Categories: Pets

Grooming Your Labradoodle

Pet Grooming is a lucrative business. I have a 85 lb. labradoodle with lots of curly black hair. Quotes from groomers range from $75 on up to give him a hair cut. That’s a bit much when our dog needs his hair cut about every 6 weeks! If you are willing to spend time grooming your own pet, you will save lots of cash.

The first step to pet grooming is to purchase your grooming tools. You may purchase expensive pet clippers from a pet store, but then again, do you really need the clippers that say they are “made for pets? These can run on average up to $130! Our solution was to go to Target and get a men’s clipper set. You can get a full set including several combs and the oil for around $50. So what if it doesn’t say “pet” on it. If it’s good enough for an adult male, my labradoodle is a male dog.

The next step is to find an area where you can clip your pet. If your dog is as hairy as mine, the fur will start flying. In the summer, we usually clip him outside and then sweep up the fur when we are finished. In the winter, we prefer to pull one car out of the garage and clip him in there. You don’t want to freeze while clipping your dog; it’s work enough!

Next up, gather up your pet and gather up your spouse, friend, neighbor, etc. Having a helper to keep the dog still is very useful. If his/her hair is really out of control, you may need to brush him/her first. Keep the collar on your pet, as it will prove useful in holding him down while clipping him. If your pet has long hair, use one of the bigger combs. Attach the comb, add oil if necessary, and turn the clipper on. Start grooming your pet gently to see if he/she takes okay to the clipper. Our labradoodle reacts surprisingly well, though he does need some “breaks”. Start grooming your pet on his/her back, away from his face. We have found it is easiest to use the clipper to groom his back, sides, stomach, and chest, and some parts of his neck. It is much easier to use a regular scissors to groom his face, ears, tail, and feet. Plus, since he is part poodle, he looks great with longer hair on his ears, feet, tail, and face. The most important tip is to remain patient. Give your dog lots of “breaks” so he/she can run around. Treats are also very useful. When it is time to take off his/her collar to groom the neck area, make sure to grab your pet around his back so that he is fully secured. Try to clip your pet as even as possible, but with time, your grooming skills will get better. The feeling of not paying $75 is better than perhaps having a dog with a slightly “uneven” coat a few times! You can do it!! You will save money, your pet will enjoy the free backrub..it’s a win-win situation.