What was I thinking????

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Well, several days ago I finally, with much self talk and encouragement from DK got up the courage to try giving Tara a scissor cut. What I had not factored in accurately was Tara's tolerance level for being "messed with" and my excruciatingly slow methodology. Bad combo!

So here we are 4 days later. The first day I was able to get the top of her head cut. That was IT! Next day, under ears and down to collar level. Done. Third day I worked down her back about 1/3 of the way and a little on one side. Done! Fourth day a little on the other side. Done! That is is so far.

Fortunately, I am not taking a huge amount off. It is noticeable but not shockingly noticeable-I hope!! EEK!

One thing that kind of makes it good in some ways and worse in others is her coat color. She has a fading red coat so the closer I get to the root the darker she is. Besides the missing hair, I can follow my pattern by the color change. However, it does tend to make the half cut look even stranger. I don't think the color change shows in the photo but here is the length difference:

I am now wondering how many weeks this is going to take and if I will have to just start all over again once I get to the finish line...

And if Tara is going to want to go into hiding...

We still take her out and about and no one has mentioned it (TO US!) and we do not mention it! :) I'm sure when we walk away they are saying "OMG, did you see the hair cut on that POOR dog??? Hope they didn't pay much for THAT!!"

Have to go now...time for more snipping...

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I'm finding there is a fine line between bravery and stupidity.

[shelly]

You guys are ALL much braver than I... I wouldn't even attempt it on Tori! GOOD FOR YOU!

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Joanne, I was wrong-today is ONLY day six for us! So your 10 day record is safe at this point...back to snipping...

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Joanne I am ROTFLMHO!!! Foster dog-OMG!!! That is funny!! Tomorrow will be day 7 for us and I still have 3 1/2 legs, tail, and face yet to do besides a few odds and "ends". So I may match or top your 10 day record! Stay tuned!!

Thanks everyone for the encouragement. If you had seen her after her last professional grooming session you would know why I am trying this: # She looked completely hideous #2 I really don't think that I can make her look ANY worse than THAT! And so I persevere...

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Yes you are very brave, it is scary too. But I figure Murphy would never complain about a bad hair day so as long as he's okay with it, I'll be too.

[Tessa, Ellie and Wheezy]

You are doing great!!! You are brave.....I can't do it!! Maybe someday I will try again.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

It takes me TEN DAYS to scissor cut Spud. YES, I said TEN. I also have to do all the work while he sleeps. Spud goes to sleep every night at 11 pm. That is when I begin. This winter I was asked if my Spud was a recently placed in my home as a foster. That was how bad he looked half way through the cut. My girl Starlit takes 1 hour. It depends on the tolerance of the dog, the coat, and a whole lot of other things.
I think you did great. It does take awhile. Long while to do a scissor cut.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Sue, you mean doodles don't tilt their heads on their own it is just a crooked ear cutting job??? Now I'm in on the secret!! LOL!! I am already wishing I had cut it shorter. Especially toward the front end where it is longer. At the time I was just trying to give myself a large margin for error. Now I feel like it could need cut again in about a month! (about the time I finish). We made some progress today. I made it down the back to about 2 inches or so from the tail and down one rear leg about half way. She was so patient for so long that now she is just out of control running around and destroying her toys. I think I better take her outside for a few rounds of ball retrieving!! Oh, and the other thing I am up against now is that the areas I have not been cutting are tangling and matting because I am spending all the "grooming time" cutting and not brushing the rest of it. So it is taking even longer because I now have to detangle it before I can cut it. Looks like I have about a month to get a good pair of clippers before we start all over again...

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I think you are doing a great job!! The hardest part for me is not to get it done in 1 sitting! But that just isn't in Charli's makeup.

Chari is a royal PIA when grooming her. She fidgets, whines and moves towards me for a hug that the 1st time is took huge chunk of hair off her front ankle!
To desensitize her I give small pieces of Zuke's Mini treats. I make those treats longer in between bites. She still hates sitting and standing still on the table but I get more done with each grooming.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Ha! I hear you about it getting shorter and shorter. You'll get to the point that you want to do it as short as you can tolerate so you don't have to do it again too soon! In the winter I have gone as long as 4 months, but he is really shaggy by then and I have trimmed him up around the annoying areas during that time, as in a sanitary cut, paws, around mouth and beard. Plus I am forever on top of his ears as I would hate to even try to add up what we've spent on ear infections. Tara's hair is very easy to cut as you really have to do a BIG "uh-oh" to actually see it. Where I find mistakes or uneveness the most noticable is the legs and face. And ofcourse getting the ear length even is helpful. Or she'll look like she;s always tilting her head!