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The Labrador's short double coat is low-maintenance in terms of styling but a heavy shedder, so de-shedding is the focus rather than clipping or trimming. The coat is dense and water-resistant by design and should never be shaved. Regular de-shedding baths and weekly brushing keep loose hair and the famous 'Lab smell' under control.
Coat group
Double-coated
Shedding
High
Difficulty
Easy
Typical cost
$90–$120 de-shedding bath in SEQ
Professional grooming
De-shedding bath every 6–8 weeks; not clipped
At-home brushing
Brush 1–2 times a week, daily during seasonal sheds
Coat type: Short, dense, water-resistant double coat with a soft insulating undercoat.
Don't be fooled by the short coat — Labradors are double-coated and shed prolifically, with two heavier 'coat blow' periods a year on top of steady year-round shedding. The soft undercoat is what comes out in handfuls. Regular brushing with a de-shedding tool or rubber curry removes the loose undercoat before it ends up over your floors and furniture.
Because the coat is short and tidy by nature, Labs need no clipping or scissoring — there's no style to maintain. The professional service that helps most is a de-shedding bath: a deep clean with a de-shedding shampoo and conditioner followed by a high-velocity blow-dry that blasts out the loose undercoat. Done every couple of months, it dramatically cuts the amount of hair shed at home.
The coat carries natural oils that make it water-resistant, which is part of why Labs can have a distinctive doggy odour, especially if they swim a lot. Regular bathing manages this, but over-bathing can strip those protective oils, so a balance is best. Labs are also prone to ear issues given their love of water — ears should be checked and dried after swims.
De-shedding bath and blow-out
The core service for the breed — de-shedding shampoo, conditioner and a high-velocity dry that clears the loose undercoat. No cutting involved.
Bath and tidy
A clean-up bath with nail trim, ear clean and trimming of any stray hair around the feet — keeps the dog fresh without altering the natural coat.
Weekly brushing with a de-shedding tool plus a professional de-shedding bath every six to eight weeks makes the biggest difference. The high-velocity dry at the salon clears out far more loose undercoat than brushing alone, especially during the twice-yearly heavy sheds.
No. Shaving doesn't reduce shedding meaningfully and removes the coat's insulation and sun protection. The double coat helps keep Labs cool in summer too — de-shedding, shade and water are the right approach for the SEQ heat.
Some of it is the natural oils that waterproof the coat, and swimming makes it worse. Regular but not excessive bathing helps; if the smell is strong or comes with itching, check the ears and skin, as infections are common in water-loving Labs and may need a vet.
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🐾 Find a groomer near youThis guide is general grooming information only and is not a substitute for advice from a professional groomer or veterinarian. Coat care needs vary between individual dogs.