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Labradoodle grooming
Labradoodle grooming starts with one question: which coat did yours get?
Labradoodles come in wool, fleece, and hair coats, and each one runs on a different grooming clock. Most need a salon haircut every 6 to 8 weeks. What keeps the coat from matting between those cuts is brushing at home and a proper bath with a full blow-dry. That bath is what we do. The haircut stays with your groomer.
Three coats, three schedules
Find your labradoodle's coat.
Wool coat
Tight, springy curl, closest to a poodle. Sheds almost nothing.
- Haircut
- Every 5 to 8 weeks
- Bath and brush-out
- Every 4 to 6 weeks
- Mat risk
- Highest. Mats at the skin within days of missed brushing.
Fleece coat
Soft, loose wave or spiral. The classic Australian labradoodle coat.
- Haircut
- Every 6 to 8 weeks, or 3 to 4 times a year if kept long
- Bath and brush-out
- Every 4 to 6 weeks
- Mat risk
- Moderate. Fine hair tangles at friction points, especially when long.
Hair coat
Straighter and coarser, closer to a Labrador. Sheds some.
- Haircut
- Often just a tidy-up, if at all
- Bath and brush-out
- Every 8 to 10 weeks
- Mat risk
- Lowest. Sheds instead of matting, so brushing is more about loose hair.
Australian labradoodle lineage and the full coat breakdown are on our labradoodle bathing guide.
Why this coat mats
Low shed means the loose hair stays in the coat.
On a Labrador, dead hair falls out. On a wool or fleece labradoodle it stays put, caught in the curl, and every collar rub, harness strap, and nap on the dog bed twists it into the growing coat. That is a mat: trapped dead hair felted against live hair, usually starting at the skin where you cannot see it.
Labradoodles add one more twist: coat texture is not always even across the dog. Legs, ears, and the face often carry more curl than the back, so an owner who brushes the easy-looking back and skips the legs finds mats exactly where they did not look.
At home, between cuts
The labradoodle brushing routine.
- 1Brush 2 to 3 times a week, more for wool.
A slicker brush worked in layers from the skin outward, then a metal comb through the same area. The comb is the check; if it catches, keep working that spot.
- 2Start where the labradoodle coat changes texture.
Many labradoodles carry a curlier coat on the legs and ears than on the back. The texture seams, where tight curl meets looser wave, tangle first.
- 3Take off the harness before you brush.
A big, bouncy labradoodle often lives in a harness on walks. The straps sit on the armpits and chest, which is where most labradoodle mats start.
- 4Brush before the water, every time.
Water tightens a tangle it lands on. A coat that goes into the tub brushed out comes out of it brushed out.
Between baths
How to clean a labradoodle between baths.
The water dog problem
The Labrador side usually loves water. After a swim, rinse off chlorine, salt or creek water with plain water, then dry fully with a dryer on cool while combing. A labradoodle left to air-dry after a swim is the most common between-bath mat story.
Dirty legs and feet
A paw rinse in a bucket, a towel, and a cool-air dry on the lower legs. Skip shampoo for a quick rinse; the dry and comb are what matter.
Beard and ears
Wipe the beard with a damp cloth and comb it. Check the ears after swims, since floppy ears hold water.
The same logic for every doodle cross is in our doodle grooming between cuts guide.
Our visit
What a labradoodle bath and brush-out with us includes.
- Brush-out before the water, with the comb check.
- Warm bath and conditioner. Hypoallergenic and oatmeal options on request.
- Forced-air dry, brushed straight, down to the skin.
- Nail trim and ear cleaning, included in every wash.
Mini labradoodles usually land at $95; standards over 60 lbs at $115. Flat by size, in our van at your driveway. Details on the doodle bath and brush-out page.
Where we stop
When a labradoodle needs the clippers, not a bath.
Wool coats are the ones most likely to cross the line: a coat that has gone a couple of months without brushing can felt into a solid layer against the skin. No bath fixes that, and forcing a brush through it hurts. If we see it, we tell you before the water goes on, and the next step is a shave-down at your groomer. We can keep the regrowth mat-free from there.
How to tell a workable tangle from a clipper job is in our guide to dematting a dog.
Wool, fleece, or hair: get the schedule for yours.
The schedule builder asks about your labradoodle's coat and turns the right bath and brushing interval into dates.
Build the schedule, freeFrequently asked
Labradoodle grooming questions.
It depends on the coat. Wool coats usually need a haircut every 5 to 8 weeks and a bath every 4 to 6. Fleece coats run on the 6 to 8 week haircut clock, or 3 to 4 trims a year if you keep them long, with the same 4 to 6 week bath. Hair coats may barely need a cut and can stretch baths to 8 to 10 weeks. Your groomer can tell you which coat your dog has in one look.
No. We are wash-only: brush-out, bath, conditioner, full blow-dry, nail trim, and ear cleaning. The haircut stays with your groomer. Our bath slots between their appointments so the coat arrives at the next cut clean and combed out instead of tangled.
Yes. Labradoodle puppies often look fluffy and uniform, and the adult coat that comes in during the first year or so can be curlier, straighter, or a mix. That changeover is a heavy tangling period, because two textures sit in the coat at once. Brush more often during it, and ask your groomer to reassess the coat type afterward.
Usually a little, which is why fleece coats can be kept longer between trims. But long fleece is fine hair, and fine hair tangles at the collar, armpits, and behind the ears just as surely. Easier is not the same as low maintenance.
No. A bath makes existing mats tighter. Small tangles get brushed out before the water; mats that sit tight to the skin need a groomer's clippers first. We check before we wet the coat and tell you if it is a groomer job.
Every breed's bath interval is on the bathing schedule page.
Between the cuts, we keep the coat brushable.
Brush-out, bath, and full blow-dry with nails and ears included, $95 to $115 for most labradoodles, at your driveway.
or text us at (408) 599-8317
Owner-operated · Local service
Hi, I’m Ace.
I run Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash myself — I’m the one who shows up at your door. Every visit is one dog at a time in the van at your curb: warm water, a full brush-out and a proper dry, with no salon drive and no cage waiting. Big dogs, heavy shedders and nervous seniors are the reason this service exists.
Owner-OperatedLarge-Dog FriendlyDe-SheddingSenior & Anxious Dogs
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★★★★★
SUCH a great - and easy! - experience! Asa was immediately responsive (I love when businesses actually answer their phone!), worked Moose in within 24 hours, was communicative throughout, bought unscented products specifically for us, did a great job with my 12 year old doodle … all in all: amazing service!
★★★★★
Ace at Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash was absolutely wonderful with my senior dog. He was so gentle and patient with him, which meant everything to me given his age — I could tell he genuinely cared about his comfort throughout the whole process. Beyond the excellent care, Ace was warm, loving, and clearly an animal lover at heart, while also being completely professional from start to finish. It's rare to find someone who balances that kind of tenderness with real expertise, and my dog came out looking and smelling great without a hint of stress. Highly recommend Ace and Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash.
★★★★☆
Ace was great with my 3 small dogs. They got washed and towel dried, their ears checked, their nails trimmed. One star off because he trimmed one nail too far and it bled for a long time, plus distressed my already anxious dog. Important to know that this service isn't van-based (yet). Ace brings a portable wash station to set up outside. He brings his own water and supplies. He doesn't do any hair cuts, just basic wash and towel dry. I'll call him again in the future!
★★★★★
Ace did a great job with our little old chihuahua mix. Our appointment was for the evening and he came prepared with warm water, and made our sure our dog was comfortable the entire time. Don't let the lack of reviews on yelp scare you away, his prices are good, and he takes time to ensure that good work is done.
★★★★★
He did such an amazing job with my dog! He came out looking so nice, clean, and well-groomed, but what stood out to me most was how happy and comfortable he seemed afterward. You can really tell he was treated with care throughout the entire process. I'm extremely pleased with how everything turned out and would definitely recommend him!
★★★★★
Ace at Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash was absolutely wonderful with my senior dog. He was so gentle and patient with him, which meant everything to me given his age -- I could tell he genuinely cared about his comfort throughout the whole process. Beyond the excellent care, Ace was warm, loving, and clearly an animal lover at heart, while also being completely professional from start to finish. It's rare to find someone who balances that kind of tenderness with real expertise, and my dog came out looking and smelling great without a hint of stress. Highly recommend Ace and Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash. Price is great!
★★★★★
We booked Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash for our 90-lb German Shepherd, Koda, who hates the groomer. Ace parked the van right in our driveway in Willow Glen, walked her up the ramp himself — no lifting, no cage, no other dogs — and I watched the whole wash from my doorstep. Bath, nails, ears, and she came back inside dry and calm. Flat $95 exactly as the website said, no surprise charges. We've already booked next month. 😊❤️
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