Labrador grooming Berlin: shedding, brushing and bath

A Labrador usually needs brushing once a week at home, and daily combing during heavy moulting. Their short double coat isn't clipped. Here at GroomRoom in Berlin Charlottenburg, we brush out the loose undercoat and wash it away during the bath, Tuesday to Saturday by appointment. The Mini Groom with a wash, blow-dry and comb starts at 59 €. For large dogs, our booking system schedules up to 180 minutes so your Labrador can take breaks.

How is a Labrador's coat structured?

The Labrador Retriever has a short double coat made of two layers with different jobs. On the outside is the topcoat, also known as guard hair: strong, longer hairs that repel dirt and water. Underneath sits the undercoat, a soft, dense layer of shorter hairs close to the skin.

The undercoat keeps the body warm in the colder months. In warm weather, it traps cooler air close to the skin. The topcoat sheds less often than the undercoat and gives the dog much of its colour.

The Labrador Retriever Club describes the coat as short, dense and weather-resistant. That's exactly why it doesn't need clipping or hand-stripping. It does need regular brushing, though, otherwise the undercoat gets stuck in the topcoat.

When do Labradors shed the most?

A Labrador sheds its coat in clumps twice a year. For dogs with seasonal shedding, the heaviest phase is usually in spring and autumn. In spring, the thick winter coat falls out, and in autumn, lighter hair makes way for denser insulation.

Shedding is mainly triggered by daylight and temperature. A shedding phase usually lasts a few weeks to two months. Dogs that spend a lot of time indoors in artificial light often shed a little throughout the year.

More hair on the sofa and floor is normal during these weeks. You'll need to groom your dog more often for a while. We explain how to remove old fur from dogs with an undercoat in our guide Dog shedding: how to properly remove the undercoat.

How often should you brush a Labrador?

Brush your Labrador once a week outside of shedding season; this is usually enough for a well-kept coat. During heavy shedding, daily combing makes sense. The loose undercoat will then end up in the brush instead of on your floor.

Deshedding means carefully removing loose undercoat with a special tool. Here's how to do it:

1. First, brush against the direction of hair growth to loosen dead hair.
2. Then, brush in the direction of hair growth to pick up the loosened hair.
3. Apply light pressure, especially when using tools with blades.
4. Untangle small knots with a steel comb before you continue brushing.
5. Stop once there's hardly any hair left in the brush.

A slicker brush is a brush with fine, curved wire pins that pulls dead hair out of a thick coat. An undercoat rake has long teeth and reaches through the topcoat right down to the undercoat.

How often can you bathe a Labrador?

For Labradors that spend most of their time indoors, the Labrador Retriever Club recommends a bath every four to six weeks. Give your dog a thorough comb-through before the bath. This removes dirt and small knots before the coat gets wet.

During heavy shedding, a warm bath helps in addition to daily combing. It loosens dead hair that would otherwise end up all over your home. A special deshedding shampoo can help to lift out even more loose hair.

You should bathe your Labrador after a swim in a chlorinated pool. Otherwise, the chlorine can dry out their coat. Always rinse the shampoo out thoroughly with clear, warm water.

To find out how often other coat types can go in the water, check out our guide Bathing your dog: routines for different coats and lifestyles.

Why we don't clip a Labrador

We don't clip double-coated breeds at GroomRoom, and the Labrador is one of them. If clipped down to the skin, the undercoat grows back faster than the topcoat. It can crowd out the slower-growing topcoat and change the texture and colour of the coat.

Clipping doesn't cool the dog down, even in summer. Dogs regulate their temperature mainly by panting and through sweat glands on their paw pads. The topcoat also protects the skin from sunburn and insect bites.

How we groom your Labrador

At GroomRoom, we have height-adjustable grooming tables. Your Labrador doesn't need to be lifted: we lower the table, they step on, and then we raise it to working height. You can watch from outside through the shop window.

The Mini Groom is perfect for a Labrador's short coat. It includes washing, drying, combing, light thinning, nails, eyes, paws and the hygiene area. Thinning means lightly reducing the coat's bulk with special scissors without visibly changing the length.

We bathe them in the Hydra tub using pH-neutral natural products, chosen based on coat type and skin condition. While drying and combing, we remove the loose undercoat layer by layer. We let anxious dogs settle in first and take breaks whenever they need them.

Alina, our Senior Groomer, is especially experienced with large breeds. You can find her profile on the page Alina on the team.

How much does Labrador grooming cost in Berlin?

Our Mini Groom starts at 59 €, and the Full Groom for large dogs starts at 209 €. Both are starting prices including VAT. We'll give you the final, binding price before the appointment after a personal assessment.

The Full Groom also includes ear cleaning. Depending on size and coat, our booking system schedules 60 to 180 minutes for the Mini Groom, and 180 minutes for the Full Groom for large dogs. Individual services are also available separately: nail clipping from 15 €, paws from 18 €, ear cleaning from 18 €.

For short-haired dogs, we recommend an appointment every 8 to 12 weeks. You pay on collection, either in cash, by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. All packages are listed on our Prices page, and you can choose your preferred time right here: Book an appointment online.

When should your Labrador see a vet?

Bald patches, thinning fur or irritated skin need a vet's attention, even during shedding season. Losing hair in clumps is normal, but a sudden, heavy increase with inflamed skin is not. Pain, bleeding, open sores or severe itching should also be checked by the vet.

When grooming, pay attention to the ears and eyes too. A Labrador's floppy ears let little air reach the ear canal, so you should check them regularly for excess wax. Yellow or green discharge from the eyes is a reason to call your vet.

Ticks and fleas hide easily in the dense double coat. Regular combing helps you spot them early. If the nails click on the floor, it's time for a trim. The hair between the pads is trimmed so the dog doesn't slip on smooth floors.

Case studies from the salon

Real appointments from GroomRoom, prices as charged (as of September 2026). The final price depends on the coat condition and will be confirmed before we start.

Pomeranian

Before

Pomeranian after six months without a salon visit, undercoat matted in places.

Treatment

Full Grooming with dematting and Pomeranian surcharge: brushing out the undercoat, bath, blow-dry, styling without clippers.

Duration

2.5 hours

Price

165 to 180 €

Groomer

Team GroomRoom

Example image

Golden Retriever

Before

Very anxious Golden Retriever, first salon visit, lots of loose undercoat.

Treatment

Full groom with breaks and a second person: bath, long blow-dry with deshedding of the undercoat, paws, nails, ears; no clipping of the double coat.

Duration

around 3 hours

Price

209 to 240 €

Groomer

Team GroomRoom