Lucy's Summer cut

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

I'm getting so frustrated with Lucy looking like a toy poodle every time I pick her up from the groomer's. The shop I take her to specializes in little dog cuts, but I liked the trim they did on Lucy's body the 1st time that I kept going back. I've taken pictures, instructions, you name it, and I can never get her to have the face/head turn out correctly. Lucy has such dense, cotton candy-type hair there is no way on this earth I would tackle the entire job myself. I do touch up trim work, but never the whole thing. Finding a good groomer is almost impossible. And I HATE trying new ones because of the usual disappointment. What's a doodle mom to do?

 

Anyway, here she is, looking like a toy poodle:

[Debbie Young]

she doesn't look like a toy poodle at all------she has that type of coat that is hard not to make look like a poodle---as an old groomer---we do what we can--we are not mircle workers! She looks great!

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Well, thank you.  I wish I thought as you do. I think now its her ears that makes her look poodlish to me. The last couple times it was the poodle poof on top of her head. I finally got the groomer to stop doing that. Here's a pic of Lucy after her very first clipping. I loved how this groomer did Lucy's face. Not poodlish in the least. Sadly, that groomer quit or moved or something. She's no longer in business.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Did you take THIS picture to show her???? I know it's scary and sometimes disappointing when you pick them up.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Jennifer, yes. That and one other shorter cut, as an example for less of a poof on top of the head. That Lucy ended up looking nothing like the pics, I'm convinced they only look at the pictures to appease you. Once you're out the door they don't give the photos a second glance. Although, to her credit, the groomer did keep the poof to a minimum this time. Actually, I was so focused on the poof this time, I completely forgot to mention to make the legs twice the length of the body (which I always mention, and the groomer always does). Because I didn't mention it, it didn't get done. I have to be diligent about the particulars of how I want Lucy or she comes back looking like some other dog. Its very frustrating.

[Ali & Sonny D.]

First off, she is a beautiful dog with such a velvety look coat! But I do understand your frustration. I have finally found a groomer that cuts Sonny's head the way I like it. I LOVED my last groomer because of the way she treated and loved Sonny however, wasn't so happy with the way she cut his head. The groomer I have used the last few times seemd to get it much better. I went in with pictures I did not like at all and then showed her what I liked and wrote down what I wanted. Mainly I wanted the head, by the top of the ears to all flow together and not cut in and separate ears and head, which I think gives that poodle look. They also shaped Lucy's ears and Sonny's now is just trimmed but left long and flowy. As I am always told, it will grow out. I am no pro for sure, but maybe my suggestions can help a little. I will try and send you a pic of Sonny's last groom. He had to go real short on the body for summer (he will not stay out of water) and she left him longer on the head It was his first short cut in 2 years I didn't cry  from.  

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Hey Ali, thanks for the suggestions. I would like to see those pics of Sonny. Honestly, though, I'm thinking they don't even look at the pictures you take in. At least not after you leave. I took the picture above and one other that was even shorter (but no poodle poof), and Lucy came back looking like she does with the blunt cut ears, and not at all looking like that picture. Its time to start shopping around... again. I HATE that I'm so sensitive to her looks fresh from the groomer. Its such a disheartening feeling, and kind of hopeless as well, since no 2 grooms are alike, even from the same groomer. Maybe I should go to grooming school... not that I think I'd do any better job, but at least I'd have the skills and knowledge to fix my mistakes.

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

Not poodly. That really isn't a poodle cut. If anything, I think her ears and head are more bichon. The difference between doodle and bichon are even less than poodle and doodle.

 If her ears were tapered a bit more, you might be happier. I also try to make a definition between "head" and "muzzle". The pic of the cut below looks like it has that definition. A couple of quick strokes with the blending shears will give you more of what you want....Go ahead...try it. :)

[Deb, Connor & Simon]

Lucy is one really, really cute dog. :-)

I think I might have mentioned the first time I took Simon in for a professional haircut, afterward someone asked me if he was a giant bichon his head was sooooo round. Next time, everyone thought he was a poodle -- that had to do with the roundness of the pouf not blending into his ears at all. After that I decided to learn how to groom him myself. It is a process I am still learning. :-)

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

I definitely agree with Barb.  If you give Lucy some "layers" on the ears, that should fix the problem for you.  Our groomer had a hard time getting Cubbie's head and face just the way I wanted it so now I kinda just tell her to leave it alone and I trim it up myself at home.  I am working my way up to doing the full groom myself, but for now it is easiest for me to keep his head looking the way I like it. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I would take  Lucy back to the groomer - not in anger, just so they can see what you mean, with pictures and the advice given here about blending shears and let them do it - then they WILL see what you  want and they can make their notes for next time with her.  Ned has a very similar looking coat and I know sometimes I like his head better than others - and sometimes it is my fault because I will say something like wanting the ears shorter or.....  My groomer tries really hard to please me.  I think the dense, cotton candy fur is the hardest to work with - definitely the hardest to brush.

[Ali & Sonny D.]

Going back to the groomer is a good idea. You can explain what you liked and didn't like. I have to tell you I envy anyone who can groom their own dog (or anyone elses for that matter). I can barely cut a staraight line never mind a dog! I do sometimes trim the beard area shorter as it grows and I only using blending shears so if I mess up you can't tell. Sonny has a similar look coat. His is so thick it is neverending. I am sure Lucy's is like that too. At least you are getting some good ideas. :)

[Ginny Nightingale]

She is sooo pretty--and I know what you mean about the poodle look, but what i see is kind of a cross between a poodle and a doodle--close, but not quite right. The ears are too triangular, and as someone said, you can layer them to reduce the poof--this will also make the top of her head look less flat--the hair up there should be a bit longer and the muzzle should be layered more to narrow it. Right now, with her ears and muzzle so wide, it makes the top of the head look too small. You can hold the hairs on the ears straight out from the ear then hold the scissor parallel to the ear hairs and scissor it vertically so that the hairs on the top of the ear are short and get longer as you go down. Hmmm--so hard to explain..I would do the same with the muzzle. I agree with one other person though, that this particular coat type is not going to act like a typical shaggy doodle coat and will look different no matter what you do. You can improve it a lot though by taking a spray bottle of water and wet the hairs and scrunch them up so that they are not so smooth and poofy. 

Here is an idea to improve the grooming in the future--You can take this lovely picture of Lucy, print it up in a 5 x 7 size, then take a fine line marker and draw the profile you want so that they can see where they should change the cut.