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Care for your Coton de Tulear
How To Care For Your Coton Ball From Day One
Just like us, the better your pup feels, the better behaved they will be! We know caring for a new dog can feel daunting, but with a few good resources and some practice, you’ll settle into a comfortable routine in no time. We’ve curated the following information and resources to help you keep your pup looking and feeling great from the moment you bring them home!
Brushing
While you don’t have to lint roll your sweater constantly, you do need to regularly brush your Labradoodle’s coat to prevent matting and keep it looking beautiful. The sooner you start brushing your pup, the sooner they’ll get used to the feel of the brush and come to enjoy sitting or lying patiently while you do so.
Tips For Brushing
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Slicker brushes work best. We use Chris Christensen slicker brushes!
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Brush to the skin, working from under the coat.
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Work from the feet up to the body, and the tail to the head.
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Brush in the direction of the hair, but add small amounts of coat to each stroke.
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At approximately eight months old, a dog’s coat needs very regular brushing to strip out the puppy coat so it doesn’t tangle and get matted in the newly forming adult coat.
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​​If you prefer a long coat, you’ll need to do a full comb out at least once a week to ensure that matts don’t build up (approx. 5-10 minutes per brushing).
Grooming
In addition to at-home brushing, it’s also important to find a good groomer. Ideally, you’ll want to find someone with experience grooming Australian labradoodles and/or someone who is willing to accommodate your dog’s unique needs.
Tips For The Groomer
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Make sure to have the groomer only scissor-cut the face area—NEVER allow them to shave the face, snout, or around the eyes (unless you want your doodle to walk out looking like a poodle!). The snout and beard should be evenly trimmed with the rest of the face.
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The body can be trimmed shorter or left longer depending on your lifestyle preferences, but never trim it shorter than a five blade. Even if the body is trimmed shorter, the head should be left shaggy and blended with scissors into the back of the neck.
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To help eliminate knots in the movement areas like arm, leg, pits, or privates, you can have them trim a bit shorter in those spots.
Helpful Grooming Resource
This helpful video from the Australian Labradoodle Association of America demonstrates how to groom your Australian Labradoodle.
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