When Do Labradoodles Lose Their Puppy Coat?

When do Labradoodles lose their puppy coat? Losing a puppy coat is a gradual process that can take up to a year and a half.

It will often start at around six months of age, but the exact age will vary from one Doodle pup to another.

A Labradoodle puppy coat is finer, softer, and thinner than an adult coat. But, adult Labradoodle coats can vary from a wool or fleece type to a hair type.

When Do Labradoodles Lose Their Puppy Coat? And Other FAQs

You can jump straight to the answers by clicking the links below.

• When do Labradoodles lose their puppy coat?
• What is a Labradoodle puppy coat like?
• Are Labradoodle puppy coats hypoallergenic?
• What’s an adult Labradoodle coat like?
• Are Labradoodle adult coats hypoallergenic?
• How do you know when your Labradoodle is losing their puppy coat?
• Why does it take so long for Labradoodles to lose their puppy coat?
• How can you manage a shedding puppy coat?

What’s cuter than an adult Labradoodle? A Labradoodle puppy! Partly thanks to that gorgeous fluffy coat.

When do Labradoodles Lose their Puppy Coat?

Labradoodles don’t lose their puppy coats all at once. It is quite a gradual process.

The process typically starts around 6 months of age. But, it can take up to a year and a half to complete.

This may not be great news if you or someone else in your family suffers from dog allergies.

But, as long as your Labradoodle grows up to have a fleece or wool coat, you will have less shed fur to clean once the puppy coat has fully shed and the adult coat grows in.

What is a Labradoodle Puppy Coat Like?

The Labradoodle puppy coat is a lot different to all adult varieties.

Puppy coats are always single layer.

You can expect your Labradoodle’s puppy coat to be softer, finer, and thinner than their adult coat, no matter which type their adult coat turns out to be.

Are Labradoodle Puppy Coats Hypoallergenic?

Labradoodles are the original so-called “hypoallergenic” dog breed.

After their creation, the resulting demand for an allergy-friendly dog catapulted Labradoodles to worldwide fame. It also led to the development of many other hybrid dog breeds.

The truth is, there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog. So, Labradoodle puppy coats cannot be hypoallergenic.

It simply isn’t possible, since the aggravating protein allergen is present in a dog’s skin, saliva, and urine, not in their hair.

So, your Labradoodle puppy coat will not catch any falling dander. Allergens could still find their way onto other objects in your home.

It’s true that adult Labradoodle coats can trigger fewer allergy symptoms than other dog coats, but they are not hypoallergenic. And, their shedding puppy coats could aggravate your allergies.

What’s an Adult Labradoodle Coat Like?

It’s hard to know which type of adult coat your Labradoodle puppy will grow up to have.

Adult Labradoodles can have one of three coat types:

• Hair coat – will shed moderately all year, and heavily during shedding seasons
• Fleece coat – will shed lightly to moderately, varies from one Doodle to the next
• Wool coat – does not shed visibly, but hair sheds into the surrounding coat, which can cause painful knots if not groomed properly

Influence from Parent Breeds

Labradoodles come from a long line of working dogs; primarily the Labrador Retriever and the Standard Poodle.

Labrador Retrievers typically have a double coat. Their fur has an insulating under-layer and a protective outer-layer which helps them in their working roles.

The Poodle, on the other hand, is one of the rare working breeds with a single layer coat.

So, depending on which parent your Labradoodle puppy takes after, they may inherit the Poodle’s single layer coat, or the Labrador’s double coat once their puppy coat sheds.

Are Adult Labradoodle Coats Hypoallergenic?

Just like the puppy coat, an adult Labradoodle coat cannot be hypoallergenic, as it isn’t the fur that contains the allergens.

But, when a dog sheds less, there is less contact with the aggravating protein in your dog’s dander, or dead skin flakes.

The fleece type of adult Labradoodle coat will often be best for individuals that suffer from allergies. But, this will still need regular grooming to control shedding dander.

And, regardless of which adult coat your Doodle has, your dog will still need to shed out their puppy coat first.

Their adult coat doesn’t impact how long this process will take.

How Do You Know When a Labradoodle Puppy is Losing Their Coat?

It’s highly likely that you will notice when your Labradoodle puppy starts the process of losing their puppy coat.

Suddenly, you will find tufts and clumps of shed dog hair everywhere, where before there was none.

This can start as early as six months. So, watch out for shed fur from this age.

But, don’t panic if your puppy doesn’t start shedding right at the six month mark.

It could start anywhere from six to nine months, or even slightly outside of this range.

Why Does it Take so Long for Labradoodles to Lose their Puppy Coat?

When your Labradoodle first starts losing their puppy coat, you’ll notice wisps and then clumps of shed hair.

The puppy coat has to be completely shed out to allow the adult coat to grow in. But, the coat won’t shed out all at once.

That would leave your Labradoodle defenseless against pests, the elements, and injury.

Instead, their coat will shed in stages, over time. This is why it can take up to a year and a half for the puppy coat to fully shed out and the adult coat to fully grow in.

The Changes You’ll See

You may see longer, courser hairs start to appear through the puppy coat or in places where the puppy coat has already fallen out.

Depending on the adult coat your Labradoodle inherits, these hairs may be long and straight (hair coat), long and loosely curly (fleece coat), or short and tightly curled (wool coat).

In most cases, a Labradoodle will have fully lost their puppy coat and grown into their adult one between the ages of 12 and 15 months.

But, there is no exact timer that buzzes the moment this process is finished.

When your puppy stops shedding out the thin, fine puppy coat hairs and the coat looks thick and full, it’s likely the shedding out process is complete.

How to Manage a Shedding Puppy Coat

You should not shave or clip the puppy coat. But, some veterinarians may be happy for you to cut it short with scissors, to keep your cleaning schedule for shed fur a little more manageable.

It’s a good idea to gently groom your Labradoodle a few times a week when they are shedding their coat.

Not only will this help you to gather and remove shed fur before it goes all over your floor, but it will also familiarise your Labradoodle with the grooming process.

All three types of adult Labradoodle coat require regular grooming.

So, it’s important that puppies are happy and used to grooming sessions from a young age.

When Do Labradoodles Lose Their Puppy Coat?

Are you dealing with a shedding puppy coat right now? Or maybe you’re just wondering what you can expect over the next few months!

We would love to hear about your experiences with the Labradoodle puppy coat in the comments.

Related Articles

• Labradoodle Puppy Growth

References and Resources

• Derwey, M. A. ‘The Labradoodle Coat’, Gorgeous Labradoodles (2021)
• Lauderdale, M. ‘Labradoodle Coat and Color Guide’, Lauderdoodles (2017)
• Sullivan, R. ‘Labradoodle Creator Says He Created a Frankenstein Monster’, CNN (2019)
• Dean, C. ‘About Coats’, Southern Charm Labradoodles (2017)
• McEwing, A. ‘Frequently Asked Questions About Australian Labradoodles’, Australian Labradoodle Association of America (2021)