Grooming question/vent

[Holly Doodle]

I posted this on the main page, but thought I'd post it here too :).

 

Holly has went running with dh a few times in our snowy weather, and this is the first time I've seen her start to get Mats. We called the groomer this week and they couldn't get us in for almost two weeks with our work schedules, and them not being open on weekends. So we decided we'd schedule an appt at Petco just this one time, because I don't want her Mats to get any worse. Boy was that a mistake! We took her to her appointment today, and they told us their two longest clippers were 3/8" and 1/2". Our groomer always cuts her to 1" with no problems, so I don't know if they didn't have the right clippers or if our groomer scissor cuts her. Either way, the girl at Petco was extremely rude and said "well these are your only options so choose one or we'll leave her as is." How rude of her! She also said if they scissor cut her she would look choppy and uneven. She had a very bad attitude and made me feel dumb for asking them to leave her longer than 1/2". We ended walking out, with her gawking and me and dh like we were the rude ones. Geesh! Anyways this was more of a vent than a question, but I guess I'm wondering why my groomer can do it but the Petco groomers can't. Are there clippers for 1" or does my groomer likely scissor cut her? I've never asked how she does it, because it's never mattered. Anyways thanks for any input!

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Thanks for the great explanation!  I printed it out and put it in my grooming notes so I can study it.  I know most of your Doodles are thicker haired and more wooley.  Do you think what you have said would apply to Gracie with her fine, wavy hair?  Also, I do keep her short at 1 inch.  I just let her grow to over 2" and she just looked old and fat!  Just isn't the right kind of Doodle for long fluffy hair!!  ha ha

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

Not all of my doodles are woolly. I have lots of fleece doodles now and my first doodle was an f1 with a hair/fleece coat as seen below. I use that blade mostly on my fleece coats and still scissor most of my wool coats.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

You did the right thing walking out on them!  You would have been in tears based on how they planned to groom her.  I groom my Gracie Doodle and I use a #10 blade and a 1" comb attachment.  They also come in 1 1/4" so that is a crock of bull they are giving you about the attachment size.  If they only can cut 3/8 or 1/2 then they should not be in business!!!!  Also, anyone who is rude is not the person for you or Holly Doodle.  I can only imagine how they would talk to her and treat her once you were gone.  I am not a professional by any means.  Everything that I have learned about grooming has been right here on DK.  But, I am so much happier with MY grooming than taking the chances of getting back a chopped up cut or shaved.  I did have a very good Groomer but it was very noisy there with lots of barking dogs and Gracie does not like barking and noise.  She would be there for 4 hours and it really stressed her.  That is why I chose to do my own grooming.  Hope tomorrows grooming is a happy one!!!  Good Luck!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I will read the other comments after I post. So my post may be off track.  Ned is scissored and has always been scissored.  Ned mats.  I am sure if he ran out in the snow it would be worse.  I would get a ton of Bedhead for children - not dogs and pour it on and then try to brush and comb. This is what my groomer swears by.  I have not needed to try it.  I have used Cowboy magic on the mat itself and it helps a lot.  I also use spray in Horse Mane N Tail  - spray run your fingers through, let sit and then begin grooming.  Oh, let the Cowboy Magic sit on the mat a bit also.  P.S. I would have walked out too.  I am glad that you did.  You should not give your business to rude people.

[Holly Doodle]

Thank you! I'm going to get some cowboy magic asap, I've heard good things. I bet we could comb them out with some sort of detangler, they don't seem that bad but I just don't have experience dealing with Mats until now. I guess we've been lucky so far! I'll let you all know how it goes tomorrow!

[Lauria Orr]

I am so glad you walked away from that groomer.  I would have been so upset to be treated that way.  It is too bad you can't get in to your own groomer sooner.  We actually found our groomer at Petco.  She has left there to join a woman who opened a new grooming salon and we followed her.  She is wonderful with the dogs and does exactly what we ask her to do.  I do get concerned with matting and Melody bolts from me when I try to brush her. When she does the scissor cut, it can look slightly choppy, which lasts less than a day.  Due to the dampness outside, the coat curls up a bit and there it looks just wonderful.  Good luck with your search.  I think you could take a picture in of what you want, and if there is not clarity and understanding, move on.  Let us know how Holly does!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Gracie is too beautiful to EVER look old and fat! You just weren't used the Gracie with a Ned look!

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Gracie is now up to 77 lbs and we are totally baffled as to why!  I am going to have her Thyroid checked soon.  She was back to 73 in December which is where she basically has been for two years.  Sometimes she will creep up to 75 but we get her right back down.  John started giving Gracie a cup of cooked (frozen) green beans and reducing her kibble from 3c to 2c per day.  He felt she needed something green because she was seeking out grass all the time.  Now you tell me...how in the heck can she gain 5 lbs. on green beans and reduced kibble???  And this is in one month!!!!  And we no longer give her the chicken jerky except as a rare treat.  John was giving them to her like they were candy and has been for years.  We cut that out as well and she has GAINED weight!!! Go figure.

 

You take a 77 lbs extra long extra tall Doodle and put the NED LOOK on her and sorry...she looks FAT!  John and I are just loving her new hair cut I just gave her.  She is looks so perky and sporty!!!  ha ha

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Send me a pic!  Clancy went from 55 pounds when we got him last year to 63 last month - we DO watch his weight.  We weighed him at the groomer's again yesterday and watched his weight be 64 pounds!  We have cut down on his kibble and put Ned's dish where he can't get to it just in case he is.

[Holly Doodle]

UPDATE!!

The appointment went much better than expected! The girl at PetSmart was very friendly and gave me time to explain what we wanted done. When we picked Holly up she looked good, not great but good :). They had cut her to 1", and combed out all of her mats, I was very pleased with that. My only complaints were the choppy scissor marks on her face, her ears were cut straight across (one longer than the other), and they came a little too close on a few of her paw pads which were pink. I probably won't go back any time soon but it worked for us in a pinch, and they had great customer service! Plus Holly's mats are gone and she is a happy girl. Thanks for everyone's nice comments!

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

That is good to hear that at least the groomer was friendly and allowed you to explain what you wanted.  If you are unhappy with the scissor marks on her face you can always take some blending shears and blend them in.  Just remember if you do...only scissor once at a time. Scissor, comb, scissor, comb, etc.  If you do multiple at the same time scissoring you will remove too much hair!  The shears are great for blending and covering up flaws and especially scissor blade marks.  I guess you will need to even up the ears.  Again, you don't want the blunt cut across the bottom so you can take the blending shears and trim across the bottom edge so they get a feathered look.  Sorry about the pads.  Hope she isn't raw or limping.  Keep an eye on them for a few days.

[Holly Doodle]

Thanks for the tips Nancie. She didn't seem to notice the pads. We took her for a walk right after getting home and she acted normal. I was cleaning off her paws when we came in the house and that's when I noticed the pink pads. I'll for sure keep an eye on them though, she has daycare on Wed so she runs and plays a lot and I would hate for them to get infected. I'll have to invest in a pair of blending shears. It seems like that's always my issue after she's groomed, the choppy marks in different areas. Thanks again for the advice!