Another day as a (new) doodle parent.....coiffure, hairdo or shearing at home?

[Lanell in Colorado]

Poor Zoe, I took a pair of scissors and attempted to style her and I made a big mess.  Of course it wasn't all my fault because Zoe didn't think this was fun and wiggled a lot, and I was just learning and very nervous about cutting skin, or permanently disfiguring my gorgeous puppy.   I was VERY slow and VERY awkward.  I needed something to practice on besides Zoe.  It was not a pleasant experience for either of us, although she can now see through all that hair.

So, determined to conquer this challenge, I started researching doodle do's...as in 'hair do' ( my previous project was doodle do's and don'ts but that's another chapter).

I started by looking at pictures -- WOW, a tremendous variety of coiffures!  Some of them were coat-dependent.  Many were just personal preference.  Some were really awful.  I found THE look I wanted via an excellent video from a breeder.  The result is a little scraggly but still looks groomed:  uniquely Doodle with no Poodle  Now I just have to figure out how to achieve it.

Having learned from my 'I can do this' experience, but not giving up entirely, I decided to look for online lessons.  YouTube has a lot.  I must acknowledge that most of the YouTube 'coiffure clients' were much better behaved than sweet little wiggly Zoe.  So I need to figure out how to solve the wiggle problem too.  I hope my proven success with  c o o k i e s  works magic for haircuts too.  I now have print-out of lots of recommendations, how-to instructions with diagrams, how-to-steps, and even cutting angles.   Its my bedtime reading material.  Yeah team, we are gonna conquer this challenge.

Next I researched tools of the trade -- obviously my technique is only part of the problem, I need the right tools to do the job right.  (of course I do realize that having the right tools does not ensure success -- back to the need for practicing, but WHO or WHAT can i practice on? ).  Clippers, scissors, brushes, combs...on and on and on.  Then, I discovered the grooming tables and then.....all the PRODUCTS.  Oh my, this is rapidly becoming expensive.  Maybe groomers are the right way to go.

So -- detour -- now I start looking for a groomer.  Being the 'expert' after seeing all the pictures and reading all the instructions, I quickly became disappointed in my options.  In the Denver area, no one seems to understand the 'correct' doodle-do ( according to me, Lanell ).   At least, I haven't found anyone yet.  I've followed up on recommendations, but the dogs weren't really true doodles' like my Zoe, just mutt mixtures of lab and poodle pairings and looking like a clone of one of the parents.  I'm feeling my doodle-mommy protective nature growing rapidly at this point -- and of course, my Zoe is a mess and not showing her true unique doodle self at this point, I'm sure most people just see scraggly puppy and not the potential.  Alas  What have I done? ).

Whew, Now, I'm frustrated and exhausted and right back to the starting point.  The scissors are beside me on the computer table and calling me to pick them up and have a go at it ( I have not purchased any 'professional tools') and Zoe is beside me looking pretty pathetic.   I'm probably gonna try it again.  I have a special table now set up and Zoe has been practicing standing still while being brushed and eating cookies.  Dual processing genius, my little Zoe.

Next step is to get ONE of the diagrams and go for it...probably just cutting off some of the fluff on her body.  Its very hot and she would be more comfortable with a shorter coat...and I CAN PRACTICE.  TA DA  Sounds like a win/win proposition to me.   Next time, I'm going to try to minimally correct some of the mess I made around her eyes.  

I'm not going to tackle her mustache or mussel until we both have more hours 'on the table'.   After all, it will grow back, no matter how badly I mess up.  I know I can do this and I'm looking forward to having Zoe in a true 'doodle do' especially here in the wild west.  I just put my ego at bay, admitted defeat of the first round and took a picture of Zoe  -- with the expectation of having an 'after' shot very soon.

PS: discussion, recommendations and all suggestions are greatly appreciated.

[Pat and Traveler]

Funny!  It does take courage to take the scissors to your dog.  After some less than happy experiences with groomers, I determined I could work on Trav myself.  So far, I don't have clippers, but I do have thinning shears and regular hair scissors.  He actually looks okay, if you stand back quite a ways.  LOL  Anyhow, I know he hates to go to the groomers, and the mobile groomer cut him REALLY short, so this is my compromise.  Trav doesn't mind if I clip, but he hates brushing or combing.  He usually looks like Tramp in the movie Lady and the Tramp, but there's nobody to blame but myself.  :)

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

I found these videos invaluable http://www.royaldiamondlabradoodles.com/grooming_videos

this is the way I cut Cooper last time and I was really please with the results. it was my second time cutting her short. my opinion is that they are supposed to look a little scruffy, so it doesnt matter if you make mistakes!

As for the equipment - I bought several pairs of scissors - but generally only needed 2 - a long pair and a short blunt pair. yes its nice having curved and straight, but you can manage without. Cooper falls off table so i groom her on the floor, so money saved there! The first time I cut Cooper I just too a little off, then did some more the next day.... its a working progress!

[Lori, Rooney & Zuzu]

I agree that this series of videos is so helpful! I have only trimmed Rooney twice now, and he still has his easy puppy coat, but these videos gave me the courage to go for it. I am planning to get thinning shears but for now I have just used straight shears and have managed to give Rooney a pretty decent cut. I do think clippers will be in my future but I'm working up to that. LOL!

[Ginny Nightingale]

Doodle Do's is the name of my little home-based grooming company! LOL! I have three doodles, so I invested in all the equipment after i realized that the groomer was very expensive and did a bad job--not many good ones here where I live. Then I started doing other people's doodles and well, now I have about a dozen clients. Here is a suggestion--the clippers are worth while as they save time and wear and tear on your hands. You will need combs that clip onto them that allow you to cut the hair at different lengths (get metal ones, not plastic) and a size 10 blade for the clippers. (Get heavy duty if Zoe has a thick coat)  You do not need a table, but if you go to Petedge.com, you can get a frame with a noose that clamps to any table and then you can keep Zoe more still--the noose is not cruel and it really calms them down. This is the deluxe model.

http://www.petedge.com/product/Grooming/Grooming-Equipment/Grooming...

You can adjust them to just the right height so she is comfortable sitting or standing. Just be patient with her if she has a wiggle fit--wait it out, then start again. I do my young dogs in one hour shifts, then walk them and get some of the ya-yas out and then back up on the table.

If you can brush/comb her out completely and wash her one day and clip or cut her the next, it goes much easier.

Join the grooming group for lots of good info!!

[Sue & Lily Grace]

Great information for those, like me, that do not know anything about the process.  I have always taken my Cassie to a groomer, but I think I would like to keep the new puppy (when she arrives) trimmed myself.  Thanks again.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Ginny - do you use a thinning scissor? I need to get one to keep Charli's mump-like face and ears in check.         

She got her very short summer cut today. We spend a lot of time at the beach and she just loves to roll in the sand when she is wet - ugh! but if she is happy....  

[Ginny Nightingale]

I do use a thinning shear around the face if they have a full coat--but I also "layer" the  hair with a regular scissor--to so that, you pull the hair straight up away from the body, then cut the hairs parallel to the body, so that, when they fall, the are gradually increasing in length. I do this on the face and even the tops of the ears to get the volume down. Another trick: I hate it when ears are 2 inches thick--I flip the ear, shave off some of the hair inside, then trim the hairs at the INSIDE edge of the ear about 1/2 inch shorter than the hairs on the OUTSIDE. The hairs on the outside are what is seen and they don't stick out because, by trimming those inside edges shorter, the ears hang flatter. (IF YOU WANT TO!!!)

[Sue & Lily Grace]

Charli looks like she has a coat of velvet. Adorable!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Charlie looks great. I love short summer cuts. Thinning shears are very nice and easy to use around the face and eyes.

[Ginny Nightingale]

This is very nice by the way--she looks great! You might want to leave a bit more hair around the "waist" to give her a little less of a "tuck up" there--Love the tail!! Gorgeous.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Ginny - thanks for the tips for her ears and face. I do cut some of the inside flap hair but I tried once to trim off the edge of the ear and nipped it when she flipped her head around when Samantha came into the room. I may try it again with my daughter's help and a closed door.  Do you suggest a particular thinning shear?

Around her waist is where she 'chews' the hair when she is wet. I had her groomer, not me, make her short all over - including those toothpick long legs of hers. She looks like she has a wishbone from a rear view. I know I will get used to it but boy, it is a shock. It is for the best for our summer mornings on the beach - the fur on her legs is like tight, small cork screws which when I unravel when combing, she I comb out half a beach. 

[Cyndi, The Boys & Callie]

 Right now, I am not brave enough to try anything but a little trim.  The groomer that I use published a grooming book and I attached the link which also allows to see a few pages.  You'll be able to get an idea if it will be helpful.  I bought it and it's very step by step.  Liz (the writer) does an excellent job with doodles and the boys always come out exactly as I envisioned.  She has a thriving doodle business.  Good luck.

 

http://www.blurb.com/books/2415669