Grooming and Matting in the Original Australian doodle compared to Labra and Golden doodles

[Lorraine Bromley]

I am wondering as well what type of grooming is necessary with the Australian labradoodles in comparison to our non shedding doodles. Is the fur thicker in most cases making them harder to groom?

How would any Original Australian doodles comment on their grooming?

This could be a factor in what type of doodle are looking for.

[michele, puddy & milo]

I have an australian labradoodle - but I've only had him a couple months as a rescue. He is 5 and has wavy fleece hair and he definitely mattes. I brush him with a pin brush and cut out mattes as neccesary. My other doodle is really just a poo-mix from a shelter. He has a curly wooly coat and mattes less, at least now that he's 3. It took about that long for all the puppy coat to come out it seems like and now he hardly mattes and I allow his curls to grow out a few inches - very little brushing cause I don't like fuzziness. If he starts to matte, I scissor him down and just start over. Here is the australian doodle:

[Lynda Kamrath]

What a cutie!

[Jeanine Bandini]

He is so handsome! I would have adopted him too!

[Jeanine Bandini]

We have a nonshedding australian labradoodle (4th generation) He is only 7 months old so he hasnt completed his coat change yet (but is in the process!) Right now he seems to have a combo of soft fleecy fur and more course wool-like fur. He has a big stripe down his back of this courser fur! Its quite funny! I cant compare to any other dog because he is our first but I brush and comb him everyother day. He tolerates it well  (using a green les pooch brush and doing it when he is tired!) From what I understand all labradoodles require regular brushing. I would guess that a soft fleecy coat might be easier to maintain (with brushing) but if you have concerns, you can ask the breeder. From what I understand, some breeders actually breed for this (to get puppies with easier coats).

[Carol Brand]

In Poodles, the dogs with the coarser, harsher, curlier coats (what a Doodle person might call wool) are the least likely to mat.  The Poodles with soft or cottony coats mat much more.   Based on reading some groomer forums, Goldendoodles seem to have the hardest to care for coats.  The combination of the Golden's under coat and the curlier Poodle coat makes for the perfect storm in regards to mats. 

[Adina P]

Lorraine, ALD's are not just of 'one type' -- they aren't a dog that breeds 100% true and there are variations in each dog.  Some have thicker coats, some thinner, some loose waves, some tight curls, some coarse 'wool' like curls, others soft fleecy curls.  The breed is STILL in development.

[Adina P]

Here is what I find when I search for "Rutland" which is the place most ALD's ancestors come from" http://www.doodlekisses.com/photo/photo/search?q=Rutland -- you will see their look varies and they are all ALDs

[F, Calla & Luca]

I have two ALDs. Lucas hair is finer and wavier. He is much easier to groom in terms of scissoring but he certainly mats. Calla have very thick slightly wavy hair that is a chore to cut. She mats too. Much of the matting comes, I think from the doodles chewing on each other when playing and from "grooming" themselves. Frankly, my son's standard poodle who came to live with me had much less matting. But he had no other dog to do battle with : )

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

The Australian Labradoodle is a developing breed for sure. There are a lot of variables in the coats. The amount of curl, the thickness of the coat, the texture...ie fine or coarse.  My latest lines have a fraction of the matting that my original dogs had and are starting to breed more true so things are getting better.

[Lorraine Bromley]

I thought that there is no REAL normal hair in the breed yet. But with the new prospective owners looking at the Original aussie doodle I thought I would make sure and help anyone to make decisions. Thanks so much.

[Lynda Kamrath]

I think it depends totally on the dog.  I have a goldendoodle that does not mat at all.  He is very easy to groom and just needs face trims between his regular cuts.  We trim and groom him ourselves.  Now, our Australian Labradoodle is much smaller and mats like crazy.  I am just starting to try cording him and have been letting his hair grow since he was a puppy.  He is starting to have cords on his head and legs.  I am just working on what parts to keep trimmed short and what areas to cord.  This is definitely an interesting topic for me.

[Connie & Kramer]

I have never heard of cording so I just googled it. When my pup needs a bath I always say he looks like he has dreadlocks. I'm going to keep my eye out for this. Do you have a photo?