Shave down - how long to grow back?

[Kami Allen]

My poor Meggie doodle was nothing but matts!  I was working on her for 2 hours a day at least, I spoke to our breeder and she said it was proably because she was getting her adult coat and mixing in with her puppy coat.  Never had a problem with matts before so I'm assuming that was it.  I brought her to the groomer and she ended up pretty much shaving her down.....she has so fluff on the ears and tails and that's about it.  My kids are calling her "rat dog" because she looks like a drowned rat now :(  I put a sweater on her to keep her warm, but I think she's embarrassed....she keeps looking at me like "Mom, I know I don't look cute now". 

Just curious on how long it takes for her coat to grow back in - did anyone else experience this issue with matts and have success after taking off the puppy coat?

~ Kami and naked Meggie doodle (aka - rat dog)

[Becky & Sheeba]

Duncan is adorable! I think those of us who had to have our doodles shaved down, the first time is the worst for us! I hated it when I had to have this done to Sheeba to get rid of all of the mats in her coat. I wanted my teddy bear doodle back. It is nice that their hair grows back in fast. I am always having it trimmed in places while her coat grows back out.

[trishgc]

how long did it take for duncan's hair to grow back?

[Kimberly Ann]

thank you for this post ( altho from 2011 lol) same exact situation..just began to look at him without getting so sad. yet still sad

[Donna M Lowry]

Hi, Kami!  You and Meggie are not alone!  Riley Doodle had the same issue and he has had a total buzzzz cut!  My kids called him Naked Mole Rat for the longest time!  You will be amazed at how quickly it comes back!  And, when its cold keep the sweater handy.  The problem with matts for Riley seems to stem from the issue of his hair type.  It seems like he has two very different kinds of hair.  One is soft and smooth, one rough and wirey!  He is only 16 months old, has been groomed 4 times and two of those times he has been completed buzzed!  My most recent groomer experience was wonderful and I am happy to have found someone that understands the doodle coat!  We will be going back every 10 - 12 weeks at her recommendation!  Good Luck!

[Pat and Traveler]

Here are a couple of comparison photos--about 2 months apart, first was Nov 18, 2010, the second Jan 7, 2011.  That doodle look isn't coming back as quickly as I'd hoped.  :(  Combing is a delight now, though, and I'd given up back in November. 

 

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Wow! poor Trav was down to the skin in some spots!! At least his face has some hair again!! I think he looks pretty cute right now!! But, I know... 

 Did you see my pic of Tara above? It was about the same amount of time after her nakedness and her hair was still so short she wanted to be held all the time because she was so cold!!  (It was JUNE by then!!)

[Pat and Traveler]

Tara looks about the same length as Trav right now.  She looks adorable, BTW.  Poor Trav WAS down to the skin on the inside of his hind legs and on his face.  I didn't expect this short of a cut, and there weren't really any mats on his body.  I wouldn't do this again--I'd rather cut some mats out than have him trimmed down quite this short.  He did need it at the time though--in the usual trouble areas, legs, under chin and under ears.  Maybe he'll be grown out to doodle-length by summer.  :) 

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Isn't it weird how they look like a completely different DOG?? Tara is my first dog that requires this type of intense grooming. All of our previous dogs were just brush, wash and wear :). No clipping or scissoring required.  So the first shave down was SO shocking!!  And she really didn't look like the Tara I was accustomed to AT ALL! She was so LONG and SKINNY-we called her a Meerkat for a while! LOL!

 

 And yes, I think little Trav will be in full doodle bloom by summer!! :)

[Pat and Traveler]

I know what you mean, Ricki.  I'd seen Trav wet so thought I knew what he would look like in a shorter cut.  NOT!  He did literally look like a different dog.  I love the Meerkat reference--just perfect.  :)  I'm sure he was going through a coat change too, at just about a year old.  His new coat is a bit harsher or coarser now, which is fine by me.  I'm amazed at how much of the soft cottony undercoat I still pull out every time I comb him.  At least I CAN comb him!  And I'm faithful about it now, too.  No more Meerkat pup! 

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Tara was so resistant to being brushed that I found the shave down a good opportunity to desensitze her to it. Like you said, she really didn't need  brushed so I could just do a stroke or two and treat her if she stayed relaxed. It worked really well and by the time she actually needed brushed again I was able to do it without her squirming and biting the brush. So in our case something GOOD came out of the shave down! :) (Other than getting rid of mats that is).

 

I hope we've both seen the last of the meerkat puppies!!

[Pat and Traveler]

Ricki, I'm finding the same thing with Trav.  He HATED having his legs, ears and face fiddled with, and rolled, squirmed, tried to hold my hand in his mouth, etc., etc.  It was a grueling experiece, and I was doing it daily.  Now, because the combing is so easy, he's fine with letting me comb his legs and feet, still a bit touchy about his face, but the whole grooming thing is not something we both dread.  I hope we can continue this happy situation! 

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Pat, Tara still has issues with her face being brushed too. It's funny because I taught her the word "face" and when I say it she stands still and will let me touch her face or cut the hair around her eyes with scissors. But if I try to bring a brush or comb near it she turns her face way. It must be a very sensitive area or the brush looks really huge  and scary coming that close!!

 

Tara is extremely food motiviated so treats are still a big part of our grooming sessions. The good part is that she thinks  Origen kibbles are the BEST treats ever so I don't feel too bad about giving her lots of treats when I groom her!! :)