CLIPPERS OR SCISSORS

[COLLEEN LEE]

MY DOODLE WILL BE 1 NEXT WEEK WE JUST HIT THE DREDDED COAT CHANGE AND HAVE GOTTN SOME MATTS, SHE NO LONGER WILL SIT NICLY WHILE I COMB HER . mY FAMILY SAID WE SHOULD HAVE HER SHAVED I'M AFRAID HER COAT WILL NOT COME IN AS NICE AND SPIRALLY CURLS AS SHE IS NOW ? dO THEY COATS CHANGE IN TEXTURE AND CURL AFTER A SHAVE? hER FIRST HAIRCUT WAS DONE AT ABOUT 7 MONS AND WE SCISSORED HER AS SHE WAS TOO AFRAID OF THE CLIPPERS IT TOOK 2.5 HOURS

[F, Calla & Luca]

I don't think shaving the should alter the incoming coat. why not just keep her coat shoterm maybe 2 inches and scissor it ? Luca still mats and he's almost 2 and I scissor his coat.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I asked this same question a few months back. It is winter and I wouldn't think about shaving down Spud's coat, but the mats are very bad, It was suggested I just cut the coat with shears. I agree. It does look nicer.
I now use a scissors to keep the hair length shorter. Spud will not sit that long so I may only get a 1/2 leg done at a time.
I agree with F. Parker, keep the coat shorter and just cut out the mats. My dog is not a "show dog" so looking perfect is not mandatory. It is going to be a long winter. Warmth I think, is the most important. I really do miss that nice silky puppy coat.

[Elizabeth Meehan]

Hello,

Its always best to bring your pet to the groomer at a young age so they can learn to the sounds of the clippers for these reasons. At a year old your doodle has been transitioning her coat now for a few months, and well that's were them nasty mats come from. During this transition it is the time to be better safe than sorry so that dreaded thought of shaving does not have to be a reality. It is time for you to bring that baby to the groomer have them look at the matting and determent if it is fixable or not. Please if you do not have any true grooming training do not put scissors to your pet I have seen cuts from many of my customers and they have even had to go to the vet for a stitch or two because you can not see under that mat and maybe they move at the wrong time, the groomer noes how to handle that situation. But don't just go to any groomer call around ask for references see if they have groomed other doodles and in what kind of trims they have done on those doodles.
Shaving is not always the only option the groomer can shave out the mats and give her a very nice trim to get the transition over with and get all the puppy hair off. Your question will it change her hair that depends on what the hair is under neath, that will be her adult hair not that the shaving changed her coat. puppy coat is never the same as the adult coat. fill free to give me a call. A shorter trim might be a bit more manageable. there all different stiles you can do.

[COLLEEN LEE]

thanks, her mats are not that bad I can still get them out with a comb and time, mostluy behind her ears, I dont have much expierence with grooming I was a hairstylist and i do groom my yorkies about every 6 months or so mistly trimming with scissors and shve in the summer , but I will definiatly look around for a groomer as this new coat is a little more time consuming than I imagined much more than the puppy coat. I will also start my new doodle Little debbie on the program with the clippers sounds for her belly any recomendations for blade and gaurd size/ we have a oster for the dogs now but no gaurd I just shave the yorkies in the summer one time so have not needed a gaurd I had bought good clipper when I did from the vet suppy but they are about 5 years old now.

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

Puppy coats are usually straighter and mostly tangle free. Your adult coat will be different. Shaving won't change that. Here is what I recommend. During the coat change you need to keep the coat no longer than 2 inches and brush and comb frequently. I scissor my dogs' bodies and legs and shave under their ears, belly and inside their feet. You need to pull the puppy coat out if you have a non shedding doodle. Shaving it will not get rid of it. It just delays the problem.
If you plan on having a groomer look after your dog, you should start as early as possible for groomer training. It will make your dog a lot more comfortable in the situation. I find most groomers do not factor in enough time to dematte a doodle's coat and to get the job done, they need to shave them. Finding a groomer you can work with is the best answer.

[COLLEEN LEE]

how do you pull the puppy coast out? When I comb her she does some "shedding " in the comb but she is non shedding . Her mats are not too bad not to the skin, with time I will be able to get them out . I will try to scissor her, I did with her first cut ,

[Audrey Goldman]

I sent Archie to the groomer and they said they could not brush out the mats so they cut him so close he looks like a walking stick!!! He is 18 months old. Does the matting ever stop? I bought the $40 Le Pooch brush and he fights like a lion when I try to brush him. Now that he has no coat to speak of, what is the next step. Archie is a chocolate/latte colored medium/standard ALD. Audrey in California

[F, Calla & Luca]

Luca, a medium ALD, is still matting at at 21 months, so go know.