There are products that, of course, you can forego. These grooming products are a must.  Labradoodles are coated dogs and need frequent brushing to keep matting at bay. We have tried what seems like a million slicker brushes and truly this is the brush to go with. It is a bit more expensive, but you will end up going back to this brush and saving money in the end. 
Check out our "What do we feed our dogs page" for links to other amazing products we use on our dogs at home!