The Disaster

[Camilla and Darwin]

I take pride in staying on top of Darwin's grooming. Every single night, without fail, I do a complete line brushing. This has allowed him to be mostly matt free as he is going through his coat change. Whether or not we had hit the "bad stage" I don't know. I just know that I made a goal to not have to shave him because of grooming negligence.

Well, I kept that promise to myself. He WAS matt free...But I shaved him anyways. Two reasons.

1: He was super hot. Especially in our car, drooling, panting, lethargy, etc. (no air conditioning)

2: I really wanted to donate his fur to help with the oil spill.

Anyways, having shaved Darwin twice before, I went into this with a good amount of confidence. Both times that I have shaved him myself, he turned out cute.... so what happened? Well, I thought it would be a good idea to hand scissor, since my clippers weren't going through his thick fur very well. Without ever practicing. With a pair of dull scissors. <hand hitting forehead>

I give you, Darwin's hideous, uneven, ugly-butt haircut. I could not be more ashamed. It's so awful that I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry. The only thing I am sure of? As soon as the memorial day rush is over, we are going to a real groomer. To get his choppy little chicken legs fixed.

I was always under the impression that Darwin was more Golden-shaped. Not! He looks all poodle. I actually like the way he looks at this length, if his haircut wasn't so bad. Luckily Darwin loves his new cooler hairdo. He obviously hasn't looked in a mirror... :-)

Lesson learned! Being a groomer is just not in the cards for me. :-) Thank goodness his hair grows quickly!

[Tessa, Ellie and Wheezy]

LOL....Darwin is adorable...just adorable......I have to confess....I thought I would trim Ellie before she hit 12 months....it was on a Saturday...her hair was so matted.....I thought I would get her wet and trim off the knots.....What was I thinking? I cut her neck and I had to rush her to the vet...she didn't even know I cut her...I felt so bad...and the vet said....you are not the first person to do that!! I have taken her to the groomer since.....but I am lucky to have a groomer that only charges $25.00 for shampoo....nail trim and trims her hair.....Wheezy is going with Ellie on September 1st for her first Diva Day. I don't know if I'll ever be able to try it again myself or not? LOL You did a good job....you really did!!

[Camilla and Darwin]

I don't know either. I guess I believe it's true. I always knew that shaving huskies, or Saint Bernards, or other long haired breeds was bad. With the exception of poodles I guess. Darwin DOES seem less hot now though. He pants less in the car, is able to stay on the couch for longer, and doesn't need to be let out on the balcony as much. Perhaps that is just in my head though.

I do know that although I was able to stay on top of the matting to this point, It would probably be more difficult during summer because we take him to lakes, and hikes with streams. he gets muddy and wet... and that is no fun to brush out!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

LGG, I agree with your vet; long-haired dogs are designed to be long-haired, and since they do not sweat, cutting the hair can't really keep them cooler in terms of allowing body heat to escape. But so many people swear that it does, so...who knows? Maybe it's less thickness or weight that makes the difference.
I do understand that shorter fur is much easier to maintain, especially in summer when dogs are outdoors more in dirt, pools, etc.
Short or long, the consensus is, Darwin looks adorable!

[Debra Ference-Luongo]

The cut may not be what you were expecting but he looks pretty darn cute. It hardly seems a disaster :D

[LG & Sadie]

I heard something new yesterday at a dog romp-and asked my Vet if it was true-it was, in some cases-not sure which cases....the extra hair acts as insulation from hot and cold. Keeps them comfortable no matter what season it is....not sure I believe it in Sadie's case-she seems relieved after a shorter cut in the warm months.

I am the master of bad haircuts, but Sadie is super forgiving-I use scissors though-never tried clippers and I think it's better I haven't. Darwin is adorable and nothing could possibly change that-such a sweet expression on his face as he poses!

[L.M.]

Awwww I also think he looks adorable. We made the same promise to ourselves....and our pup....that we would NOT shave him under any circumstances.....that lasted about 6 months and then we gave in. The first week he looks like a poodle and my husband refuses to walk him, but then he fills in and starts to look like his old self. I will never forget his first haircut...when we went to pick him up at the groomer I sincerely did not recognize him when he came out and truly thought he was not my dog. LOL but he really does like having his hair short...he romps around the yard with pride!! =)

[Camilla and Darwin]

You guys crack me up! Laurie, that is such a kind offer, but no way would I subject them to this humiliation! Ha ha.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Camilla, I think Darwin looks adorable. I would let you practice on Vern and Fudge anytime :)

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

When we were first married DH was Military. He had some patches he wanted sewn on his uniform and he asked me where the sewing machine was. Thinking he wanted me to do it (and I didn't want to as I don't like to sew, my mom had bought the machine for me wanting me to learn) I told him the sewing machine was broken. A few days later, thinking he was doing me a favor he took the machine to the repair shop. Boy was he surprised when the guy called him and told him, Sir, there is nothing wrong with this machine!!!!! Now, if I tell him something is broke, he just takes my word for it unless I ask him to fix it!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

When DH asks what's wrong with the old one, just tell him "They broke". (He really never needs to know "how" they broke, just that they broke!) lol.

Like everyone else, I applaud you for have the nerve to dive in and do the haircut. There is nothing scarier than that first time you take the clippers to them. I found the hard part is stopping. I'm always like maybe just a tiny bit shorter, then a little more, and a little more! Then I'm like someone please stop me.