First Haircut for Murphy at 1 year

[David and Murphy]

I am so glad I found this site as I have been doing a whole lot of research on how to trim a doodle.

Murphy is going to be one year old on June 24 and his back hair must have been 5 inches long if not six.

I found a pair of grooming shears I aquired who knows where and tested them, they seemed to cut very well so I took all the groming equipment I had.  One pair of shears, a pin brush, and a dematting rake.

I wanted to buy a set of clippers but after reading and watrching videos I decided I wanted his coat maybe two inches all around, and I am not sure how to get that with clippers.  So I decided to sissor him the best I could last weekend up at the lake. I cut a straight path from his neck to tail and used my fingers to measure roughly 2"  Then I work from that area down the sides and tried to make it all 2 inches.  I then tried to trim the face and beard and kinda got choppy with only having the straight shears.

So here are some pics of Murphy's first haircut by me, the first time groomer.

I have since bought a Andis AGC 2 speed and have an 1 1/4 comb and a 30 blade coming, but I am still wondering if it will be too short at 1 1/4, and will it still be wavy?

Also I have not yet trimmed his legs but did blend in his face and beard so it now looks better than in the pics.  Any help or comments would be appreciated.

Dave

 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Good job!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Looks like you did a great job for scissor cutting on your first try.  Scissor cutting to me is very time consuming.  I will start by saying I'm not a professional groomer, but like you a self trained doodle groomer by trial and error.  It is always hard to tell from photos, but it looks to me like the coat is going to remain wavey.  That being said I'm not sure if this is still puppy coat or if his coat change is complete.  My Sophie was very much like this until her first haircut (at 2 years) and when I cut it it was a little curlier underneath, but not real curly.  You can see some pics on my page.  I normally use a 3/4 guard on her.   I would think that a 1 and 1/4 guard would keep the length fairly long as long as you only go in the direction of the growth and go down the legs.  You will be amazed once you get the hang of it how quickly you can run the clippers through him vs the scissor cutting process.   You'll do the head ears and face with the scissors, but the rest with the clippers.  Good luck.  Be sure to give us pics once you give it a try.

[David and Murphy]

Well I am happy to hear that my used Andis AGC2 clippers will be usable, just waiting for the blade and comb as I bought it without any.extras.  Also I have to get a greyhound or some kind of comb so I know he is ready to be clipped.  For doing the face are thinning shears a must?

 

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I don't have any thinning shears, mostly because I'm not sure how to use them, but I know many people do use them.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I think you have done a great job for the first time,you will get better as you go along and find out what you like best.  One thing is for sure if you make any mistakes they will be yours and they will grow out.  Much better than paying a groomer and being upset afterwards.

I too do my own grooming by trial and error. Riley is 14 months old and I am also not sure if we are completely over the coat change though we aren't getting any more matts.  I only use the thinning shears for blending body to legs and any areas that are very thick that need some thinning.  I can't do without my curved scissors for around the feet nor the blunt end short one that I use around the face area. I use the clippers under the ears and around the neck area and around his bottom and underneath.  The rest I use the scissors.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Riley looks splendid!