Grooming?

Here I am again - first time doggie owner, and first time doodle owner...

How often do you get your doodles groomed? I'm guessing it depends upon coat-type. I have a F1 labradoodle, and she looks like a little scruffy lab with a beard. She's not very curly, more wavy.

When we adopted her - her previous owners said she was probably in need of a trim, and that she actually sheds when her coat gets to a certain length. She's been shedding a bit over the last couple weeks. Should I go ahead and get her trimmed up, even though its getting cold outside? Can I tell the groomer I don't want her totally shorn, but just trimmed?

What should I look for at a good groomer's place?

Also, what do you use to wash your doodle's face? Hershey uses her face like a dust mop and it seems like its just getting crusty no matter what I do. Does that mean it needs to be trimmed as well? Any thoughts?

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Permalink Reply by Adina P on November 13, 2008 at 2:19pm

Just from the profile photo you have I get the impression that Hershey's coat is a lot like my Thule's coat (see photos on my page). We NEVER trim Thule...EVER. Well okay, except for some dingly dangly off-color hairs around her back-end...but this is very minor. Personally, I see no reason to ever trim an F1 that is more terrier looking. So all Thule gets is an occasional bath.

I also spray a cloth or a paper towel with a white vinegar-water combo and then wipe her chin if it is stinky. As far as face crusties...do you mean eye crusty stuff or crusty stuff elsewhere on her face? You can just use a slightly warm, damp wash cloth and wipe where it needs wiping. Beard length, like hair length, is really up to you and your preferences. We leave Thule as is.

I doubt a groomer would shave Hershey...groomers usually only shave doodles if they find mats. And I bet Hershey doesn't mat at all. Think of Hershey's hair as human hair...trim when you find it too long for your preference.

Now, Rosco, on the other hand...his beard gets VERY dirty and stinky and is starting to mat due to the dirtiness. So I've recently trimmed his beard. I trim his face every couple weeks...and the rest of him about twice in the summer with clippers (down to 1/2 inch length). I trim the hair between his pads and around his feet every few months and trim around his anus (to prevent cling-ons) every few months as well.

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Permalink Reply by Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle on November 13, 2008 at 3:37pm

I'm with Adina on not trimming him- dogs who shed almost never get trimmed, it is the dogs with poodle-type fur which grows continuously instead of falling out (like humans) who need haircuts. Some people clean up their faces, above their eyes, or their private areas, but it's a preference, not a necessity. If you aren't having any trimming done, it makes the job of finding a good groomer much easier; most people have trouble trying to find someone who knows how to trim them. A full grooming for Jack (who has a coat like Thule & Hershey) consists of bath, brushing & blow-drying, nails trimmed, ears & anal glands cleaned.
Even when I had pure-bred poodles, I never had them groomed more often than every 7-8 weeks. Bathing more often, unless there is a medical reason (or an emergency) is unnecessary and can dry out a dog's skin. With dogs who shed, you can probably even go longer. Dogs who do not walk regularly on paved surfaces may need their nails trimmed more often, and you'll want to keep his ears clean in between groomings. Brush him often, especially when he's shedding more.
I guess I'm a slob, but I almost never wash Jack's beard. Adina calls it "scratch & sniff", LOL!

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Permalink Reply by Jacquie Yorke (DRC) on November 13, 2008 at 9:34pm

Crusty beard?.....Well Erin all I can say is "Welcome to My Nightmare"...lol....or should I say "Welcome to OUR Nightmare".....I have designated all of my old washcloths "For Crusty Beard Only" use.....I wash Blake's beard every night before bed or else I have the crusty stinky thing right in MY FACE first thing the following morning...lol.....

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Permalink Reply by Jacquie Yorke (DRC) on November 13, 2008 at 9:50pm

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Permalink Reply by 1qrgkdwnfqccb on November 14, 2008 at 5:21am

hi erin,
i have an f1 goldendoodle... i take her to the groomers about every 6 weeks. and depending on the season decides what i have done.....through the late Spring and Summer: i get a puppy cut so she is cool, now lynn, our groomer know how to cut a doodle, she does a great job of NOT making her look silly! now in the fall and early spring i have lynn leave a bit more on her, but goes for a bath a bit more often, like every 4-5 weeks because it is so messy outside.... right now she is due for something, she is a mess due to the mud & leaves! she is even developing some mats which she has never gotten before, but lynn says it is due to all the rolling around in the leaves & mess that she is getting them. then the winter...i will let her go. i love her shaggy & fluffly!! maybe a quick trim and of course a bath just to tidy her up.
i give all the credit in the world to those that can groom themselves! i know if i tried it, izzy would look ridiculous!!! i remember cutting my own hair in 9th grade, and that was disaster! so i don't have the courage to try it on izzy!! i would rather pay the 40-50 dollars and know that she will look just fine in 4 hours! lol

i think is is everyone's own preference on how they groom their dogs, and that you should do what is best for you! but if you are going to go in for just a trim...make sure you tell them only a trim!! no shaving!! just trim, because some groomers will get carried away, and do what they want and not what you want. no different that a hairdresser!! lol
best of luck to you!

Grooming?

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