Need professional groomer advice

[Gumbo and Ashley]

Hi, Gumbo is 9 months old. The top 3 pics are what he usually looks like. I want to keep his long curly/wavy coat as close to the top 3 pics as realistically possible.  I took him to groomer because he had very deep mats on his front legs that I knew I couldn't get out with my grooming tools. I took him in, did a consultation, and they took him back to get the mats out his legs. They never called me to tell me that he had them on his face and neck, which they shaved too. I was shocked and wanted to cry when I picked him up. I know that it was inevitable it had to be done, but I wish they would have told me  prior to picking him up so I would be mentally prepared.  Pics 4 and 5 will show you how he looked when I got him.  Pics 6 and 7 is what he looks like today, exactly one month later.  If I want to get him back to what he looked like  in the top 3 pics, what do I need to do next? Should I trim the long hair at the end of his muzzle so it blends with the shaved hair on his face? Should I take him to the groomer again to blend everything as it all grows back?  His back legs were just trimmed yet his front legs were shaved.  He's in the "in the middle" phase and I don't know when to bring him again to get him slowly start looking like his old self. Especially his face. How do I get it looking like a teddy bear instead of  poodle?  How long will it take for him to look back to normal? And how often should I be bringing him to get groomed during this process? Any advice will be helpful.  Just comparing the shaved pics and the ones I took today (a month later), he already looks a lot better. Seems to be growing back fast. Sorry for having the pics wrong way, I couldn't find a way to rotate it? Anyway, hope you can see it good enough to get the picture. Thanks so much!  Ashley

 3

[Helga, Nimbus, Sierra, Clooney]

Good job Ashley for keeping up the hard work! I've also only had one dog before my first goldendoodle, and he was a German Shepherd/Australian Shepherd cross. So no brushing other than trying to de -shed.
There was a time when Nimbus was about Gumbo s age, maybe a bit older, when I almost gave up on grooming him myself. That's when he had matts on top of his matts. I was brushing for hours. But with patience and the right tools (and probably because he was through his coat change ) it got a lot easier. I am not looking forward to Sierra's coat change. So far, brushing her has been a piece of cake.
I've been gone from home for 2 weeks right now. I am afraid of the condition of Nimbus ' coat under my daughter's care.

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Hi Ashley, you might consider having him shaved down completely (except head and tail), and then start at the beginning and brush him daily.  After he goes through the coat change, and he has his mature coat, it will be easier maintenance.  But at the very least, I feel he should have his head and tail brushed daily.  It takes only a few minutes and it is great bonding time.  You still will need to brush through his body every three or four days.  Good luck with your new grooming practices.  Gumbo is a cutie. 

[Diane, Hurley and Sidney]

Gumbo is so precious looking. I was very nervous when I first took Hurley to a groomer. I took pictures and emphasized that I wanted to keep his coat long. I was lucky and Hurley went to that particular groomer for over a year. During that time I tried one other groomer that several people raved about. She was very pricey and believed in shaving or close cutting the doodles she groomed. She tried to talk me into letting her shaving him and said he had a lot of mats. I know he did not and stood firm. His other groomer always told me they could tell I brushed him often and it made their job easier.

Before going further I do want to say that I brushed Hurley every other day fron time he was a pup to around 2 years old. Back brushed, forward brushed, focused on carefully getting the mays out. I had to learn how to correctly brush him.

I notice that the more he plays with his buddies the more mats he gets. So I am pretty much back to brushing every night. And I made my share of mistakes. I had to learn and it was through his breeder's web site and doodle kisses I gained what I needed to keep Hurley as free of mats as I could. I had never had anything but German Shepards so an ALD is a new experience.

The brushing time is Hurley's and my time. He lives it and it is very calming for both of us.

I am sure you will find your grooming skills will improve and Grumbo and you will enjoy that special time.