Scared of the first clip

[Donna P.]

Bayley has just turned 5 months. I'm not sure when to start the clipping. So far, she is brushing out with no mats, and her hair is about 3 inches. I'm thinking I'll wait until she becomes too difficult to brush and just let it grow in the meantime. It's gotten cooler here in the last couple of weeks, back to more normal temps in the 50s and 60s. If she looks like she's too hot, I'll have to jump on in.

I'd like to do the clipping myself, rather than risk being totally dissatisfied with what the groomer may do. But I know nothing of electric shears, and I'm planning to do her with scissors. I just start to hyperventilate whenever I think about putting scissors to her hair. I'm not sure why it bothers me so. Sunday, I sheared 4 of my llamas. They get an annual body cut to cool them down in the summer. I cut them with Fiskers spring loaded scissors. I have purchased some nice blunt,curved scissors, and a pair of straight ones, too, for Bayley.

Here are a couple of before and after shots of the llamas. I've always heard that the difference between a bad haircut and a good haircut is about 2 weeks.

[Deborah DeRose]

Hi Donna,

You are so funny!  I had always groomed Brewster, but was afraid of the first clipping for Zeke, too - so I know how you feel. If you can do that to llamas, though - I say you have it covered!  I think every dog is different - Brewster would just go to sleep for me.  Zeke isn't fond of getting groomed but is getting used to it more and more.  I had his first cut done by a professional, but I've been getting the clippers out and turning them on while petting him every couple of days,  trying to get him used to the idea of me taking over. 

[Donna K & Quincy]

Too funny, just a quick bit of advice, when you do groom Bayley you might want to do the entire doodle. LOL

[Donna P.]

Good tip. I like it

[Bev and Tess]

I kept getting more, and more nervous about the first hair cute too. Seems most everyone gets a few bad cuts before they find someone that gives them exactly what they want. Not to mention we all like a different look. After buying some good scissors, I started out small, just between the eyes. Then the top of her head. I guess I was getting only what was starting to bother me. I gave Tess her first all over at about 10 months and just gave her the second one at 11 1/2 months. I want her hair long, and she has been blowing her baby hair for a few months now, so I spend some time on it every couple days. I'm brushing wherever she has a new mat, and they do come fast and furious. Good luck, I'm sure if I can do it you can!

[Shelly Gouvas]

You can do it!I too was nervous but ended up Jake needed a haircut sooooo bad and our finances were tight at that time.So a trip to the groomers was kinda out of the question.I just did it and I couldn't believe the compliments we started to get.I have always scissor cut Jake.I want to buy a good pair of clippers and try a clipper cut. Anything new is scary.Scissor cut has been working for us but it takes so long.Sure clippers would be much faster.Any suggestions on a certain clipper I should look at?

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I use the Andis two speed clippers and it is very good.  The blades are quite pricy though and you might want to buy a set of clipper guards which are relatively cheap too.

[Lynda Kamrath]

Love the llama cuts.  If you can do llamas, you for sure can do your doodle.  I would say it would be better to do a little at a time and get Bayley accustomed to being groomed.  He needs to get his face and feet handled to get used to that first.  The scissors trim is the easy part.  Your llamas are beautiful.

[Donna P.]

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I'm liking the curly look right now, and until it becomes a problem, I'm leaving it alone. Just eye, ear, and toe trims so far.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

If you can groom Llamas then you can groom doodles lol Seriously though, you don't need to do the whole lot in one go.  I brush Riley every day and when I started with the clippers I used the clipper guards on top of the blades.  I have one that is 1 and 1/4 inches and when I use it in one direction only it doesn't remove too much hair.  You can do a bit one day and then go back on another day, in other words little by little.  I think with puppies you need to get them used to the tools, including the clippers and the best scissors I have is a blunt ended one so little chance of making an error if Riley moves.  The other best one I have is a curved scissors which I use around his paws and on the sides of his body.  If you take a little at a time and don't get carried away it will work out fine ( I did one too close shave under one of his ears in the beginning lol)  The good thing is that it grows back and also any mistakes are yours and not ones you have paid a groomer for !!!