First Time Grooming Quesitons

[Stella]

After our groomer left the place we had been taking our LD to we decided to try doing it ourselves!  I bought an Andis 2-speed Pro set of clippers and went at it this weekend!  I have a question though....!  Although he has a very thick coat, the hair that makes it up is very fine and silky.  I found that the clippers were gliding through his coat rather than cutting it in a lot of places and anded up doing most of it with scissors.  The clippers came with a 10 blade.  Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can get them actually cutting his hair?  Do I need a different blade??

 

In this picture he is about 90% done, and as you can see is less than impressed with the whole thing!!!

 

[BG and Gavin]

Wow - you did a great job Stella. He looks so very handsome!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

He is a beautiful Doodle. Nice job, especially on his face.

[Stella]

I was going for the 'puppy cut' look, I love it when he is pretty much the same length all over - so cute!!

[Sally, Ditzy Mitzi & Sgt. Pepper]

Great job, Stella! Sometimes I use the plastic attachment combs on Mitzi, especially the 1/2 inch one, because she swims
a lot and we keep her short. In the winter I go for the longer attachment combs, usually the 1 inch or longer. I also do a
lot of scissoring. If you have time, go back through the grooming group and read the suggestions Barb has given. Her
advice is excellent.

[Michelle]

Good work, Stella. Who needs a groomer? You IS one!!!

[Stella]

I used the shortest attachment comb that I had, but it wasn't really short enough. I definitely need to get a 1/2 inch one. That is what we used to get the groomer to cut him down to in the summer. He is still shedding his puppy coat (at a year and a half old) and I find if he gets longer than an inch I can't keep up with the matting - it takes about three hours to comb him right through!!

[Julie & Cooper]

Great job Stella! You guy looks like my Cooper when he grows up. He is only 4 months now. I too took the grooming plunge this weekend, but since I am still saving up for the clippers I did the whole job with scissors and Coops turned out a lot like your handsome dude. I commend you. Especially around his face he looks great. I agree with the earlier post - You IS a groomer now. :)

[Charlie and Me (and JoJo, too!)]

What a beautiful dog--nice job! I read somewhere that you should always run your new blades thru a blade wash before using them. This removes the protective coating that they come with. Also, if you are using combs, you might try a #30 or even #40 blade (I'm not sure if 40 will fit all combs). This should give you a smoother, more even final cut.

[Camilla and Darwin]

I have the exact same set of clippers I'm pretty sure. And I have the same problem. Did you have a problem getting it as short as you need it? I would put on a 1" attachment, but it came out more like 2". I ended up having to go down to 1/2" so it would be 1". I wonder if I may need a different blade... ?

It's a great cut, by the way. :-)

[Stella]

I got a #40 blade and it works much better. I run over him with the #10 and the shortest comb that came with the set. This work pretty well where his hair is corser. Then I go over him again - sides, belly, legs - with the #40 and the same comb. It works great. I do his paws and face with scissors. I am getting faster with practice which is great for both of us!!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

If you are using the attachments are you clipping in both directions? i.e., both from neck to tail and then tail to neck? The reason I ask is that I like to use the 3/4" comb attachment, but I only go from neck to tail, and down the legs, not in the opposite direction. This leaves it longer than the 3/4". If I were to then go in the other direction, it would be much shorter. So, if you aren't going in both directions that might do the trick.!

[Winnie's Dad]

Be careful going "backwards." (tail to head)

It will be MUCH shorter than going the other way. Try first with a bigger comb than the one you usually use.