Grooming disaster no. 463

[Bonnie and Kona]

I've read so many stories of doodles and disastrous groomers here on DoodleKisses. Today I am adding my experience. 

 

I'm a little livid. I'm going to have to learn to clip my doodle. I took him to our groomer today. The first time we went, it cost $65. The second we went to this shop they had hired a new groomer who was supposed to do "show-quality" clipping. It cost $90, but he looked gorgeous. This time, the groomer ran her hands through his coat and said he definitely had no mats. I had brushed and combed him every day for 5 days straight. When I went to pick him up he looked like a poodle! His feet were cut close, his topknot was a big round poof. (Which I took a thinning sheers to the minute we got home.) There were divots across his back. I had asked for his belly to be shaved, and it wasn't but there was a cut in the skin on his belly. His ears were not plucked. AND I was charged $120! I used to clip my little Cavalier because after he was neutered he grew a ridiculously full and long coat. I did the shameful Springer Spaniel cut on him, and he looked really handsome. But, he was so little and Kona is 95 pounds, so I've been chicken. After all the encouragement from this group, I'm going to have to give it a try.

 

I've been following all the threads on the grooming group page. The stories about it taking six days to clip a standard doodle have put me off the idea of attempting to do this. Also, I cannot imagine how my clipper will manage my big boy. It is an Andis but I don't have the directions anymore so don't know the product number. I bought the most expensive one that PetCo had at the time. It has only a size 10 blade and several clip on combs but the longest is 1/2 inch. I didn't use the combs on Slugger our Cav. I just used the 10 blade. I will have to try with this old clipper before I shell out more money for a new one. I cannot bring myself to spend over $100 for a new one and then fail and have to take him to a groomer for this hunk 'o money.  

 

 

 

[Bonnie and Kona]

Nicky, You have a great idea there! Please be sure to post pictures when you get your doodle!

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

That's it, I've decided I'm definitely going the DIY route.  I know a really good groomer who will do a full one day training workshop on how to use the clippers and the different types of scissors and it will cost me €175.  If there were enough doodle owners who could get together the good groomers amongst them I'm sure could teach the newbies.  It's just a thought because it seems that some of these so called 'groomers' just take the clippers and do the 'Poodle' cut.  I think I would feel like crying if that happened to my dog.  PS I'm still a Doodle owner in waiting!

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

Bonnie

...out of curiosity, who was the groomer? You can email me separately. I just want to know who to stay away from:) That's a lot of money for a groomer not to listen to you, esp since she cut him before. I agree with Cheryl, I would contact the owner.

[Lorraine Bromley]

Do it! We put Neely on a table and he stands really well for it. He has never been to a real groomer. I haven't trimmed him on a regular basis either. I made a couple of over zealous trims with the clippers that I will know for next time. I love the thinning shears as they work great. If I can do my doodle in a few hours with no experience I am sure you can do yours. We brush him about once a week thoroughly I have trimmed his eye area since doing the full groom and that's it. He looks a little less wild ( the look I like) but still long. It doesn't mat like it was doing prior to the trim, I don't know if that is the reason though? Go for it.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

I feel for you.  I live in a suburb of sprawling Los Angeles. You would think I could find a decent groomer. Both Tigger and Roo are ALDs with super curly hair.  Roo's is wool and Tigger's is fleece.  But we do see a lot of doodles around her.  There is one place about 45 minutes from here that does a good job on my friends doodle, but it seems a long way to go.

 I have had everything from nasty to me, awful cuts and then three times in a row deep nicks with the grooming brush.  My new strategy is taking them both to a self wash and doing their sanitary cuts myself with DH's help.  Then at the start of doodle weather I will just scissor them close.  If they look silly it will only embarass me as they don't care at all how they look.  I have absolutely no idea how to use clippers and as they are very curly I figure that will cover a mutitude of mistakes with my scissors cut.  Hope you do well with your attempt - keep us posted 

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

you could always try scissor cutting rather than buying a new clipper

[Bonnie and Kona]

Laurie and Cheryl, The interesting thing is this woman cut Kona the last time he was groomed. She remembered him and asked if I wanted him the same way. I said yes but asked her to shave his belly. As I said in the blog, she had done a fantastic job the first time. I am shocked that the price this shop charged would almost double in six months. There is no way I can afford $120. Now we have two doodles. Uh, that would mean $240 for grooming? EEK

[Joe R.]

It took me 4 groomers to find the right one. All the others would cut Gus like a poodle. And a couple just shaved him all over even though we knew he wasn't matted. Definately take a picture with you next time.

[cheryl & oliver]

did u tell the groomer rhat you were upset with this grooming?  Has this groomer ever done a doodle before?  I think I would call and speak to the owner of the shop, and tell her your feelings.  $120,00 is a lot of money to pay for a bad haircut, and that she nipped him too, If I was the owner I would rather someone tell me they are unhappy because it makes more sense to try and corect a problem, then to lose a customer and have the word get out that there is a problem with the grooming shop or at least the groomer....

[Lynda Kamrath]

Wow!  $120 for a clip, and they didn't even pluck her ears.  How about the anal gland?  That sounds very expensive to me.  So Kona is 95 pounds.  That is a lot of doodle, but you will not need to spend six days on her clip.  If you really take your time and do just a little each day, it may take a few days.  It was about five hours of work on my two big doodles, but we would do it in a couple of days because we would get tired, not the doodles.  But it is definitely worth it to give your own grooming a try.  If you don't like the way she turns out, you can do it differently the next time.