 2 inches on this breed and are meant to protect the eyes
- Trim tear stain hair gently to keep the area clean
Muzzle:
- Trim around the mouth so food and water do not cling to the fur
- Keep a full muzzle shape, not a shaved poodle look
Sanitary areas:
- Trim short around the anus, belly, and groin to keep the area clean
- A groomer handles this at every appointment; keep it clean between visits if needed
Paw Care and Between-Toe Hair
Australian Labradoodles grow thick hair between the paw pads that traps debris and causes matting.
Monthly:
- Trim hair between the toes flush with the pad
- Check pads for cracks, cuts, or foreign objects
- Trim hair around the paw perimeter for a rounded shape
- Wipe paws after wet walks
Long hair between the pads is slippery on hardwood floors and can cause skidding. Keeping it trimmed helps traction and reduces joint strain.
Common Grooming Mistakes to Avoid
Most grooming problems come from a handful of avoidable habits:
- Surface brushing. If you are not brushing down to the skin, you are not preventing mats.
- Skipping weeks. One missed week during the coat transition can create hours of untangling.
- Poodle cuts. Ask for a Labradoodle style, not a Poodle style, at every professional appointment.
- Over-bathing. Once a month is usually enough. Daily baths dry out the skin.
- Ignoring ears. Weekly cleaning prevents almost every ear infection this breed is prone to.
- Cutting the quick. Trim small amounts, more often, rather than large amounts less often.
- Waiting too long between professional grooms. 6 to 8 weeks is the maximum, not the goal.
- Using human shampoo. The pH is wrong and can strip the coat.
For a deeper look at what coat you are actually working with, our Australian Labradoodle coat types guide breaks down fleece, wool, and hair coats and how to care for each.
How Bestland Starts Grooming Before Pickup
At Bestland, grooming introductions begin during the first week of a puppy’s life. We clip nails starting at 5 days old and continue every week thereafter. Puppies learn to associate brushing and clipping with treats and attention, so by 9 weeks, when families take their puppy home, the foundation is already in place. Our grooming and virtual tour page shows how we handle this and what to expect from a Bestland puppy. We also encourage all our families to learn to groom their dogs at home, both for cost savings and for the bond it builds.
Bring Home a Grooming-Ready Bestland Puppy
Call or text 770-709-8497with any questions about grooming your Australian Labradoodle, or to learn more about our current litters. With 15 years of breeding experience and ALCA-aligned standards, we serve families across Georgia, Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and nearby areas. You can browse current and upcoming litters or start with our adoption process anytime. Domestic delivery is available to major U.S. airports.
