first cut question

[kristi simmons]

I feel like I need to get Sophie her first cut....since I've never had a doodle, or a poodle, what are some things I should tell the groomer I want especially around the face?

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

There is a great "doodle Grooming" group here on DK and I think you should post this question there as there as some fantastic DIY groomers and professionals who have some great ideas and pictures for you.  It will depend on what you prefer as to styles.  Some people like the shaggy undone look and others a more manicured do.  I think the best thing is to find a picture that you like the look of and take it with you.  There are some horror stories where groomers have not listened to instructions and dogs have returned unrecognizable!  It's a really good idea to give very specific instructions.  Good luck with Sophie's first professional groom.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Just trim the face...don't touch the tail!  Join the grooming group :)

[Becka]

I posted a similar question on the Puppy Madness group the other day, this might be helpful to you:

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/puppymadness/forum/topics/time-fo...

Do check out the grooming group--you'll get some great tips!

[kristi simmons]

thanks for the replies! I haven't really investigated all the things on here so I didn't even know about the groups!  I just went to the grooming group, joined it, but I can't seem to figure out how to post a question on there!  Also, I didn't see any photos of different cuts...

[kristi simmons]

ok, ok I figured out how to post on there..sorry guys daaahhhh!!!!

 

[Ginny Nightingale]

I think the one thing that makes a doodle look like  poodle is when they leave the longer hair on TOP of the head, but trim the back of the neck too close up to the "topknot" this makes the head look too poodle-y. You want the hair to gradually get shorter as you go back to the back of the dog --it should blend, not be a sharp line. i groom doodles that belong to my friends and that is the big issue they have had with groomers. Also, the feet should be scissored, not clipped, so that the ankles do not "dish in"--there should be plenty of fluff around the ankles and toes so that they don't look like they have small feet at the ends of puffy legs. The tail should be long all the way to the body with just a slight tapering as you get close to the body. Some groomers shave the tail close for the first few inches from the body then leave a "poofy" area at the end--I personally do not like that. 

I will add that some pups have mats that the owners are not aware of because they only comb the surface and do not get the comb down to the skin. Unfortunately, a lot of these pups end up shaved because the comb on the clippers will not go through the mats that are close to the skin. That is SOMETIMES why the cut is not what the owner expected. That happened to me before i knew how to comb the coat out. 

This is Rio right after his first cut and you can see how fluffy his legs and feet are. 

Good luck!

[kristi simmons]

OMG this is such awesome detail Ginny, thank you so much!! I'm going to print this off and take it with me the first time!!

[Ginny Nightingale]

You are very welcome! I hope it all goes well--and remember, it grows back!

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

I always say don't touch the face-I try it myself-check the grooming group very helpful!

[Dori & Rua]

I don't know if this helps, but when I was looking to have Rua groomed for the first time, someone posted  Groomer Instruction sheet from IDOG.biz (but the link didn't work anymore).  I did a search, though, and found the same instructions, just on a different site and have included it below. 

http://www.asdcompanionlabradoodles.com/Groomer%20Inst.pdf

 

Until you know the type of coat your puppy will have, wool tight curl to wispy hair, it's hard to know.  At this point, your puppy doesn't have her adult coat yet, so they usually just do a puppy cut to trim up and bit and  do eyes, tummy and sani, and get them used to the equipment.  I didn't want them to touch Rua's tail, ears or eyelashes.

 

This was her first puppy cut at 6 months...she came home looking like velour. 

 

Here is Rua after I have brushed her out...and before I attempted to groom her myself.   I have been working on it for the past 4 weeks (I spend a bit of time each weekend working on one part or another (body, back legs, head, etc.).  I must be doing OK because she still loves me.

 

 

 

I would suggest you look at different Doodles on DK and find one with a look that you like (short and manicured to shaggy and wild)!  Be warned, though, the Grooming group just might get you to DIY.  Barb is really awesome and really is a great resource, as are all of the rest of us who are there to support each other.  Rua is a miniature, so I figure once I am on my game, she won't take too long to do and I can save $60 a time!