Best brush for a Labradoodle
The right brush for a Labradoodle depends heavily on which coat type your dog has, because the breed's coat varies enormously — a loose, wavy coat needs different tools from a tight, dense curl, and using the wrong one is a common reason owners find grooming a fight rather than a routine.
Why coat type matters more than the breed name
Labradoodles are a cross between a Labrador and a Poodle, and the coat a puppy ends up with can lean toward either parent or land somewhere in between — a straighter, shorter, Labrador-influenced coat, a loose wavy coat, or a tight Poodle-like curl. All three shed differently and need different tools to keep them in good condition.
A tight, curly coat traps loose hair and shed undercoat inside the curl rather than letting it fall out, which is exactly why matting builds up so easily if it isn't brushed through regularly and thoroughly, right down to the skin rather than just over the surface.
What tends to work for each coat type
A slicker brush, with fine, closely spaced pins, is generally good at working through loose and wavy coats and lifting shed hair before it mats. For a tighter, curlier coat, a combination of a slicker brush for the surface and a metal comb to check right down to the skin catches tangles a slicker alone can miss.
A deshedding tool or undercoat rake can help on a Labradoodle whose coat leans closer to the Labrador side, where there's more of a true undercoat to manage, but it's less useful on a tighter Poodle-type curl, which doesn't shed the same way.
Building a routine that actually prevents matting
Regular brushing — several times a week for most Labradoodle coats, and closer to daily for a tightly curled one — is what actually prevents the mats that make grooming miserable, rather than any single tool doing the job on its own. Catching tangles early, before they tighten into a mat close to the skin, is far easier than removing one that's already formed.
Areas that move the most and rub against things — behind the ears, under the collar or harness, the armpits and the base of the tail — mat first and fastest on most Labradoodles, and are worth checking specifically rather than assuming a general brush over the body has covered them.
What we stock for this breed
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Ancol Ergo Wooden Handle Slicker Brush
A stainless steel slicker brush on a wooden handle, for short, long, wiry and curly coats
From£6.99
Wahl Competition Series Clipper Blades
High-precision, chrome-plated clipper blades with a rust-resistant finish, available in 17 sizes for every coat type and clipping style.
From£37.99
Ancol Ergo Double Sided Comb
Ancol Ergo Double Sided Comb: a SGL grooming comb for combing the coat
£8.79
Ancol Ergo Grooming Glove
A rubber grooming glove for dogs, for removing loose hair on wet or dry coats
£9.79
Wahl Pet Grooming Scissors with Finger Rest
Stainless steel finishing scissors with ergonomic offset handles — perfect for tidying around eyes, ears, mouth, and paws.
£5.49
Ancol Ergo Universal Slicker
A universal slicker brush for dogs, for coats from smooth to curly
From£6.79
Large Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush for Mats and Tangles
A self-cleaning slicker brush with fine, bead-tipped wire pins that gently lift loose undercoat, mats and tangles from short or long-haired pets. A one-click button releases the collected fur for fuss-free cleaning. Cat-ear shaped design.
£18.99
Slicker Brush for Dogs — Detangling & De-shedding
An ergonomic slicker brush with anti-scratch pins that works through tangles and removes dead hair from top and undercoat.
From£9.99
Groom Professional Curved Soft Slicker Brush
A professional-grade curved slicker brush with soft pins, designed to groom delicate and soft-coated pets without discomfort.
From£8.99
Round-Tipped Deshedding Rake Comb
A double-sided undercoat rake with rounded stainless-steel blades that gently cut through mats and remove loose hair. The non-slip ergonomic handle makes deshedding dogs and cats quick and comfortable.
From£8.99
Self-Cleaning Deshedding Slicker Brush
A deshedding grooming tool for dogs and cats that lifts loose undercoat and eases out tangles, with a self-cleaning button that releases the trapped fur in one press.
£25.99
Common questions
- How often should I brush a Labradoodle?
- Most Labradoodle coats need brushing several times a week, and a tightly curled coat often needs it closer to daily, since curls trap loose hair and mat quickly without regular attention right down to the skin.
- Do Labradoodles need professional grooming as well as home brushing?
- Many owners use a professional groomer every six to eight weeks for a trim and a thorough de-matting check, alongside regular brushing at home in between. How often depends on coat type and how quickly your particular dog's coat grows and tangles.
- What's the difference between a slicker brush and an undercoat rake?
- A slicker brush has fine, closely spaced pins and works well on the surface of most coat types, while an undercoat rake is built to reach through a denser undercoat and pull out loose hair underneath. Which one, or which combination, suits your dog depends on their specific coat type.
- My Labradoodle's coat keeps matting even though I brush regularly — what am I doing wrong?
- Mats often start close to the skin in high-friction spots — behind the ears, under the harness, the armpits — rather than on the surface, so a brush that only skims the top of the coat can miss them. A metal comb used to check right down to the skin in those areas usually catches what a surface brush alone doesn't.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.