New Shears and Muzzle

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

Hi everyone ... so I ordered some new shears, which just arrived yesterday.  I haven't really had a chance to use them because of last weekend's grooming marathon, other than a few snips to tidy up - but I already can tell they are going to make all the difference for next time.  They are from Ed Glieb and same in a set with one straight, one curved and one thinning/blending.  I'll post a review once I have had a chance to use them some more.

Question:  What does everyone think about how long to leave the hair on the side of the muzzle, above the mouth?  I've noticed that probably what is most common is to let it all grow long so that it hangs down to even with the beard below the mouth.  Certainly this is the easiest way to do it while still having that fullness on the sides that makes a doodle look like a doodle.  However, it seems to me that the downsides are that you lose some expression by not being able to see the mouth and it has the potential to get messy by getting in the dog's mouth, food, water, etc.  So I'm thinking that for next time, maybe what I will try is this:  (1) for the hairs on the very top of the nose, comb them up and then trim so that they layer and lay down nicely, (2) for the hairs on the side of the muzzle and above the mouth, leave full but trim to just above the mouth, (3) for the hairs on the side of the muzzle and behind the mouth, let these hang down to the even with the bottom of the hair on the bottom of the muzzle below the chin, so you don't have an ugly line going across the side of the face behind the mouth and (4) trim the beard below the muzzle to about 1/2 or so, in a straight line back to the neck.  Lastly go around and trim the little hairs around the mouth to keep it neat.

Any thoughts on this idea?

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

I have the same shear set as you do.  Pretty much I do the same thing with my Gracie Doodle but she doesn't have a beard.  Beards get messy, drippy and smelly.  Also, since she is a girl I think she looks more like one without.  I too bring the hair on the nose all up to the center and then layer down.  But I also do it on the sides of the muzzle by pulling out and up.  I trim just to the black lip line.  I don't like to actually see the lips if possible.  Good thing to remember, it always grows back...and fast!  Gracie has big long ears and so I keep the hair very short underneath so there is ventilation and her ears don't get musty.  As far as the area on the sides of the face back up to the ears that is where your blending shears come in.  You don't ever have to see a scissor line or chunk if you use them properly.  It is usually one snip at a time and then comb out the hair, look at it and then snip again.  Do not use repeated snips as if you were cutting over and over.  It all comes down to personal preference and trial and error.  If you look at my Gracie Doodle on her page you will see all stages of lengths, thicknesses and fullness.  I do like her to have a fluffy face but I keep her body pretty short...mainly in the summer because we live near the beach and she loves water and is always wet.  Good Luck!

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

Thanks Nancy - I appreciate the insight.  I agree about the beard for a girl.  Also I think if the top part of the muzzle on the sides gets too long it starts to look like a mustache which I like for a boy but not for a girl.  You make a good point about one snip at a time with the blending.  I think I get lazy or don't do that because I am holding her head with one hand and the shears in the other.  Now that I think about it I think I have seen people hold the shears and the comb in the same hand and then switch back and forth.  I think I will try that method. 

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

I was lucky because Gracie went to a Groomer for her first two years so she learned the "table manners" and the words which was a huge help.  She knows to "hold" when I get near her face.  Otherwise, I probably would be at the Vet getting her stitched up every few months!!  lol  I invested in a grooming table and all the stuff so I do it myself and have for the last almost 4 years  It is also a good bonding time with your Doodle!

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

Ha, I can definitely relate.  My guest bathroom has turned into a mini dog grooming studio - see attached photo.  Lola is pretty good for a 6 month puppy but also I've found that sometime I have better control skiing the table altogether and using the hold her between the legs method, ala Adam Ford (I'm sure you've seen the YouTube videos).

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

Also one other thing, I can tell already that even just going over the face with a decent pair of blending shears makes all the difference in terms of the overall texture.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Just an added thought.  Go back to the Grooming Group and spend some time scrolling back through all the discussions.  They back to the start of DK but there are some really good tips and advice and tutorials.  As new people come in we see the same questions come up with is natural.  Way back I posted the name of a great book that a Doodle owner published through the internet.  I bought the little paperback and it has been a great help with grooming.  Pictures and details for every area of your Doodle.  I am out of town so I don't have access to my book to give you the information.  But if you spend some time reading old discussions you will probably find many of my comments.  I was huge in the grooming group way back a few years ago!  Contact me if you can't find the name of the book.  I will be home next week and I can post the name of it to you.

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

Thanks, I will look for it.

PS:  One more question.  When you comb out and do the blending cuts on the side of the face, I think the shears must be pretty much vertical, to blend a line that is horizontal - is that right?

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

I usually try to cut aiming my shears down the way the hair grows and not across.  If there is a big chunk where you have had to cut out a mat or something like that then you sort of go around it feathering it at different angles.  Once you start you will probably be able to figure out how the shears should go.  Just remember they are always thinning so staying in one spot too much will thin out the area.  There are also different thinning/blending shears out there.  Some have more teeth than others, closer together, and some have teeth on both sides.  It gets very confusing.  I basically took all of mine (4 pairs) to my hair dresser friend and had her show me how to use them and which ones would be the best.  Nothing like watching the real thing.  You might be able to go to PetCo or PetSmart and ask one of the groomers to show you how to use them or give advice.

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

btw, yes, that is what I meant about the direction of the shears.  I don't think it was clear by what I said.  For example, if the hair grows up and down, and you want to get rid of choppy line going across horizontally, you would comb it out and then make your snips with the shears being up and down the same as the hair grows.

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

I usually use them the same way I used the original shears. ie with the growth, but there are exceptions when talking about blending shears.

If you make a 'step' where it should be blended you could make it worse by cutting across instead of with the direction of hair growth.

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

I like this length. Click on the picture to make it the correct width. 

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

Thanks Barb.  I see what you mean, for a second it looked like a fun house mirror before I clicked on it.  That is cute - and plus you are kind of like Lola's grandmother, so I definitely value your thoughts!