Only cost $5 Extra to get what I did NOT want!

[Adina P]

Rosco went to the groomer once when he was about 5 months old. It was mostly just to get cleaned up...not a real 'hair cut' session. It went well, but I decided I'd do it myself. And I did for about 3.5 years. Before baby arrived I took him to PetCo for the first time to get 'cleaned up' again. Happy with the results and lacking 3-4 hours to spend grooming, I took him there again this Sunday. This time Clark, who likes Rosco long and shaggy, agreed it would be okay if he were trimmed down a little.

I figured we had a high chance of a successful grooming because Rosco prefers shedding to matting.
When we got there it was the same girl who worked on him the last time and she did fine, but just to make sure of it, I had Rosco hop up with his front paws on the counter so the groomer and I could look closely at his coat. I confirmed with her that indeed he was about 3 inches. I also expressly stated that in addition to a sanitary trim, closer butt trim than last time, nail clipping, ear flap hair trimming...I ALSO wanted him to be taken down to 1.5 inches all over except his beard and face. Given all the horror stories of doodles I've heard in the last 4 years or so I wasn't taking a chance at miscommunication.

This is Rosco before:

This is the dog I found when I returned:


BobbleHead Rosco

I was pretty sure I made myself quite clear, but English is, indeed, my second language so who knows what the groomer actually heard. Notice how "face and beard" was translated to "entire head." And best of all...it only cost $5 more to go from 'just cleaned up' to this.

Rosco hasn't noticed he looks like an oddly shaped Lion.

On another note...Rosco has been exceedingly respectful of ALL of Natalie's toys. Before she arrived, there was some serious coveting going on regarding the stuffed animals that filled her room. Now, he hasn't even been tempted. Or doesn't act like it.

And today, before work, he tried cuddling with her. Got right in the line of fire of those uncontrollable kicking legs...and barely seemed to notice when she started pounding him in the head. Ahhhh a head massage.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

I think we have all been there done that at least once with our Doodles. Same thing happened to Gracie two years ago just before Christmas and she was in the Christmas parade not looking the way I wanted her to. I always used the same private groomer too! I now do Gracie myself. In fact, I did her yesterday and it took 3 hours but we took a lot of breaks but then I don't have a baby to take care of. Gracie is my baby these days!!! I bet Rosco is very happy though. Gracie loves to have really short hair because she gets sooooo hot. Your snow is gone isn't it??? I must say, I did laugh when I saw him but he is so cute and like everyone says, it will grow back. Just don't let him think you are laughing at him because Doodles are very sensitive and pick up on our feelings...ha ha

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

Rosco looks like he is a wee bit embarrassed in his 'After' photo. I have had a similar experience with our regular groomer and English is both of ours first language. =)

[Linda,Yankee & Finn]

OK, I am so sorry but this made me laugh out loud. Sorry Rosco, I couldn't help myself.

[Ali & Sonny D.]

Oh, I had to laugh at this. Sonny had a very similar cut recently( his was actaully worse b/c it is uneven around hi face, his face almost has a wierd bi level thing going on). I called it the Q-tip look as his head and face were still sort of shaggy, his body practically shaved (not what I had asked for being he is supposed to have the shaggy look!!! I brought a picture in to show her exactly what I wanted) and then his tail was left untouched. The poor thing looks so silly I cried. Thankfully 3 weeks later he is finally starting to grow back in but he needs to have his faced shaped. What is wrong with these groomers~

[Debbie and Thomas]

Oh I forgot to add that Roscoe is gorgeous even when his head is too big for his body.

[Debbie and Thomas]

I took Thomas to PetsMart for a bath about a week before Christmas. Our groomer could not fit him in. I asked the girl at Petsmart to bath him, trim his nails and trim around his behind..you know where. Well when I picked him up he was cut all over his body and she cut all the hair around his eyes(he looked like ALF) and CUT OFF HIS LONG EYELASHES!! I was really upset. They are REALLY STUPID at our Petsmart and I will NEVER go again.

[Kathy Spyker]

Keep this picture and the next time you go give it to them and say " This is what I don't want him to look like " I had a hairdresser that did that to me one time., my hair looked like a basketball, and I never went back to her since. I think Rosco's body looks even and very soft...give him a hug for me =) on your last photo- maybe Natalie thought his hair was sticking up to much on his head and that's why she was trying to kick it down..lol

[Dan, Judi, & Timbow]

I think he looks so cute!!! I like the lion look. heehee.

[Adina P]

I don't have dog fur trimming shears. I'm HAPPY to just use the comb attachments on him and have always been fine with the results. It's not that they did a "bad" job but that they did the WRONG job. He has an easy coat...all they'd have to do is put the right blade attachments on their clippers and voila!

[F, Calla & Luca]

It is always surprising how many people cannot follow more than 1 step directions. at the lest you need to write them out. That's why I go to a very small chain of groomers : ) and get just what I want or have the patience to do. I think you should just go for it now and make his tail more lionish.