Labrador Retriever
The Labrador is one of Australia's most common dogs. The coat is short. It is also double. That means a soft layer underneath that lets go twice a year. Most Labradors come in for a wash and a deshed every ten weeks.
- Coat type
- Short Double
- Groom every
- 10 weeks
- Brushing at home
- Line brush twice a week
- Shedding
- Steady all year, then heavy twice a year
- Watch for
- Wet ears after swimming
- Time in the salon
- About 45 minutes for a Luxe Wash and Dry
Where the coat comes from
A Labrador has two coats in one. The top hair is short, thick and a bit oily. Under it sits a soft layer that keeps the dog warm and cool. Dogs NSW says a Labrador on good food needs only two or three good brushings a week. That holds until the soft layer lets go. Then the hair comes out in handfuls for a few weeks.
Why ten weeks
Ten weeks suits most Labradors. A Labrador does not need a haircut. It needs the loose hair lifted out and washed away. A warm bath loosens it. A proper dry blows it out. Labrador ears hang down, so they hold water and warm air. PetSure lists ear infections as a common and costly problem in adult dogs. We dry the ears and tell you what we see. Anything sore goes to your vet.
We do not shave a Labrador. The double coat keeps heat out as well as in. Shaved hair may not grow back the same.
Home care between grooms
- Line brush twice a week. Lift the coat clear with one hand and take one thin line at a time, starting at the skin. Brushing over the top misses the loose hair underneath.
- Do the back legs, the tail and the ruff. That is where the loose hair sits deepest.
- Dry the ears after every swim. In summer, walk early and late. Heat is hard on a big dog with a double coat.
Line brushing, shown by iGroomHub, our partner. This is how our groomers brush, and it is the way to do it at home.
What you need at home
- Undercoat rake
Pulls out the soft layer underneath. That is the hair that ends up on your floor.
- Slicker brush
This is the brush you line brush with. Follow it with the comb.
- Shampoo and conditioner
A proper wash loosens the dead hair so the dry can lift it out. Our range is made with chemists: 100% natural, vegan and palm oil free.
What we do for Labradors at WOOOF
Most Labradors book a Luxe Wash and Dry with Deshedding. That is a bath, a deep dry, ears, nails and a full deshed. It runs about 45 minutes. The deshed is the part that matters. It is how we get the loose hair out without ever shaving the coat. Ask us in spring and autumn, when the drop is heaviest.
What a Labrador Retriever groom costs
Set to a large dog with a short double coat. That is where most Labradors sit. Change it if yours is smaller or bigger than average.
Showing the lowest prices, for a large dog with a short double coat. Pick your dog’s weight and coat to see their price.
Add to any service
- Teeth Brush$30
- Nail Trim$25
- Nail filing$15
- DemattingFrom $34quoted on arrival
- DesheddingFrom $34quoted on arrival
Specialist grooming and programmes
Grooming that is priced after a conversation, a consultation, a coat assessment or a programme rather than a standard slot.
Happy Puppy Club
Short, positive sessions that teach a puppy the salon is a good place, so their whole grooming life is easier. Start any time from their first vaccinations.
See how the club works →
Spa treatments
Hydrospa and therapeutic treatments for coat, skin and muscular health, for itchy skin, dull coats, and older dogs who feel their walks the next day.
Browse treatments →
Hand stripping
Terriers and Spaniels whose coats are better hand stripped, or stripped and clipped. Duration and price depend on the coat.
Talk to our team →
Asian freestyle groom
Soft, sculpted, toy-like styling by an award-winning stylist: rounded faces, fuller legs, even braids. For smaller dense or curly coats groomed every 4 weeks.
Talk to our team →Cancellations and late arrivals
Please give us 24 hours if plans change. Arriving more than 15 minutes late may mean we cannot finish the groom booked.
Safe handling fee
A $30 safe handling fee applies where a dog needs two groomers or extra time to stay safe and comfortable. We always call you first.
Ready when you are
You’re 2 minutes away from happiness. Our booking portal helps you select the right services for your dog and shows you live calendar availability.
Book nowService prices are a starting point. The exact price is confirmed at drop-off, based on grooming time, coat condition, size and any extra handling. Add-on prices are exact.
Common questions
How often does a Labrador Retriever need grooming?
Every ten weeks for most Labradors. The coat is short, so there is nothing to cut, but the soft layer underneath needs washing and deshedding on a schedule.
Do Labradors shed a lot?
Yes. A short coat sheds just as much as a long one, and twice a year it comes out in handfuls. Brushing twice a week and a deshed every ten weeks keeps most of it out of the house.
Where this comes from
Dogs NSW, Labrador Retriever. A Labrador "really only needs two or three good brushings per week to keep it looking smart".
Tripovich and others, Feeling the heat, Australian Veterinary Journal, 2025. A study of NSW dogs from 1997 to 2017. Deaths rose about 0.6% for each degree above 25°C, and 9.5% on days over 32°C. A double coat and a body weight over 15 kg were listed among the things that raise the risk.
RSPCA Australia, Why and how should I groom my dog? Brush knots out before they turn into mats.
PetSure, Pet Health Monitor 2026. Ear infections in adult dogs cost $473 on average to treat.
WOOOF groomers are not vets. We tell you what we see on the table and send you to your vet. Nothing here is vet advice.