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.  

 

 

 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Bonnie, You are braver than me. Luckily, I love my groomer and she is very reasonable. Maybe you could take in a picture and show the groomer exactly the cut you want, but I think $120 is very high. I took two doodles in to my groomer and it was $80 plus tip. Sorry you had a bad cut, but hopefully it will grow out quickly.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Oh Bonnie!! I'm so sorry about your disastrous grooming experience!! UGH!! I am learning to be an at home groomer too. I have clipper cut Tara once so far. I still have much to learn. But please don't consider it a failure if your first attempt is not perfect. It is a learning experience and you will improve with time just as you do in other areas of life. Since he just got cut you still have time to read the old posts in the Grooming group too and see if you may need to change your blade or combs to suit his coat type. Good luck and please keep us posted!!