Labrador
PIPPA
Labrador Retrievers may have short coats, but their dense, weather-resistant undercoat can make bathing, drying and deshedding surprisingly time-consuming. Regular coat maintenance helps remove loose hair, maintain skin and coat condition, and manage shedding.
In this two-part demonstration, Jess takes Pippa the Labrador through her regular bath and deshed service, from assessing the coat and working through two shampoos and conditioner to drying and removing the remaining loose undercoat.
PART 1
Jess begins by assessing Pippa's coat before taking her into the hydrobath for two thorough shampoos. She demonstrates how to work water and shampoo through a Labrador's dense coat, paying attention to the skin, feet, tail and areas where dirt and loose hair can accumulate.
Jess then works conditioner through Pippa's coat with a rubber curry brush, helping loosen and release dead undercoat before the final rinse. It's a useful demonstration of how much deshedding can be accomplished during bathing, before the dryer is even switched on.
PART 2
Jess begins drying Pippa in the bath before moving her to the grooming table, using a high-velocity dryer to work through her dense undercoat. Although Labradors have relatively short outer coats, drying can take considerably longer than their appearance might suggest.
Once Pippa is dry, Jess uses a rubber curry brush to remove the remaining loose coat, particularly around her thighs and rear. Pippa isn't comfortable having her head fully dried with the dryer, so Jess finishes that area with a towel instead. It's a good example of adjusting the finishing process to suit the individual dog rather than insisting on completing every step in the usual way.
