My Favorite Grooming Tools For Labradors

Using proper grooming tools will have a direct impact on both the look and overall health of your Lab. Failure to properly care for your Labs coat can create significant issues for both dog and owner!

I have put together a list of products/tools that I believe every Lab owner should have. My recommendations are based purely on value, so you won't find the cheap stuff here. However, I'm not here to try to push $700 vacuums when my experience tells me that a $200, 2 generations outdated, Dyson works perfectly fine!

As I find new tools that I think work better, I'll be sure to update them below.

Brushes

There are many dog brushes out there that can reduce dog shedding. FURminator is a brand that continues to be dependable and effective for dog owners, especially Lab owners. FURminator has a brush(click to check pricing on Amazon) that is specifically meant for short-hair breeds, and their slicker brushes are great at removing dead hair and distributing oils throughout the dog’s coat. Brushes for short-hair breeds remove the dead hair that builds up and eventually ends up around your home and on your clothes.

A shedding blade is another great tool to help with shedding. Performing a nice brush with a shedding blade prior to bathing will help with loose hair removal and allow the shampoo to penetrate the Lab's double coat.

Shampoos

There are many kinds of dog shampoo that protect a dog’s coat and prevent shedding. Some dogs are allergic to different kinds of shampoo and may start to have dry skin or unwanted odor after bathing.

Luckily many brands like have natural shampoo solutions particularly for these common issues--they sell a hypoallergenic shampoo, a deodorizing shampoo, and a shampoo specifically to help minimize shedding.

Pet Oatmeal Anti-Itch Shampoo & Conditioner (Amazon) is highly rated and is an all-natural solution for dry, itchy skin, which does not include any soap that could cause allergic reactions. These types of shampoo are worth looking into depending on the specific needs of your Lab.

Burt's Bees Oatmeal Dog Shampoo with Colloidal Oat Flour and Honey (Amazon) is also a great shampoo to leave the coat smelling great.

Vacuums

When it comes to vacuums, I actually recommend both a robotic vacuum as well as a manual full sized one. If you want to stay on top of hair buildup, then you absolutely need to have a robotic vacuum that will run daily. The amount of hair that mine picks up every single day is astonishing.

Of course, the robotic ones can't get to every little space, so supplementing with a manual vacuum on a weekly basis seems to be beneficial.

Robotic

If your budget prevents you from picking up both, I would absolutely get the robotic one first. I'm a big fan of the ILIFE V9e that I got off of Amazon. It works perfectly and was a fraction of the cost of a Roomba.

The ILIFE V9e Pro Robotic Vacuum is a standout product that’s designed specifically to pick up unwanted pet hair around the house. This automatic vacuum can work while you’re gone, and can get under the bed or sofa—places where you may avoid cleaning for dog hair.

Other benefits of this vacuum and similar models are thatthey:

• are self-charging
• are programmable/have auto-clean settings
• have sensors to avoid crashing into furniture orequipment
• come with remote control
• can work on hard floors or carpet

The cleanup with this product is easy: you just empty the full dust box and clean the filter after each use. The ILIFE brand recommends that you replace the filter every month or so. Click here for current Amazon pricing.

Full size manual

To make the hair cleanup process even easier, try investingin a full-power vacuum cleaner that’s cordless. This way, you won’t get caughtup in the lengthy cords and will be able to get under furniture with ease.

These vacuums can also make it easy to reach the ceiling and other hard-to-reach high places as well. We all know that dog hair can build up around vents, so this is a great option to be able to vacuum those troublesome high places.

The Dyson V11 Animal Cordless Vacuum Cleaner is a great option if you have hard floors or carpets with lots of Lab hair buildup. It’s lightweight and cordless, and can be used on a variety of surfaces throughout the home. It’s just as powerful as bigger vacuum cleaners with its powerful interior motor, and is lightweight.

Handhelds

Another must-have product is a good handheld vacuum cleaner. These are great because you can use them on furniture or in small crevices that a big vacuum can’t reach. They usually come with several attachments as well so that you can adapt their use to multiple areas of the home.

One great product is the Shark Cordless Pet Perfect Lithium-Ion (LV801) Handheld Vacuum. This versatile product has an easy-to-grip handle and different attachments depending on the type of area you need to clean, including a crevice tool that can fit in lots of small places, like hard-to-reach corners or crevices between the wall and furniture. It features a lithium-ion battery and is cordless, so you can carry it around the house without worry that the power will die quickly.

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