Doodle Grooming

[Diane Denney]

Hi Everyone. Tomorrow I am bringing Lincoln in for his first full blown grooming as he has developed matts even though I've been brushing him. The groomers told me that they would have to get quite close to get these matts out. It's from the dampness from the snow. There was another Goldendoodle getting groomed while I was there getting a German cut so that's what I'm getting Lincoln. I'm so nervous, but his hair is way out of control. It doesn't stop growing and it's more like poodle hair. Very curly!!!!

[Diane Denney]

Actually it's a German Clip. Any suggestions on what to do with the tail? His tail is very curly.

Here is a link to what a German Clip looks like:

http://arpeggiopoodles.tripod.com/poodlehaircutsej.html

[Diane Denney]

Here's another photo of what it sort of looks like.

http://www.poodlepuppiesnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/standard...

[Karen & Lucy]

This is really cute ;-)

[F, Calla & Luca]

It looks fine but I hope you don't let them shave his ears short.

[Diane Denney]

Well he has matts at the ends of his ears, but we were discussing how we can leave the hair on top of it. The Goldendoodle that was there getting groomed looked adorable so I'm not too worried. The good thing about hair is that it grows back so if I don't like something at least I know it's not permanent!! LOL I will mention to them that I don't want the ears cut too short. He has a huge puff on the top of his head. He really looks like a poodle.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Just a question but why are you looking at poodle cuts? There are lots of suggestions and guidelines for getting a good doodle cut on this website. Drat, I just downloaded someone's directions. Here is the link:
http://idog.biz/QuickDownloads/Professional%20Groomer%20Inst.pdf
And here is the link to the grooming group where you can get lots more info and advice. There are products that can help you get the mats out also.
http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/doodlegrooming

Hope this helps.

[Diane Denney]

Thanks Nancy. That's great. I wasn't really looking specifically at Poodle cuts. I was at the groomer today and noticed a Goldendoodle who was getting groomed, and he looked really nice, and I asked about it and they told me it was a variation of a German Clip. I would never do any other Poodle cut than that one. That one looked pretty normal. The matts are way out of control. There are three big ones on the back of his head, and I asked the groomer to just untangle them for me today, but she said that they were pretty big, and that she said that they probably would have to be cut pretty close so that's when I said we should probably just have him trimmed down. They told me they could leave it longer if I wanted. I've been trying to brush them out myself over the last week or so, and I've had absolutely no luck. Thanks for the links!!! I'll print it out and bring it with me. The other thing is is that I can not brush Lincoln without him biting at the brush, or my hands. It takes forever, and is absolutely not fun. He's 10 months old. Hopefully I'll be able to do it myself one day. I hope he isn't too cold. He's mostly inside anyway so I'm not too worried. Thanks again!!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Diane, This is how we solved the "hating to be brushed and won't hold still" at my house: My husband holds Ned and I brush and comb. Ned relaxes mostly and I think, even enjoys it. I could fasten him to a table leg but I imagine that I would still have only 1 hand to brush with. Others have their dogs very well trained for brushing but not all of us...... On bad mats I use Cowboy Magic or Horse Mane and Tail Detangler, and I have heard of ICE (or some similar name) that others use. My groomer recommends Bed Head (I just haven't figured out which product named Bed Head to get so I will ask her next time). You usually need to brush with a slicker brush with bent pins and then comb with a steel comb. Follow with a spritz and scrunch of finishing spray or water to let the spirals blend back together. And you will need to brush/comb often while Lincoln is in this stage. He may grow out of it or he may not. The grooming group and time with Ned's coat have taught me a lot about grooming him..

[Diane Denney]

Thanks again Nancy. I just re-posted this over on that group too with a bit of editing. I read the main page info. and now am going should I still get him clipped or not. He does look very unruly right now, and I think he needs more than a brushing to make him look his best. I've been brushing him every other day, but not with a slicker brush, and no de-tangler. I will look at the Bed Head products for dogs the while I'm over there tomorrow. I used to pass those products by and giggle to myself that they had people products for dogs!! LOL I never really thought about how much grooming was involved when I adopted Lincoln. I just thought he'd stay perfect!!! LOL or as they say the "4 ever puppy look"!!! He has a lot of spirals. It's really cool actually. Every time I take him to Petsmart I get stopped by tons of people asking to pet him, and how beautiful he is!!! I of course am the proud Mama!!! My husband can't believe the attention he draws to himself!!!! The only bummer right now is that he skinned his black nose so he has some pink splotches while it's healing.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I also had NO idea how intensive the grooming can be if you want to keep them scruffy. Not all doodles are so labor intensive, but Ned is. I love his look so I am, so far, willing to spend the time. I am an empty nester so I do have time. The Bed Head is the people product! Teehee That is why I am not sure which one my groomer meant was great for an in-between grooming product. My goomer prices are very cheap compared to what I read others pay. This makes us able to get Ned groomed every month - 6 weeks. We even had him groomed once with only 3 weeks in-between. We also have had him much shorter at the height of his matting. The slicker brushes that work best are ones you order on-line. One brand is LesPouchs that is quite expensive but you can order thru DoodleCountryStore = owned by a member here. You can ask his advice for which brush would be best for your dood's coat. Or you can order a much cheaper version that works pretty well = MGT is that brand and you can google the name and find it. Here is Ned at his shortest (always scissored and never shaved or clippered.)

Ned gets poofy on his head - we are always fighting it.

[Diane Denney]

He's so cute!!! Mine looks like a puff ball right now!!! Actually I do have a few photos that I haven't put up yet so I'll put them up tomorrow. It's too late this evening. I love how fluffy Lincoln is, but I know a good grooming with help, and then I'll take it from there so that it doesn't get out of hand again. I just wish his big black nose didn't have a scrape on it!!! Wore it down in the kennel a couple of weeks ago somehow. We've had to leave him at the kennel a couple of times when we went away and each time he rubbed the top of his nose raw.

[Sally, Ditzy Mitzi & Sgt. Pepper]

I know this may not be the popular look, but we love the "poodle" look for our pups face. We have let her hair
grow out and done the "doodle" look, but with it she drools after drinking, and behaves more wildly. Guess its
like a child feeling "all dressed up", when she is "cleaned up" she behaves better. She also has a beautiful,
poodle face, which truly and pleasantly surprised us.