order of grooming steps.

[Linda Graham]

I have a few questions. I have read in a couple different spots now that when a dog is groomed, the first step is to brush them out totally, then shampoo, then dry, then brush again, then cut last. Is this the right order or is it supposed to be done a different way? If this is the right way, how long would it take to completely do a 40 lb. dog with a curly coat that is not matted up?

I'm guessing that it would easily take at least 3 hours?

[Bonnie and Kona]

I brush and shampoo the dog on one day. The next day I line brush and clip. I have an 84 pound doodle that takes me almost 2 hours to clip and scissor.

[Linda Graham]

So, with the 2 days together, how long total does it take you? I do not do the grooming myself. I only do in between groomer visits. I have tried a few different groomers. My dogs always take around an hour just to dry after the bath. The reason I'm asking is because of how the groomer did it. My boy is very curly. I combed him the day before he went into the groomer. It's like using a pick on an afro instead of totally brushing him out. I know he did not have mats, but he is curly. She plopped him up on the table upon our arrival and started trying to clip through his curly coat on the spot. She seemed irritated that the clipper was not gliding through. I left and when I returned to pick him up, she almost scolded me because it took her 3 hours to goom him. She said he was all matted up and I was lucky that she didn't have other dogs booked because she wouldn't have had time to do them.

Both my dogs(1 curly and 1 wavy) always took pretty much 3 hours with my previous groomer even when they were not matted. And, with my previous groomer, they were always visibly brushed out(all fluffy and frizzed, like a big cotton ball). Some other groomers that did my dogs gave them back to me cut but curly and not fluffed out. I'm just curious what is actually supposed to be happening and how long is normal to take. I can't imagine doing my dogs in less than 3 hours for brushing, washing drying and cutting and more brushing.

[Cynthia and Magic]

I don't think I would go back to that groomer. She sounds nasty!

My dog (also curly and about the same size) used to take about 4 hours at the groomer. They bathed him first, then brushed and clipped - and he would always be all fluffed out.

The last grooming experience didn't go so well (total shave down - skinny poodle feet and all) so now I do it myself. Sure - he doesn't come out as pretty - but we are working on it! :D

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

That groomer doesn't sound nice at all and If I were you I wouldn't be going back.  I brought Riley to a new groomer just to say hello the other day.  I brush him myself everyday, bath him every three weeks and do some trimming around his face and paws etc.  She put him on the table and checked him right over and said I was doing a great job as he definitely has no mats.  I asked her to trim him down a little in a couple of weeks time just because his coat is so very long and she says it will take four hours, she won't be using the clipper except on his belly .  I think that sounds about right.