Miss America

[F, Calla & Luca]

Maybe that should be Mess America. Today I took Calla for her first full scale grooming since I've had her over 3 years. I brushed her until I couldn't do any more last night and truly thought I got most of the mats. I am never silly enough to think there are none : ) The groomers were new to me but I called the shop where a nice older man had once groomed Rex, the standard poodle. He had retired but it was still a grooming spot. True Rex came out looking more like like poodle than I liked, even in a puppy cut, but then again he was one.

Calla is a lot for me to groom and my hands, and the rest of me, are sometimes not up to the job. And she needed a bath. And.....

Here is a before, which is the polar bear look:

The woman I spoke with on the phone sounded so nice. She told me it was like doggy day care in their place and that the dogs were not kept in crates. I took Luca with us for moral support as usual. Well, the owner said I should leave him since he would keep Calla company and he could play. So I did. Calla did attempt to leap the gate to leave with me but all was well as I left. It took all day, literally seven hours. But the dogs were not in crates. I spoke to the groomers once and they said the dogs were so calm : ) They also told me how beautiful they were. They thought after 7 hours that Luca was a girl, can we say not well endowed : )

Then I went to get them. Is it really Calla? Seems so in terms of being overjoyed to see me. No poodle feet or face. Her tail intact. But really short. Of course the owner said she was matted. I do think she scissor cut. She said she would and Calla looks almost as choppy in some areas as when I do the cutting : ) Calla does smell like a not so wonderful perfume. But she is clean and soft. Calla also had her nails dremeled. The owner apologized that it was $64 and I assured her that was not expensive. Egads, Rex cost more at least 5 years ago.  I once paid $70 for a mobile groomer who only managed to bathe Calla. The owner also said she owed us a toy!

Here she is Miss America:

She still has her gorgeous face albeit with less hair:

Shaggy Luca got a bandana too and he said he had fun.

I really do prefer a shaggy doodle look. But Calla will get there soon. While the doodles were gone I mowed the lawn. I wish there was a ride on grooming device : ) All in all though, Calla is done for a while, both the dogs had a daycare experience and life goes on if we are lucky.

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

She looks wonderful.  I love it when they leave their ears longer...

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks.That was one of the things I remembered to stipulate. I did write them a list.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

I like Daisy's ears shorter, makes her look younger I think....to each their own.

[Camilla and Darwin]

I like Darwin's ears shorter too. On him, long ears make him look really girly... he already looks girly enough. LOL

[F, Calla & Luca]

There is nothing girly about Darwin IMHO.

[Camilla and Darwin]

It's funny, I never thought so except every single person who meets him doesn't believe he's a boy. Even after I tell them. People always hear Darwin and say "Darlin'?" LOL

[F, Calla & Luca]

What I really didn't want was for them to layer them.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Calla looks great and it sounds like you've found a good groomer. Plus $64 is a really great price! After 7 hours, I'm sure the doodles are very happy to be home!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks. You betcha they were happy to be home. Oh, and I forgot to mention that she feeds them bits of steak. An assistant proudly told me it was $4.99 a pound which gave me a chuckle. As treats go very healthful.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Wow Wow Wow. Lucky you, F.
She looks very beautiful! Luca, I am
Proud of you

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thank you.