7 Best Brushes for Labradoodles With 5 Simple Brushing Tips
Quick Guide
If one of this breed comes from a long line of Labradoodles, you’ll have a dog that loves to play, is quick-witted, and enjoy having plenty of attention from its owners and other dogs. With poodle genetics in their family tree, it’s no surprise that they have a distinctive coat as well.
For the most part, labradoodle coats tend to be on the thicker size, varying between four and six inches. They can also be curly or straight in terms of fur, depending on their ancestry.
Many Labradoodles are hypoallergenic, but whether they have this feature depends on their breeding. As you may expect, their distinctive and somewhat longer coats can require regular upkeep to maintain in top shape.
What Is the Best Brush for a Labradoodle?
Regular grooming habits are essential for more than just making your pup’s fur look good. If you spend time on brushing out their hair, you can reduce the amount that your labradoodle sheds around the house. Additionally, a brush can help spread out the natural oils that form in your dog’s fur, prevent grease buildup, and keep your dog comfortable. While brushing, you can also enjoy one-on-one time with your pup and check for fleas and ticks.
Depending on the thickness and length of your labradoodle’s fur type, you may need a somewhat different brush than another labradoodle owner. In our best brushes guide, we’ll go over the kinds available, the products that get our (and other pet owners’) seal of approval, and some tips for the best ways to groom your labradoodle.
Different Types of Popular Labradoodle Brushes
If you’ve ever tried to use a brush or comb that’s not suitable for your hair, you know how ineffective it can be. The same principle applies to grooming dogs. An ill-fitting brush can make it difficult to brush through their fur, and potentially cause irritation. Since Labradoodles can have different fur types, there isn’t a one-type-fits-all solution. Use this break down of the types to help figure out what kind you’ll need to get the best results with your pup!
Slicker Brushes
Slicker brushes as a whole use metal wires that are still softer bristles suitable for working through any knots and tangles—even ones that form close to their skin. Even with the use of metal wires, slicker brushes are a good fit if you worry about irritating your pup’s skin. If you want to have a good brush to work out knots, slicker brushes will play that role well.
Bristle Brushes
Slicker brushes are on the softer side, but bristle brushes are even more so. These are much better for regular maintenance than they are at taking out knots. Yes, they’ll serve that purpose, but the soft bristles are better at clearing out dirt and debris from the fur, plus they’re a good fit for brushing over any areas on your labradoodle that are particularly sensitive. You can start with a slicker brush to take care of tangles, and then follow up with a bristle option to finish the look.
Comb
If your Labradoodle doesn’t get along well with a slicker brush and they have a lot of curly fur on areas like their ears, face, and neck, then a comb may serve you better. Dog combs tend to give you an alternative way to clear out significant tangles in the fur before using a bristle brush. Plastic combs make for an excellent option for not irritating your labradoodle’s skin while grooming.
Hound Glove
Sometimes, even if you have the right brush for your labradoodle’s fur, they may not enjoy the process whatsoever. Hound gloves are wearable mitts with rubber bristles, making it possible to brush your dog while petting them. Dogs just feel like they’re getting a bit of TLC, and the feeling is different from running a brush through their coat. If your dog is picky, consider a hound glove.
Overall Best Brush for a Labradoodle
Our 2019 Picks: Labradoodle Brush Recommendations | |||
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A+
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A+
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A+
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A
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A
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Learn more about our favorite brush for labradoodles.
FURminator deShedding Edge Dog Brush
For excellent performance when handling dogs when they’re shedding or any other time of year, the FURminator deShedding Edge brush is our number one recommendation for Labradoodles. Though this breed doesn’t shed much, you can have a productive grooming session with this brush that reaches through the topcoat, handling fur from all angles.
Additionally, the ergonomic design works to make handling it comfortable while also curving to the shape of your pup for the best results. This design also comes in long-haired and short-haired sizes, letting you get the best option for your labradoodle’s coat! While it can be somewhat pricey for a dog brush, you can also find it at a fair price online.
6 More Top-Rated Labradoodle Dog Brushes
Check out more of our top-rated picks.
Safari Combo Brush for Dogs
Bristle and pin brushes can give different benefits, and this brush lets you have them both in one. The slicker-pin end will provide you with the ammunition you need to get through tangles, and then you can flip it over to handle sensitive areas on your labradoodle. With two brush heads, there’s no need to worry about misplacing one or the other.
We also like the design of the handle, which is durable and will last through regular use. While we’ve recommended this for use on Labradoodles, the combination of heads makes it a good pick for homes that have multiple types of dogs in their homes. The performance is somewhat higher for short-haired dogs than long-haired breeds.
Andis Steel Pet Comb
If you’ve been in search of a quality comb for your labradoodle, then Andis’s steel pet comb gets our vote. The stainless steel design is durable, and the teeth stand up to regular use—no easily bent pieces when up against tangles. There are also two tooth sizes, giving you some variety to work with between regular brushing and working out stubborn knots.
Andis makes this comb in two lengths, though the smaller of the two should be plenty for tending to your labradoodle’s fur. Even with a steel design, the thinner teeth make a good fit for handling sensitive areas, like the face. If you want your labradoodle’s fur to be on the fluffier size, like the poodle part of their ancestry, this comb is good for some minor styling.
KONG Dog ZoomGroom Multi-Use Brush
When it comes to products geared well for puppies, the KONG ZoomGroom Multi-Brush gets our vote. The size is excellent for younger pups, and it’s an overall effective brush. The design gives your labradoodle a massage-like sensation when in use, which can help get them to enjoy grooming sessions—a great boon for the formative years of your dog!
The brush style is suited for all fur types, letting you have a quality choice, no matter your type of labradoodle. The design helps stimulate natural oil production in your dog’s fur. While your labradoodle won’t shed much, the ZoomGroom is useful for clearing out stray hair. KONG makes this brush in two different colors and produces their brushes in the United States.
JW Pet Gripsoft Slicker Brush Soft Pin
Since Labradoodles can have sensitive skin, it can be in your best interest to have a brush built for not causing irritation. JW Pet’s Gripsoft Slicker Brush is such a product, with a design that helps prevent scratching the skin. The rounded head and pins also reduce the potential level of irritation, and there are two lengths of bristles to handle your pup’s fur best.
When it comes to using this brush, the non-slip grip is excellent for keeping a hold of the brush while in use. It’s overall comfortable to use, making grooming an enjoyable process for you as well as your pup—plus, you can precisely brush in the areas you want. It can be somewhat challenging to clean out, but, as Labradoodles aren’t a heavily shedding breed, this fact shouldn’t cause such issues, especially for the price.
Safari Soft Slicker Brush for Dogs
Another inexpensive yet well-performing slicker brush is this offering from Safari. The design is suitable for all fur types, giving you a reliable grooming tool for any kind of labradoodle. The pins on this brush are stainless steel, helping the brush stand firm up against any tangles. The design is also suitable for reducing what little fur your labradoodle will shed.
This brush comes in three different sizes, letting you get the one you feel the most comfortable wielding on your pup. The tips of the pins are also suitable for brushing even on sensitive skin. If you have a dog who isn’t a big fan of brushes, this option may be the right one to help them feel comfortable. This design is a bit more suitable for thinner coats over thicker ones.
Pat Your Pet Five Finger Grooming Glove
If you like the idea of having a grooming glove for your dog, then we recommend this choice by Pat Your Pet. As mentioned earlier, the design lets your dog feel like they’re getting casual pets while you’re tending to their fur. This model has rubber bristles across all five fingers, giving you plenty of area that can help brush out your labradoodle’s coat!
In addition to the brush side, there’s also an end to help clean up any shedded fur in your home without needing to pull out sticky tape. You can either order the glove as a single piece or as a pair, all of which come with an adjustable strap to create a one size fits all product. The glove is capable of getting wet without sustaining damage, so it’s also a suitable product for bathtime!
5 Simple Tips to Properly Brush a Labradoodle
Aside from regularly taking the time to brush your dog and picking out a brush that’s suitable for the breed and fur type, it’s critical to use the right technique to get the best grooming results. Here are some quick tips to getting the best results when brushing your labradoodle:
- Get your dog used to brushing from a young age. The sooner you introduce brushing habits, the easier it’ll be to maintain the habit later in life. For best results, you can use treats to encourage your labradoodle to stay still and have a positive association with grooming.
- Brush small sections at a time. Trying to brush too full of an area can make it hard to clear out any tangles you encounter. Once you pick an area, you want to brush until the section is free of any knots, and make sure to run the brush through all levels of your labradoodle’s fur.
- Have a regular brushing pattern. It’s much easier to keep track of the areas you’ve brushed if you regularly start at one end and work towards the other. You can either start on the head and brush towards the tail or go the other direction. Whichever way you choose, however, keep a consistent pattern so that your dog knows what to expect.
- Keep your strokes slow. With how often you should brush your labradoodle, it can feel tempting to rush through the process. However, if you brush too quickly, you risk getting caught on a tangle and pulling on your dog’s fur. Taking your time is better for the result.
- Consider using a spray-on detangler. When fur gets tangled or is longer, it can be trickier to brush things out while they’re dry. A spray-on detangler is simple to use on a focused area, and it’s also capable of helping reduce potential damage to longer fur, which can happen if you brush it while it’s dry.
Taking the time to learn the proper technique can make a world of difference when it comes to effectively grooming your dog—both for their comfort and the result. These tips can help put you on the right track.
FAQ Regarding Labradoodle Brushing and Grooming
How often should you brush a Labradoodle?
In comparison to other breeds, Labradoodles have high-maintenance grooming needs. At a bare minimum, you’ll want to brush any labradoodle at least twice a week, as their long and sometimes curly coats can be prone to tangles. Dogs with thicker and curlier coats will end up needing even more brushings. For best results, brushing a labradoodle daily is helpful.
Do Labradoodles shed?
Thanks to their hypoallergenic intentions when breeding, Labradoodles are on the lower end of the shedding spectrum. Part of this depends on their coat type, with fleece and wool fur being the least shedding types. While you can’t eliminate shedding, grooming can control what hair does work its way free from your dog.
Is there a difference between tangled and matted fur?
In short, yes. While both can occur without regular grooming and involve hair getting clustered into each other, they involve different levels of intensities. Tangles are smaller scale, and they just take some time to brush out. Mats are more extensive areas of more intense knots. While you can brush them out with enough effort, it can actually harm your dog’s skin in the process. When it comes to larger mats, it’s better to shave them off than attempt to brush them away.
Can you over brush a Labradoodle?
While brushing your labradoodle daily is the best option for this breed, you can potentially cause trouble for your pup if you are doing nothing but grooming them for hours on end. Thankfully, this is a comfortable situation to avoid, as you (and your dog) will likely have other things you want to do with your time. However, you should also take care not to brush too roughly or pull on your pup’s fur in the process.
Conclusion
Grooming your dog can be a fun experience and an opportunity for bonding, but only if you have the right approach and equipment. With Labradoodles in particular, it’s essential to have a brush suitable for their varied fur types while also taking precautions for their sensitive skin. With our guide to tips, how to shop, and the best products, you should have all the knowledge you need to find the best possible brush for your labradoodle!