Hattie's first haircut-I gave up!!!

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

Okay, well, here is how it went. Took Hattie out to the garage and put her on the grooming table. Even though the treats kept coming she would eat them before I could find or clip a nail under all that hair. Then she would begin wiggling again! I finally gave up and took her to Petsmart. They used the dremel and ground her nails and used the thinning shears to trim around her eyes. I was so nervous and told them once to slow down because she was nervous and upset. I ran out to the store area to grab treats so as to lessen any trauma for her and when I got back they were done with her feet and she was fine. lol!!! So anyway, it was a better job than I could have done myself! It is almost impossible I think to do this alone unless you have an older dog. I hate being single sometimes! So here is before and after of sweet Hattie Doodle who is turning into a such a big girl!

[Donna K & Quincy]

What beautiful eyes you have Miss Hattie!

[Ginny Nightingale]

She looks great--a nice natural look!

Here are a few other suggestions--get her up on that grooming table every day and just give her a treat and take her down--get her used to it. Get a noose for the table if you do not have one--I know it looks cruel, but once they are in the noose and it is snug, they learn quickly that they need to hold still. If she has a wiggle fit, just hold her and calm her down for a minute. She will probably then hold still for a short while now that she has the "crazies" out.

Handle her nails, feet, face, everything on her little body every day--make sure she gets over the "do not touch me there" thing. My Rio was terrible about anything on his rear half--his tail, feet, etc. But I groom him myself and after lots of contact with everything, he is fine now at 8 months of age. 

You can also keep a small pair of blunt scissors around and when she is just relaxing in your lap and is tired, you can snip at the hairs on her feet and around her eyes--it will become so much less scary if you are doing it all the time. 

You do have to be firm with them sometimes when they are pups to get them to hold still--this is to protect them in the long run, though. A sudden jerk at the groomers or on your table can cause injury! So, teaching them to be calm protects them in the long run.