Ear plucking and bad first groom

[Rachelle Rigos]

My poor five month old Koda had his first groom which was a disaster. I asked for an introductory puppy groom and they ended up shaving him all the way down (he was not matted). What's even worse is they plucked his ear hairs out which I wasn't too happy about and now his left ear is really bothering him. When I touch it I hear liquid sounds coming from deep in ear...I'm afraid he's gonna get an infection now. His ears were just fine. Why couldn't they have just left them alone. I feel so bad for him a first experience should not have included such trauma. I'm pissed plus he doesn't even look like a puppy anymore. Who would shave down a five month puppy? Now he just looks like a botched poodle. What should I so about the ears? Thx
Concerned momma.

[Lynda Kamrath]

He will grow back out, and probably faster than you even want.  Chalk off that groomer and good luck with finding another who listens to your desires.  About the ears, if it is a yeast infection, it will start to smell.  Then he will need to be on meds for a week or so.  Otherwise, you might get some ear cleaner and try putting that in his ear, massaging it, and then wiping out with a little paper towel.  Try to get that liquid sound out.  Another thing you might consider is trying your own grooming, that is if you have the time and inclination.  It really is not that hard and very satisfying.  We have never taken our doodles to a groomer and really like spending the time with them.

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

Shocking! I don't know what I'd do. You can't fix it but I certainly wouldn't want to pay for what I would call a lazy groom. Shaving any dog down is the easy way out of giving a dog a proper groom. I'm sad and mad for you. The good news is that it will eventually grow back. As for the irritated ear, sounds to me like they perhaps got water in his ear. Also, after I clean the undersides of Yarrow's and Shiloh's ears with an ear cleaner on a cotton ball, I use an ear powder to keep their ears dry and this powder also makes it effortless to pluck some excess hair. I wouldn't dream of plucking the hair without this powder nor would I pluck ALL the hair as it serves a purpose ... to keep the ears clean. I would never go back to that particular grooming shop!

Sounds to me like the groomer books a certain number of dogs per day, with only so much time for each dog without consideration for the clients. Choose a groomer carefully. When you find a good one, tip generously.

[Joan Bollaert]

That's right...I forgot about the ear powder.  That's what makes it easier . 

[Kristen and Chewbacca (Chewy)]

My puppy also had a bad first cut a couple of weeks ago. I brought him in looking like a cute
Iittle shaggy labradoodle, and he came out looking like cute little brown bear cub :-(. They cut very little off of his body (this is what we agreed on), so his body hair was blown straight out like a puffball, but they shaved his muzzle completely! He was unrecognizable. From now on, I will insist on scissors for his face and I'm taking him somewhere else next time.

[Joan Bollaert]

I have no idea where groomers heads are?  I can think of a place though........     None of them listen.

[Trudy Harlow]

In fairness, I think a lot of them are overworked and do not recall what the owners say. They then see a doodle and it looks like a poodle or a spaniel or a terrier, and so that's how they clip it. Most groomers (surprisingly, considering how many doodles are around these days) have not been trained to clip doodles, so it's easy to see how they'd revert to what they've been trained to do.

I find the best thing is to clip my dog's face at home so it's just the length and style I want it. Then I have the groomer do his ears (up to the edge of the ear flap, no spaniel ears on my doodle) and his body. If the face still needs work, I'm there to supervise. If the groomer doesn't want me there, the dog doesn't get left and I find someone else.

Cultivating a groomer takes time - like cultivating a good hair cutter. Expecting a production line groomer at PetSmart to give you a personalized groom is asking a lot, although occasionally you may find one there who will do it. As Deb said, above, when you have a good groomer who listens to you, tip generously. You'll have a friend.

[Rachelle Rigos]

Well stated friend. I think I may take on the ear hair plucking/pulling though...especially since my little man earned himself a gram positive cocci bilateral ear infection which is atypical and could be streptococcis ( due to dirty utensils). Yikes. $50 groom turned $200.

[Trudy Harlow]

Report it to wherever you took him, if it turns out to be from the grooming tools.