How to Brush Your Labrador Retriever

Grooming Instructions

Proper grooming is important for your Labrador Retriever. Below are the steps to brush your dog:

Recommended Brushes:

slicker brush, undercoat rake, and deshedding tool (optional)

Brushing Instructions:

The Labrador Retriever has a short, dense, double coat that is water repellant. Even though their hair is short they can shed quiet often. They also blow their coats when the temperature changes in the spring and fall making brushing during these times extremely important. Since they have a double coat it is important to use both a slicker brush for the top coat and a undercoat rake for the under coat. First begin with the undercoat rake. Brush with the grain of the hair and remove any loose undercoat fur. Be sure to not apply too much pressure when using the rake, as undercoat rakes can poke your dog if used harshly. Then use a slicker brush to remove the remaining loose fur on the surface of your top. Again brush with grain of the hair, and work slowly to brush the dog’s entire body. When brushing, make sure to brush areas where matting can occur such as in the joints or on the belly. During shedding season you may find it helpful to use a deshedding tool such as a shedding blade or furminator. To use the shedding blade stroke the dog from head to tail going with the grain of the hair. The blade should collect any remaining loose hair on your dog. It’s important to note that most deshedding tools will only work on the very surface of your dog’s coat and using the undercoat rake and slicker brush is crucial to preventing shedding and keeping your dog clean.

Recommended Brushing Frequency:

Labrador Retrievers typically do not require as frequent grooming as some other breeds due to their short coat, but regular brushing helps keep your dog clean. A weekly brushing should suffice for most labradors, but you may want to brush more often during shedding season.