Coat Change & Line Brushing- UPDATED

[Star and Goldie]

First, let me say I'd be lost without DK! There is no way I could take care of my doodle without this site.

I'm pretty well armored for the Mat Battle 2013.  I've got the Safari Dematter Comb, The Les Pooch brush, Andis Steel Comb and Cowboy Magic Detangler.  Even with the help of all of these awesome tools (that I probably wouldn't have even known about without DK), I'd give myself a C- at best on keeping up with the mats during this COAT CHANGE-A-PALOOZA! I keep finding mats left and right. The Cowboy Magic is definitely helping along with the Dematter comb and brushes but I just can't seem to get her mat free and keep finding some pretty radical ones that are too tough to get out in one sitting.

Another thing I've started to study up on is line brushing. I've been trying it but so far I haven't quite gotten it down.

Does anyone have a good line brushing video that features a doodle with longer hair and the proper technique to use? I can't figure out if I should be starting at the back and work my way down to the belly or start at the belly and work my way up.  Which way pulls less?

Also, I can't seem to find anywhere how long the coat change lasts. I'm really struggling and am about to throw in the towel and go for a dreaded shave down:( Someone please tell me it doesn't last forever that I'm not doing as bad as I think I am... is it really this bad for everyone during this time??

I really wanted to let Goldie use this kiddie pool all summer to stay cool.  She had an absolute blast but it seemed like the mats really took over after that so it looks like we will be putting the pool away for good and keep her dry this year!

How do you let your doods get wet without a mat invasion following? I brushed her out before she got in the pool and I used Cowboy Magic and a ShamWow when she got out. They seemed to help but not enough!

7/25 UPDATE:

Including an update since the update itself has turned into a little discussion.

Goldie got shaved down today. She took her down to 1 inch. I provided a picture of what I wanted and the face was not even close to what was pictured. Goldie's body, tail and legs look beautiful but the face cut is not what I asked for. The Groomer left her ears long and a poof on top of her head. I do believe this short coat will be easier to manage and get me through the coat change and I LOVE LOVE her velvety teddy bear body but I am pretty bummed with the end result of the face- really just the ears... they're really bothering me for some reason! Maybe it's just because it's so clearly NOT what I asked for. I even left the picture with her.... did she even look at it?

HERE IS WHAT I ASKED FOR:

HERE IS WHAT I GOT:

The ears are killing me. If the wind picks up, she may just fly away ;)

[DJ & Chance]

Good luck!  Finding the right groomer was a bit of trial and error for me, but for now I am happy with the one I have.  Even if you don't love the cut, rest assured it will quickly start growing out.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Star, I hope Goldie gets a great cut. You will be amazed how much easier it will be on both of you.

[Star and Goldie]

Despite taking a picture of exactly what we wanted, Goldie still ended up with the "poodle poof" on top of her head. That was no where to be found in the picture I took in:(

[Bonnie and Kona]

Truly you can take a pair of scissors and shorten up that poof yourself. I understand your frustration. How does the rest of her look?

[Star and Goldie]

I love her body and tail. I'm pretty unhappy with most of the face. The poof on top of the head was not what I wanted and she didn't cut any hair from her ears so it looks weird to me.

I'm going to post the pic I took in and what I got. You'll see the drastic difference. But the groomer did do a great job on her body. I just don't get how she completely missed the entire face I wanted when she had a picture!

[Star and Goldie]

Here is the picture I took:

Here is what I got:

Now why would she have done a little poof on the top of the head and left the ears long when it is clearly not in the picture? I chose a picture that had most focus on the face because this is EXACTLY what I was afraid of :(

[Anita - Thunder, Noodle, Sparky]

Well, for what it's worth I think she is doodlicious! :)

[DJ & Chance]

They seem to be challenged by the doodle face cut. Chance's face usually come out looking like a cross between a schnauzer and a poodle! I think she looks mighty cute regardless.

[Star and Goldie]

Thanks! I'm trying to decide if I can get used to it or if I'm going to take her back to at least fix the ears because it really is bothering me that her face is nothing like the picture I provided.

[Marnie, Stanlee's Mom]

Remember, if you don't let the groomer know what you didn't like so that she can make notes in your file, she will continue to make the same mistakes. Don't feel bad calling and talking to her, hopefully she will surprise you and be responsive and WANT you to be specific.  Tell her you love how the body, legs and tail came out but just weren't happy with the face.  Tell her the ears are too long and the head is too - poofy(?)  And besides, if the groomer is a jerk there are plenty out there that would love your business.

 

[Donna K & Quincy]

She's still pretty darn cute, her face is really pretty good, but the problem I see is that they should have blended her head to her ears instead of the total disconnect. It will grow and in a couple of weeks it will probably be more what you asked for.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

First let me say I'm not defending the groomer, however, that being said I think that the difference here is the type of coat.  If you look at the photo of the puppy that you took (is that Darwin?) his hair is pretty straight.  Where your Goldies coat is a little more thick and curly.  If the person in the top photo wanted a cut like Goldies, it wouldn't happen because his hair type is different.  It is going to lay down with a part regardless of what you do and Goldies isn't going to lay down with a part regardless of what they do.  They could have cut it shorter but you still would not have had the same look.  She looks good.  All in all, for a first time groomer trip you were pretty darn close to what you wanted.  Now just talk to her next time about how you would like the top.  She looks pretty darn kissable to me!

UPDATE:  I just came back to add some more as I just went and looked at your photos.  I think another thing that happened here is the puppy coat.  So many times the puppy coat looks straight but once you cut it down and the adult coat is uncovered you find a lot curlier coat.  I think that is what happened here.  When I look at the puppy pics I would have thought you could get this look you wanted.  Now that we see what is underneath all that puppy coat I think it is much curlier and would be impossible to get that look.  An experienced Doodle groomer should know that is a possibility and warn you upfront.  You can usually tell by just holding up the long hair and looking at the parts by the skin where the adult coat is coming in ... they start looking different!