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]

Another thing to consider is how each individual Doodle's hair, growth pattern and curl are different.  My Gracie is a soft wavy fleece.  She does not have the thick, dense, wooly or wirey type hair that some Doodles have.  Her waves have a mind of their own and cowlicks all over the place.  I love the eyebrow ridge bang look that some Doodles have but Gracie's hair does not grow that way.  She also has one eyebrow that likes to hang down and make it look like her eye is half closed.  You just have to go with what you have and make the best of it.  Even if you see a Doodle cut or picture that you love, you might not be able to get it.  By doing it yourself you will create your own personal Doodle's personality which is fun!

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

That is an adorable face and perfect cut.  But then again...it is one of Barb's babies and cuts!!!!  That says it all!  lol

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

I don't leave a beard on either of my guys (too much water and mess).  I like to keep them cut shorter in the muzzle area but it is really just up to you and what you like/works for you. 

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

Thanks everyone.  In this photo you can see the lines on the side I am referring to.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

I sometimes take my thinning shears and soften the edges when I see straight lines cut into their coats.  I think she looks really cute though and like how her eyes are very defined.

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

Thanks Amy.  I do like being able to see her eyes, especially for training.  Jury's still out on what to do for the top part.  The groomer had cut it short so this time I didn't really have a choice.  I think what I am going to do is just let it grow and see how it looks, then if necessary try the thing where you trim just the very front part above the eyes and then keep the rest long and let it hang over and around.

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

The top should look like a crysthanamum. A quick way is to gather all the hair on the top of the head up in a pony tail and 'chop'. This automatically gives a layered appearance.

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

Ok, thanks.  I had to look up "crysthanamum", but yes, that is the look I want.  Kind of like this.

[Carolyn Shusterman]

Barb, thank you so much for this suggestion.  We can all do the pony tail cut.  I work so hard trying to get the right look I want on the top of Hersheys head.  First it's pointy..then flat.  I can hardly wait for her hair to grow out again so I can just 'chop' it. 

[Carolyn Shusterman]

Our little girl has a beard and mustache.  When she drinks water after eating she just drips dry.  I haven't used thinning shears yet, should I?  The hair on her back is 5 inches long...it makes her feel like a big girl (she is 16.5 lbs).  After this photo I cut the hair under her ears and neck like Barb illustrated so her ears lay flatter next to her head and  I cut the length of her ear hair shorter.  I'm still trying to master my doodle grooming..she is the first and only doodle grooming I do. Where do you think I can improve on her cut? 

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

Obviously I am a total beginner, but the one thing I can tell you is that personally I like that length - or at least longer than what I have now.  The only reason I went so short was because the groomer had made her head so short on top that it looked silly compared to her body and plus she had a lot of puppy coat attached that was really whispy and frizzy, so I decided under the circumstances I would just cut it off and start over.  As far as I have been able to tell, the mustache and beard is a matter of preference.  I would say that from all the pictures I've looked at it seems like more people leave the mustache long than to cut to above the mouth like I was talking about.  I think leaving it long is probably easier in that then you don't have to worry about blending and you have something to line the ears up with and the whole thing looks nice and round.  If you don't have any choppy lines and the mass of the head, body and tail are all in balance, who cares about blending?