Best Brush for Labradoodles! (2024)

Curly coated, cuddly, and incredibly cute, Labradoodles are the adorable offspring of a Labrador and a Poodle.

This breed has been around since the 1950s but has become increasingly popular in recent years.  

When you look at these hairy hybrids, it’s easy to see why they have become one of the most popular dogs.

Their coat often takes after their Poodle heritage and can be so closely curled as to look like wool.

Often, it hangs around their gorgeous little faces giving them a roguish handsomeness.  

Though not recognized as a breed by any kennel clubs, the Australian Labradoodle Club has created breed standards for the Australian Labradoodle.

These dogs also include Spaniel in their lineage so are slightly different from the ‘standard’ Labradoodle. 

One of the reasons that Labradoodles haven’t been recognized by kennel clubs is the fact that there is quite a bit of variation in this hybrid.

Some take more after their Labrador heritage, others are more like the Poodle parent. 

The major difference between pups that lean toward Labradors and the pups that are more Poodle is their coat. 

Be sure to check with this article on Labradoodle coats to discover the different textures, appearances, and grooming practices you can expect with each type of coat.

These are some of our favorites!

There are three grades of Labradoodle fur: hair, fleece, and wool. We’ll discuss this further in the buyer’s guide.

The key thing to take away here is that your Labradoodle needs some serious and specific grooming to keep them looking pawfect. 

Choosing the right brush for your Labradoodle can be difficult. There are lots of different types and brands available.

Depending on what kind of fur your Labradoodle has, you’ll need a different brush. 

We’ve taken the pain out of brush shopping by gathering together some of the best brushes available.

We’ve highlighted the great things about each brush and trawled through hundreds of reviews so you don’t have to! 

Doodle in need of grooming? Here’s our top pick: Dog Brush Dog Grooming Brush Self Cleaning Slicker Brush and A Metal Comb

• Comb and brush combo. 
• Metal detangling comb with two tine sizes. 
• Self-cleaning. 
• Slicker brush is ideal for Doodles. 
• Ergonomic, rubberized handle for grip and comfort. 
• Brush cover prevents damage to the bristles when storing. 
• Excellent value for money. 

It’s quite common for new owners to have lots of questions about Labradoodle grooming (among other things).

That’s one of the reasons I decided to pack all my personal experience with the breed into one, complete Labradoodle resource – The Owner’s Guide To The Perfect Labradoodle. 

This guidebook is full of all the information I wish I had known from the very beginning.

You’ll find reliable info about training, puppy proofing, grooming, coat types, generations, health issues, and much more in this ultimate guide.

It is the only Labradoodle book you’ll need!

Review of The Best Brush for Labradoodles

#1 Dog Brush Dog Grooming Brush Self Cleaning Slicker Brush and A Metal Comb

A slicker brush and comb combo, this set is ideal for your Doodle’s daily grooming routine. 

The metal comb has two parts. One side has closer set tines. This part can be used to finish off your groom.

The wider side of the comb is ideal for breaking down tangles and knots before using the brush or the narrower end of the comb. 

We like that the whole comb is metal because it is much easier to wash in between uses. However, the downside is that it isn’t the most comfortable thing to hold.

If you’re just using the comb for problem areas, this shouldn’t be too much of a problem. 

The brush has a button that retracts the bristles allowing you to quickly and easily remove trapped fur.

It’s a great system that will save you a lot of time post grooming.

What we like about this set, compared to our other self-cleaning slicker brushes, is that the bristles are long enough to get through a Doodle’s dense fur. 

Likes: 

• Self-cleaning brush. 
• Detangling comb included. 
• Ergonomic, rubberized grip on the brush. 
• Bristle cover prevents damage to the brush between uses. 
• Metal comb is easy to clean and disinfect. 
• Excellent value for money. 

Dislikes: 

• Comb isn’t the most comfortable to hold. 
• Bristles are quite sharp. 

Other Great Brush Options For Labradoodles

Runner-Up: Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush

This is Amazon’s choice for Labradoodle brushes. It has over 36 thousand reviews and is loved by a huge amount of those reviewers. 

So what is so special about this brush? 

Well, the first thing is the fact that it’s a self-cleaning brush. Simply clicking the button retracts the bristles and allows you to wipe the fur away.

This is a great feature and makes cleanup super easy.

It’s a slicker brush which makes it suitable for all kids of Labradoodles. The bristles are bent at the end to help detangle knots.

There are quite a few reviews that claim that this brush helps get mats out of Doodle fur.  

Despite the bristles looking quite short on the product listing, many reviewers are adamant that this brush works wonders on their dense Doodle furs.

One or two do mention the fact that you will need a rake to get through to the undercoat. This is expected, so we’re not seeing this as a negative. 

The handle is rubberized and seems to be comfortable for longer grooming sessions. We like the hanging hole in the handle. It makes storage really easy. 

Likes: 

• Slicker brush. 
• Rubberized handle for grip and comfort. 
• Hanging hole. 
• Self-cleaning brush. 
• Long enough bristles for Doodle fur. 
• Seems to work well on mats as well as daily grooming.

Dislikes: 

• Bristles are quite sharp on sensitive skin.

ARTERO Double Flexible Slicker

The best part of this brush is the flexible head. It is designed to flex around the curves and contours of your dog.

The idea behind this brush is to avoid hurting and scraping your dog’s skin by applying too much pressure.  

Brushes like these have quite prickly bristles that can scratch your dog’s skin when the brush is hard backed.

As well as being flexible, the head is also double-sided. One side, the gray side, is for daily grooming. The black side is for removing mats as the bristles are firmer. 

This is a slicker brush, so it is ideal for all types of Labradoodles.

The bristles are long enough to manage the dense curls of a wool-coated Doodle and firm enough to unknot the free-flowing locks of a hair-coated Doodle. 

Many Doodle owners in the review section sing this brush’s praises.

Many mention the fact that this brush doesn’t tug or pull at their dog’s fur making it a much more comfortable experience. 

Likes: 

• Flexible to avoid scratching the skin.
• Daily grooming and dematting side. 
• Rubberized, comfortable grip. 
• Slicker brush so suitable for your Doodle. 

Dislikes: 

• Some users report that the brush falls apart too quickly. 
• Quite expensive compared to other options. 

FURminator Grooming Rake

This is a rake comb that is used to brush out your Labradoodle’s undercoat. It is not designed for use on their outer coat. 

The brush has a rubber, ergonomic handle that is comfortable and sturdy in the hand. The head is made from heavy-duty plastic and the tines are made from metal.

They are strong and long, which lets you get right through that dense curly fur down to the undercoat. 

The tines rotate to avoid tugging or pulling on the fur. This is particularly important in a rake as it gets so deep in the coat. 

Customers love this thing. The reviews are full of pictures of dogs proudly sitting next to mountains of undercoat that have been removed by this brush.

You really should take a look for yourself.

This rake is perfect for all kinds of Doodles. It gets right down into the undercoat, past all the dense Doodle curls. 

The only issue with this brush is that you’ll need to use a slicker brush to groom their outer coat before you try to tackle the undercoat as diving straight in with this rake will end in tears. 

Likes: 

• Ergonomic, rubber-coated handle for grip. 
• Heavy-duty, rotating metal tines.
• Able to remove masses of dead undercoat in one brushing. 
• Manufacturer guarantee with this product.
• Suitable for all coated Doodles. 
• Rounded tips are gentle on dog’s skin. 

Dislikes

• Not suitable for outer coats.

ShedTitan Self Cleaning Slicker Brush & Dematting Pet Comb Value Kit

The first thing we love about this brush is that it comes with a comb! Two for the price of one is always a bargain.

In this package, you get a self-cleaning slicker brush and a detangling comb.

The slicker brush has a button that when pressed, retracts the bristles. This causes the fur gathered on the brush to fall off.

The comb has two layers of teeth, one longer than the other. The two rows of bristles can remove tangles and knots from both the topcoat and the undercoat.

Customers love the comb. They find that the comb is strong enough to deal with the biggest tangles.

The bristles are far enough apart to work through the coat without pulling on the fur.

The bristles on the brush are slightly short. If your Doodle has very dense fur, then the brush may not be long enough to penetrate to the deeper parts of the fur.

Likes:

• Brush and comb combo.
• Comb has strong, dual height tines for detangling top and undercoats.
• Self-cleaning brush.
• Slicker brush.
• Rubberized grip for comfort.

Dislikes:

• Brush bristles are quite short and may not cope with long or dense fur.

Buyer’s Guide

Here, we’ll give you all the information you need to find the perfect brush for your Labradoodle.

If none of our suggestions tickle your fancy, you can use the information to make the best possible choice for you. 

Labradoodle Fur

Hair 

Dogs with this fur get their coats from their labrador relatives. It tends to be straighter and smoother than other Labradoodles.

Unfortunately, this kind of coat is not hypo-allergenic. It will shed, though less so than a pure Labrador.

You may also notice a doggy smell from your dog from time to time. This smell isn’t necessarily bad.

If you’re used to dogs it will probably smell quite comforting. It’s a product of the oils and scents your dog produces.

The great thing about these kinds of coats is that they are pretty low maintenance, especially when compared to the other Labradoodle coats.

Fleece

Dogs with this coat have DNA from both their Labrador and Poodle relatives. It is usually soft and wavy, often tending towards curls at the ends.

This is the typical shaggy looking Labradoodle fur. Fleece coats don’t tend to shed or smell very much.

Their fur is usually allergy friendly making them ideal dogs for people with fur allergies or people who hate dog fur around the home.

This kind of coat needs brushing weekly to prevent matting. Matting occurs when fur clumps together. It can become so entangled that it needs to be cut out. 

Wool

This is the second most common fur type for Labradoodles. These coats are curly like Poodle fur.

The amount and tightness of the curls depend on the amount of Poodle DNA in the dog.

Wool coats are lovely and soft. They tend to feel similar to lamb’s wool, hence the name.

If you have allergies, this is the ideal kind of dog for you. Their fur doesn’t shed and it is hypoallergenic.

The downside to wool-coated Labradoodles is that they require a lot of grooming to maintain their coat.

You’ll need to brush them daily to avoid matting. Regular trips to the groomers are highly recommended. 

Brushes

There are a couple of different types of brushes out there. Just like human hair, different types of coats need different brushes.

You may need to have a few different brushes to keep your Labradoodle looking perfect. 

Tip: A light application of a detangling conditioner, like the one I use, during brushing will make the grooming experience much more pleasant for you and your dog.

Slicker Brushes 

These brushes have closely placed short, fine wires for bristles. They are perfect for medium to long-haired dogs.

These brushes are also a great choice for curly-haired dogs and are very efficient when it comes to removing smaller mats.

Slicker brushes are the best choice for Labradoodles of all coats.  

Rakes 

These tend to look like old-fashioned razors with a row or two of tightly-spaced pins.

Rakes are designed to remove the dead undercoat of dogs. You’ll need to choose a rake with pins of the same length as your dog’s coat to get to their undercoat.

Labradoodles do tend to develop undercoats thanks to their Labrador DNA. Getting a rake is important to your Labradoodle’s grooming routine.

They don’t shed their undercoats like other dogs so you will need to use the rake to get rid of dead hairs and debris.  

Bristle Brushes

These brushes have small, closely packed, natural bristles. These brushes are used to remove loose hair and stimulate the skin of short-haired dogs.

These brushes are not appropriate for Labradoodles. Their fur is too long and curly to get any benefit from these brushes.  

Pin Brushes 

These are most similar to the hairbrushes humans use. They are usually oval and have fairly spaced out flexible pins.

These brushes don’t really do more than knock loose fur from your dog. They are best used after a full groom to fluff up a coat.  

Combs 

These are exactly like human combs except that they tend to be made of hypoallergenic steel rather than plastic.

For Labradoodles, you’ll want a comb that has long, strong, and fairly evenly spaced tines.

The comb is ideal for grooming more sensitive areas like the face of your Labradoodle. 

If you don’t go with a brush/comb combination pack, you should definitely pick up a comb separately.

This dual-sided stainless steel comb is excellent. It’s actually what I start my grooming routine with on my own Labradoodles.

It easy to work through the fur, great for preventing mats, and the tines aren’t too sharp, so you don’t have to worry about hurting your pup.

Grooming Glove 

If your dog is not keen on being brushed, you could try a grooming glove. This is a rubber glove with rubber bristles on the palm.

It is designed to trick your dog into thinking you’re petting them rather than brushing them.

It’s not an ideal brush for Labradoodles as the rubber bristles aren’t long enough or strong enough to get through the dense, curly Labradoodle coat. 

Features

Some brushes are better than others. Great brushes will have features that make grooming easier for you and your dog.

One thing to look for is a hair removal system. Trying to clean your dog’s fur out of the brush after grooming is an arduous task.

Some brushes are marked as self-cleaning and have a button that pushes the dead fur off the brush.

Look out for brushes with a similar system. This saves you a lot of time and frustration. 

Another thing you’ll want to look out for are flexible, rubber-coated handles.

They make it much easier on your hands and helps you groom all the awkward nooks and crannies. 

Raising a Labradoodle is truly rewarding but often involves a learning curve. Visit our Labradoodle page to access 40+ articles and discover answers to common questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Often Should You Brush a Labradoodle? 

How often you need to brush your Labradoodle depends on the type of coat they have.

Hair-coated Doodles can go a week or two without brushing depending on how dirty they get. 

If your Doodle likes to roll around in the dirt or swim in mucky waters, you’ll want to brush and wash him more frequently to keep him neat and clean.

Fleece-coated Doodles need to be brushed about two to three times a week. Again, if they’re getting themselves dirty and knotted, brush them more frequently. 

Wool-coated Labradoodles are the most high-maintenance in terms of grooming. They generally need brushing daily to keep their coat soft and clean. 

Your weekly or daily grooming should consist of brushing their topcoats and raking their undercoat.

Your Doodle, regardless of coat type, will need bathing about twice a month and fur clipping every six to eight weeks. 

Last update on 2024-04-25 at 02:34 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API