Barberry Brook Australian Labradoodles

LABRADOODLE CARE

The coat and nails of an Australian Labradoodle require consistent maintenance and monthly grooming for them to look and feel their best. While these grooming requirements might seem daunting, the more understanding of what the Australian Labradoodle needs, the better you’ll be able to care for them. We’ve broken the care of your Australian Labradoodle down into steps, made a grooming ‘How To’ video, and gathered quality resources to help ensure you have the best information to provide fantastic care to your Labradoodle family member.

Grooming Your Australian Labradoodle

This is a basic grooming video for an Australian Labradoodle and an accompanying manual, provided by the Australian Labradoodle Association of America.

TRIMMING YOUR DOGS NAILS

Keeping your Labradoodle’s nails in check can be a daunting task, but it is absolutely necessary. You must trim your dog’s nails on a regular basis, usually once or twice a month. Don’t forget the dewclaws on the inner side of the front paws! They are easily forgotten but must be trimmed like every other nail. If you do not trim them, your dog much more likely to snag them on something and tear them. A torn dewclaw is a very painful thing for your dog and often results in a trip to the vet.

The frequency with which you trim your dog’s nails will vary depending on its lifestyle and activity level. If you are not comfortable trimming or feel unprepared to do so, have a groomer or vet show you how.

EYE CARE

Take these three simple steps to prevent eye infections in your dog. Regular cleaning and care is a must. Keep hair trimmed away from your dog’s eyes using blunt tipped scissors. Hair that rubs against the eye can introduce bacteria, leading to infection.

Keep your dog’s eyes clean by using an eye wash or pads designed to wipe away debris and gunk. Check your dog’s eyes regularly, and schedule an appointment with your vet if you detect any irregularities.

TEETH CARE

Your dog absolutely requires good dental care. Fortunately, preventing oral disease is easy by brushing your dog’s teeth regularly.

Learn more here: TEETH CARE & DENTAL CARE

EXCERCISING YOUR DOG

Dogs need exercise for their physical health and mental well-being. Each dog has different exercise needs, but Labradoodles generally need an hour of physical activity every day. Good options include running, playing a good game of fetch, taking a long walk, or jogging or biking with your dog.

Exercise is paramount for your dog’s health, and is good for the human-dog bond too. If your dog has any pre-existing health issues, discuss your dog’s exercise regimen with your vet. Talk to the vet about what type of physical activity is appropriate at your dog’s age and joint condition. Some exercises can actually harm developing joints.

When exercising your dog, remember:

If your dog is still growing, do not take him or her for long jogs, and definitely do not take him or her with you for a run. Developing joints can be harmed by repetitive motion on hard surfaces.
Avoid exercising in extreme heat. If you plan to take water along for you, remember that your dog will need water, too. If your dog seems tired, discontinue what you are doing and allow him or her to rest.

DOG DIET & HEALTH

Planning your dog’s diet is an important and occasionally challenging decision. Canine health depends on the appropriate balance of nutrients and calories sufficient for prime growth, activity level and cellular repair.

Whether you decide on a dry kibble diet, a raw food diet or a combination of the two, be sure that the diet is complete and balanced. We suggest choosing food with high-quality animal proteins, whole grains and vegetables from organic sources. Avoid foods with unidentified fat or protein sources, byproducts, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, and added sweeteners.

When considering dog foods, don’t forget to look at what’s in those treats you buy for your four-legged friend! Buy healthy, and again, avoid preservatives, fillers or byproducts.