Guide
Doodle Grooming: Labradoodles, Goldendoodles and Matting
Doodle grooms cost £60 to £75, the middle half of 32 published prices, take two and a half to four hours for a large dog, and need repeating every 6 to 12 weeks. Fleece and wool coats mat fastest.
How often does a doodle need grooming?
Every 6 to 12 weeks for a full groom, at the shorter end for a long or woolly coat, with brushing to the skin at home several times a week. Where groomers publish a labradoodle, goldendoodle or other doodle price, the middle half is £60 to £75, from 32 prices checked in October 2026; a large dog in a long coat costs more. A large doodle can take two and a half to four hours on the table, most of it bathing and drying.
Why do doodles mat so easily?
Most doodles have a fleece or wool coat from the poodle side: hair that keeps growing and holds loose hair rather than dropping it. That loose hair tangles with the growing coat at friction points, under the collar and harness, behind the ears, in the armpits and between the back legs. A coat can look full and soft on the surface while matted tight to the skin underneath.
What does a groomer do with a matted doodle?
If the mats are light, the groomer brushes them out, at extra cost for the time. If they are tight to the skin, most groomers will clip the coat short under the mats instead. Brushing out heavy matting hurts, takes hours, and can leave the skin sore. A short clip grows back in a few months, and the coat can be kept longer from then on with regular brushing.
How long does a doodle groom take?
Plan for two to three hours for a miniature or medium doodle and three to four hours for a large standard doodle in a full coat, longer if there is matting. Drying is the longest step: a thick fleece coat must be dried straight from the skin out before it can be scissored evenly. Many salons book large doodles as their first dog of the day for this reason.
Which doodles cost most to groom?
Size and coat length decide it. Standard and large goldendoodles, Bernedoodles and labradoodles in a long coat are at the upper end of the range, because drying alone can take over an hour. Miniature doodles and those kept in a short clip cost less. Ask for the price for your dog's current coat, not the breed in general.
What helps at home?
A slicker brush and a metal comb, used in sections down to the skin. Take the harness off between walks, dry the coat after rain or swimming (damp coats mat faster), and book the next groom when you collect from the last one.
Common questions
How much is a labradoodle groom?
The middle half of 32 published doodle full groom prices is £60 to £75 (October 2026), depending on size and coat.
Why did the groomer shave my doodle?
Usually because the coat was matted close to the skin. Clipping under the mats is kinder than brushing them out.
Do doodles need hand stripping?
No. Their coat is clipped and scissored, not stripped.