Labradoodle Puppy Care and Grooming

GENERAL PUPPY CARE AND GROOMING

 

Proper grooming is an important part of pet care. It not only makes a companion animal look better, but contributes to his or her physiological and psychological health. Follow this guide on caring for your Australian Labradoodle puppy. If you have any specific questions that aren’t answered on this page or our Frequently Asked Questions page, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

 

Puppies

Like children, puppies have short attention spans. They will require some special attention. Select a time when the puppy is less energetic, such as after eating or playtime. Begin with short grooming sessions, five minutes or so each. Constantly talk to your puppy in a gentle, reassuring tone while grooming to make him feel comfortable. Be sure to check his ears, paws, teeth and underside during the grooming. This will, in time make him accustomed to being handles and examined. Eventually he will be quote comfortable being groomed and will look forward to these sessions with you.

 

Coat

Brush your pet thoroughly everyday. This helps keep his or her hair in good condition by removing dirt, spreading the natural oi;s throughout the coat, preventing tangles from forming and keeping the skin clean and free from irritation. The best brush used for a Labradoodles coat is a medium sized slicker brush. It is also good to have a pin brush and a universal slicker as well. You can also get a mat splitter to have on hand. As they get older, they will grow more coat. It is best to start with the wider pinned slicker and then use the closer pinned slicker. Brush up, down and sideways until there is no congestion or mats in the hair. Practice will help or ask a local groomer for tips.

It is best to start brushing your pet at an early age, but do not despair if he or she is an older animal. It is possible to train any pet to enjoy grooming. Proceed slowly, and be sure to use treats and plenty of praise to make the experience fun and enjoyable.

 

Bathing

Bathe your puppy once every two months or more often as needed. Be sure to brush him or her before each bath in order to get all of the mats out of the coat.

Place a rubber mat or slip resistant surface in your bathtub or a towel in your sink for smaller dogs, to give your pet a secure footing. Then place cotton balls in each ear to prevent water from entering the ear. Rinse your puppy with warm water. Use a spray hose if one is available, holding the nozzle as close to the dogs body as possible. Never spray him or her in the face. Apply a shampoo designed especially for pets in small amounts, working from the head to the tail.

Be sure to clean the rectum, between the toes, behind the ears and under the chin. Try to avoid getting shampoo or irritants in you puppy’s eyes. Thoroughly rinse your puppy with warm water and dry them with a towel or hair dryer until completely dry.

 

Nails & Paws

Trim your pets nails about once per month. You’ll need a clipper designed specifically for the kind of companion animal you have. Either a scissor or guillotine style clipper can be used. You should also purchase a small bottle of blood clotting powder.

Have your pet sit beside you. Then place one of his or her paws in your hand and gently pull it forward. If your pet dislikes being handled this way, slowly get them accustom to it by offering treats and praise. Gradually shorten one nail. Be sure to stop before you reach the quick, which is part of the nail that contains nerves and blood vessels. If you cannot see the quick clearly, stop cutting just behind the point at which the nail begins to curve downward.

If you cut into the quick, don’t panic. Put some clotting powder on a moist cotton swab and press it firmly against the nail for several seconds. Repeat the process until all of your companion animal’s nails have been trimmed. Do not forget to trim the dewclaw, which is located on the inside of each front leg just above the paw (some dogs do not have dewclaws).

Keep between the toes and on the bottom of the feet trimmed to avoid problems. Regular daily brushing is recommended, along with professional grooming at approximately six to eight week intervals. Grooming should include the hair on the leg trimmed to reach just above the floor and not allowing the trimmed toes to be exposed. Don’t trim the legs short in a poodle cut, but let the leg coat fall back over the trimmed feet. If a short clip is desired, we recommend a 3/4″ on the body and 1″ on the head and legs.

 

Ear Care

Ear care is an important part of grooming. Ear infections can not only be painful, but leas to permanent hearing loss. The signs of a problem with a companion animal’;s ears include redness, constant scratching, head shaking and odor.

Check your animal’s ears twice per month. The skin inside and on the flaps should be pale pink. For general cleaning, moisten a cotton ball with warm water or a little mineral oil and use it to clean the opening into the canal and the flaps. Do not probe too deeply into the ear canal. If there is a foul odor and/or and red, brown or black skin, have a veterinarian examine your pet’s ears.

To prevent ear problems, the hair under the ear (where the ear lays on the cheek) should be kept cut very short to allow for air circulation to the ears. If hair is heavy in the ear canal, it may be necessary to pluck the hairs out. Once per month the ears should be cleaned with a canine ear wash solution or weekly with a good ear cleaner. Wipe the ear canal dry with a cotton ball. Don’t wait until problems occur to properly care for your dogs ears.

 

Teeth

Companion animals can get cavities and develop periodontal disease, so their teeth should be cleaned with pet toothpaste at least twice per week. It is best to use a small toothbrush that has soft bristles. Cleanings performed by a veterinarian may also be required periodically.