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...

[Leslie and Halas]

She looks great so far! And don't worry about making mistakes. They tend to grow back quickly.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Well, Sue those clippers are beginning to sound awfully good! I found myself thinking about them as I dozed off last night. Yes, I have reached the sad age where my bedtime fantasies are about dog clippers!!! I am doing pretty well with the treating (she thinks Origen puppy kibble is the BEST!) but I think I'll try giving her more of a workout today before we start. I have noticed though that each day she seems calmer. I'm not sure if it is because I am moving further from her head (most sensitive area) or because she is becoming desensitized-maybe a little of both. Another thing I noticed this morning is that the further I proceed with cutting the shorter it is getting!! The area I am cutting right now is probably 1/2 shorter than where I started! Part of the learning curve I guess! Sigh! Poor Murphy I can understand why you decided to groom him yourself after such an experience. I wonder if Tara's wasn't similar because the first couple of times we washed her ourselves she would shake like crazy. Now it is almost fun time for her. So something must have happened at the groomers that gave her fear about being bathed.

And Nina, I hear that the Doodle Mohawk is the hot new look right now!! LOL! Funny you should mention the head because I noticed this morning that Tara's still needs a bit more trimming. I am wondering if the grooming ever really ends once you become the groomer??? Are we destined to be endlessly trimming and tweaking our doodles?

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

Oh it also helps to really tire them out before grooming. Think playdate or daycare kind of tired.

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

Hey at least you got the top of her head done in the first sitting. I have been trying to trim Harlow myself and right now she looks like she has a Mohawk since she won't sit still. But keep persevering you will make it through. What you have done so far looks good.

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

Murphy's hair is thin as well and it did take some learning on my part in regards to how to get the hair to not just lay down in front of the clippers. I actually use the clipper with and against the hair growth to get all the hair clipped. I would recommend investing in a good clipper however. I have the Andis AG2 professional. Makes the job go much faster. Check out the grooming site for more info on the clippers that are recommended. Considering my daughter pays about $80-90 with tip every 2 months to keep her doodle groomed (80# doodle) which translates into about 5-6 times a year, that's a savings of around $500.00 a year. And being as the one time I did have him groomed I could hear him crying as they put him in the bath and he had diarrhea the whole day after, it's worth it to me even if it didn't save that much. Just remember, doodles are so darn cute, that it's really hard to mess that cuteness up. Happy grooming. BTW... I used lots of healthy treats in the beginning and that really helped keep him still for me.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Sue, Murphy looks great!! I will be very happy to get anywhere close to that on my first attempt! I debated back and forth (with myself) about using clippers or scissors. Her hair is very fine and really pretty thin. I can blow on it and part it to the skin. So I wasn't quite sure if the clippers would work well on it. I am open to trying it in the future though depending on how this goes. It sure seems like it would be a lot faster!!! Well, just about ANYTHING would be at this point...:>)

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Thanks Donna, it's the legs that have me a little nervous. Especially the front ones. She has not been receptive to having her front legs messed with since she had blood drawn...poor girl. So, they could be a challenge! And believe me, if she was ANY bigger than she is, I wouldn't have picked up the scissors either! It would probably take me a year to do a standard sized doodle!

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

Ricki,
Curly hair whether human or animal is very forgiving to less than perfect cutting. And yes, when you wet her it will conform to the body shape and in it's natural configuration you will hardly notice what you see as "mistakes" now. Although I think she looks great so far. My Murphy is about the same color, not quite as curly and I've been grooming him since we got him. It does take time at first, but what used to take 3 days off and on like you is now down to about 2 hours. I do use a clipper for most of his body and do legs, head, face and ears with scissors. I will attach one of my first and since he is laying next to me on the couch with a recent haircut from last week I will attach that as well. The first is a scissor cut and a bit choppy, but like you I was learning.

[Donna K & Quincy]

What you have done looks great, once you get the poofy behind tamed I'm sure she will look wonderful. I've picked up the scissors once or twice to try cutting Quincy but chickened out at the magnitude of the task.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Now Joe, you don't think it was an oversight that I only showed a VERY close up photo of her hair do you?? Hee Hee! Okay, you asked for it. This photo is of the current status of one side. The other side is not cut down this far. But on this side she looks like she is wearing bloomers or something...heavy sigh... I tried to insert two photos but I guess I'm not that talented in photo insertion either!!!