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!

[Michele, Biscuit & Mo]

He looks good! What you talkin' about, girl? You did a great job. And Darwin sure looks happy!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

He's still cute!!!! Darwin looks happy and cool :)

[ej]

I really don't care what you do to his hair... shaved, cut or permed, Darwin is still one super duper adorable doodle! I want Koda to look like this after his grooming appointment tomorrow.

[Leslie and Halas]

I think he looks pretty good. It'll be perfect with a little evening out. And it looks velvety soft. That's my favorite thing about Halas' new short haircut, too. It's sooo soft.

[Frannie & Callie]

I think Darwin looks adorable and I completely applaud you (Camilla) for being brave enough to groom Darwin! Even if you don't love the results, at least you're trying!

[Yvonne N]

I think he looks fantastic. I took Astro to the groomer...and he looks so choppy that I think they let a Kindergarten class trim him with their safety scissors. You did good!

[Rose]

It's not that bad! Darwin, you look adorable!

[Kendra K. Rhoton]

I honestly don't think that it looks bad at all! Remington has had worse cuts than that from professional groomers! :) He's beautiful! Remington gets a haircut today... I pray that it turns out okay since we haven't had much luck with groomers :)

[Deb, Connor & Simon]

Although he does look a little bit choppy, he is SO DARNED CUTE who would notice!! Darwin is one precious dog!!
Maybe this will make you feel a little better :-D...
I have been grooming my own dogs - even my newfie - for many years. I thought I had every mat out of Simon, having combed and brushed him every night. So, I gave him a bath. While he was soaking wet, I realized he had a place on his hip about as big around as the size of your palm where there were several mats!! Cardinal rule of grooming, never let mats dry because they tighten up after getting wet. I was not having a good day any way. I saw those mats, grabbed the scissors and cut through them, I thought. Weeeelllllll, the mats were gone, but when Simon dried he looked like he'd been shaved for surgery. Right on his hip...in the middle of 4" long hair. When I took him to the groomer, I apologized for the condition of his hip hair. She laughed her butt off!! Good thing hair grows back fast. :-)
Kisses to Darwin from my doodle boys

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I totally agree with Karen - you really can't make Darwin look anything but gorgeous!!
With clippers Charli's legs looked like that :-(((((((((
I didn't have a tight hold on the leg and she pused it towards me. I learned my lesson.
Why don't you just run your clippers over him to even out the legs. Do you have a 5/8" comb attachement? That's what I use all over Charli - from head to toes except her muzzle. That I just trim under her chin.
IMHO there is no reason to take him to a 'professional' groomer. You did a fantastic job!