when to do a full groom?

[Jen & Ember]

So, Ember is 4.5 months and I think she is just the cutest thing ever. :) She is about 25lbs currently and is very fluffy. I got lots of comments at the dog park about (a) how big she looks and (b) other people saying "oh, she needs to go the groomer!". I don't know what I think about that!  The vet said she's on track growth-wise.

 

Is there a certain age that you think puppies should get a full groom? Ember has had a little trim, bath, and blow dry to help get her used to grooming. 

 

 

 

[Dos Doodles--Sam & Luke]

She's beautiful!  I think she looks so cute!  If she were my pup, I would groom her just because I have a sense that those puppy coats are hot!  I know my doodles run hot and are always looking for ways to cool down.  I got Luke trimmed when he was about 4.5 months old.  It was about the time that his curly coat was about 1 inch long and it was starting to look a little bizarre.  Your girl is pretty darn cute...I think it's totally up to you.  At some point, you are going to want to see that cute curly coat!!!  As for me, I never really loved the puppy coat...it's all dull and wooly.  My guys are so pretty now that their real coats are in.   :-)

[Jen & Ember]

I am very curious how she'll look when cut down. I'm trying to find good pictures to take to the groomer. I thinking she willl have a pretty curly coat when it's cut shorter. At the roots the fur look pretty curled!

[Lauria Orr]

Hi Jen,

I personally think Ember looks just beautiful. I don't know that there is the "right" age for a dog to be groomed.  I think Melody was 6 months old and Morgan went in for the same treatment as your Ember at 4 months or so.  He had his first grooming at about 6 months, if I remember correctly.  Ember  is just adorable!  It is pretty cool in the Pacific NW right now...that may factor into your decision!  Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

 

 

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Amber is adorable!  There are no rules as to how long a Doodle's hair should grow.  We have members who have Doodles with 6" of growth and others that keep them really short.  It really comes down to the look you like and what up keep you are able to handle and live with. Most of our Doodles have had to go through the shave down around a year old because of the dreaded puppy coat blow out!  As the adult hair comes in it gets tangled and matted with the puppy coat.  That is why you never see any shedding and for a while don't realize the coat is growing it  It then requires lots and lots of combing and brushing and that means using the comb and getting right down to the skin where the mats develop.  You will need to like comb/brush to really get the mats.  So many of us think we are doing a great job brushing but don't realize we are just skimming the top layer of the coat and not getting down way inside.  There are a few tools you might want to invest in.  The Les Pooches Brush, a good comb (I use one with rotating teeth) and a mat buster.  There have been many discussions in the Grooming Group.  Search around in the archives and I think you will find photos of the equipment we are talking about.  As long as you are able to maintain Amber's coat that is great.  She will need "clean up" trimming though.  The face, eyes, sanitary and feet.  She is just adorable right now so unless you are finding mats, just keep her trimmed. 

[Jen & Ember]

Thanks for the tips! I've been keeping up with brushing and combing, although Ember does NOT love it at all. Maybe I should try a new brush. We've only had a couple of mats so far and they've been tiny. I know this will increase exponentially when her coat starts to change.... yay... (not). :)

I am interested in this comb you speak of with rotating teeth. I've never heard of something like that! What's the benefit? Where did you purchase?

[Kate]

She is adorable!!!

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

I think she looks great. You have to consider though how old she will be when she has to have a haircut because of the coat change. It depends on your weather. I cut down my dogs coats late October no matter what their age is because it will be colder in Dec and January and I don't want to shorten coats at that time of year. It can get very cold here.

I do a major haircut in Mar-Apr. A tidy trim mid summer and a haircut in the fall. The length of these cuts depends on the coat, the dog's temperament for grooming and the weather.

So you see, there is no perfect answer. You just need to factor in the details and keep combing.

[Jen & Ember]

Good point. Definitely something to think about!! Thanks for sharing your schedule with me, that's helpful. :)

[Jess and Pippin]

What a gorgeous girl!  I had Pippin cut short at about 7 months.  It was July and he was really hot and his puppy coat was growing out.  We didn't have trouble with mats, but I wanted to avoid issues.  He was lovely with a shorter coat.  I trim his face and he has been to the groomer 2 additional times to get a "pawsicure"  (nail trim and pads trimmed shorter) and a clean up under his tail. 

[Jennifer Halkovitch]

She's beautiful! I love how fluffy she is! I just had Moose groomed at 10 months and a good amount of hair taken off, but I'm avoiding shaving him at all costs! The groomer spent 6 hours on him, shaving problem areas (matting) but you can't see it when you look at him, she did a wonderful job at hiding it!

[Jen & Ember]

Oh gosh, just checked out your photos of Moose - could he be any cuter??? :) 

[Jennifer Halkovitch]

Thank you!!! He's such a love bug!! Even at his "height of adolescence" which is what the vet told me he is at, he's not bad at all! Ember will look cute no matter how you cut her hair. I love the teddy bear cut and that looks really similar to the way her hair is now.