Labradoodle grooming in Brussels: what it involves and what it costs

A Labradoodle needs grooming every 6 to 8 weeks: dry detangling, bath, drying down to the skin, a clipper or scissor cut, then ears, nails and paw pads. WAMI Grooming grooms Labradoodles in all six of its salons, with a price for each size. At WAMI Grooming Uccle, Chaussée de Waterloo 1115, a medium Labradoodle costs from €90 with clippers and from €120 with scissors, for a 90 to 120 minute session. The salon is open every day, 9:30am to 6:30pm. Our Waterloo and Wavre salons, south of Brussels, also welcome Labradoodles, as do our salons in Neupré (near Liège), Ekeren and Veurne. All of them also groom Goldendoodles and Cockapoos.

Why a Labradoodle’s coat tangles so fast

The Labradoodle is a Labrador and Poodle cross, and its coat depends on that mix. Some have a tight, curly wool coat like a Poodle, others a wavy fleece coat, a few a flatter coat like a Labrador. With the first two, the dog sheds very little: dead hair does not fall out, it stays caught in the curl. That is what makes a Labradoodle pleasant to live with, and it is also what causes mats. Behind the ears, under the collar, in the armpits and between the legs, a tangle forms in a few days and tightens with every rub.

Clippers or scissors: two cuts, two budgets

• With clippers, the coat is cut short and even all over. It is the practical cut: it dries fast, brushes easily and stays neat until the next appointment.
• With scissors, the groomer keeps volume and shapes the dog: round head, column legs, the “teddy bear” or “puppy” cut many Doodle owners ask for. It takes longer, so it costs more, and it needs more brushing at home.

If the coat is badly matted, clippers are often the only option that day. The scissor cut comes back once the coat has grown out.

A full Labradoodle groom, step by step

1. Dry detangling. Before the bath: water tightens knots. The groomer works with a slicker brush, then a comb, section by section.
2. Bath with a shampoo made for curly coats, then a detangling conditioner.
3. Blow-drying down to the skin. On a curly coat this is the step that matters most: a half-dried coat tangles again the same day.
4. Cut with clippers or scissors, including around the eyes, the paw pads and the hygiene area.
5. Ears. Doodles’ hairy, floppy ears hold moisture and get infected easily: the groomer cleans them and clears the hair at the entrance of the ear canal.
6. Nails and paw pads to finish.

Prices by size and by salon

Prices “from”, for a full groom. The final price depends on the dog’s exact size and the state of the coat.

Allow from 60 minutes for a mini with clippers to 150 minutes for a large dog with scissors, and up to 180 minutes for a large dog with scissors in Waterloo.

When shaving is the only option

A felted coat, stuck in a mat down to the skin, cannot be detangled. Pulling on it hurts the dog and damages the skin. In that case we shave short under the mat, and the coat grows back in two to three months. The groomer checks the coat before starting and tells you straight away. If you know your dog has a lot of mats, tell the salon when you book.

Between appointments

• Brush two to three times a week with a slicker brush, then go through with a metal comb: if the comb catches, there is still a knot.
• Work layer by layer, lifting the coat, down to the skin. Brushing only the surface leaves the mats underneath.
• Watch the ears, armpits, inner thighs and the space between the toes.
• Dry your dog well after a walk in the rain: a curly coat that stays damp felts faster.

Frequently asked questions

How often should a Labradoodle be groomed?
Every 6 to 8 weeks to keep a neat cut and a tangle-free coat. With a long scissor cut, closer to every 6 weeks.

How much does Labradoodle grooming cost in Brussels?
In Uccle, from €70 for a mini with clippers up to €140 for a large dog with scissors. A bath and dry on its own starts at €60. Prices for the other salons are in the table above.

From what age can a Labradoodle puppy come in?
From 8 weeks, once its vaccinations are up to date. Our 15-minute introduction session, for puppies aged 8 to 16 weeks, gets it used to the dryer noise, the table and being handled, before its adult coat grows in.

Do you also groom Goldendoodles and Cockapoos?
Yes, in all six salons. Their coat is groomed the same way as a Labradoodle’s, and the price depends on the salon and the cut you choose.

How long does a session take?
From 60 to 150 minutes depending on the dog’s size and the cut you choose, and up to 180 minutes for a large dog with scissors in Waterloo.

Book in Uccle

WAMI Grooming Uccle, Chaussée de Waterloo 1115, 1180 Uccle. Open every day, 9:30am to 6:30pm. Book online on the WAMI Grooming Uccle salon page or through make an appointment. Our salons in Waterloo, Wavre, Neupré, Ekeren and Veurne also welcome Labradoodles, with their own prices.