Need help with grooming

[Margeaux]

I have a 15 month old goldendoodle and I cannot seem to get him a decent haircut! We have had him groomed 5 times now and hate it each time. He always winds up looking like a poodle or they only trim (and once shaved!) his face! I don't feel like anyone knows how to give a "doodle" cut. His hair is fairly straight, with a bit of a wave. He has a pretty flat coat. We brush him frequently but he does tend to mat on his paws and on the backs of his legs when it gets long. I love his long coat and hate when they cut it too short. I have specified no less than 2 inches in length and twice (different groomers) they cut it down to barely 1/2 inch. Do groomers have a different way of measuring? Anyway, I am thinking of grooming him myself but really don't have any idea of how to do it or what I will need. Anyone have any advice for a very novice groomer? I really appreciate any pointers, I am completely lost on this subject. Thanks in advance!

[Margeaux]

This is an enormous help! I can't tell you how much I appreciate you taking the time to write this all down for me. Is there a best website to order the supplies? After reading a lot about the coats on here, I think Wally has more of a hair coat than fleece. I definitely need a new brush, do you recommend the Les Pooch? I did look at the video on you tube on grooming Sully, it is a huge help as well! I agree that it is trial and error but I am determined to figure out how to do this myself, its the only real way to control the length.

Thank you again for all your help - I am excited to get this all figured out!

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Okay, I just found the video on You Tube. It is in I think 6 parts and called "Grooming Sully". Here is the link. You might want to watch some of the other stuff to see what tips you can get. I am going to check them out now.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=How+To+Groom+a+Goldendo...

[Camilla and Darwin]

We haven't purchased a Les Pooch brush yet, as he hasn't started the matting phase. But we are looking into buying either that or a Chris Christensen slicker brush.

We use the Andis brand clipper set. You can order it on walmart.com, or pretty much any pet store. We used a 1/2" comb attachment and shaved him all over his body with that. We used a pair of scissors to kind of, clean up the choppy areas. For his face we just used scissors to cut it shorter. We didn't change the shape at all, just clipped off about an inch or so. I suppose you could use the 1" clipper attachment for the face, and get the same effect.

The clippers we bought came with all the comb attachments... and a pair of scissors and a training DVD. The DVD explains how to use the clippers in detail. Shaving along the way the hair grows rather than against, etc. Also, we shaved him in two shifts, with a 30 minute break in between so he wouldn't get tired from standing up.

[Margeaux]

Thank you - I am going to look into the Andis clipper tonight. Did you buy any certain scissors?

Thanks again!

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Abby Doodle is very much like my Gracie Doodle looks and hair wise. As I recall, Denise was one of the DK members who gave me really good advice and tips on how to groom Gracie. I just wish we could go back to all those discussions and find them. Maybe someone knows how to and can let us know. If you look at my photos there are a few that are horrible haircuts (Christmas a year ago in front of the car). She has twice come home with a Poodle looking cut and that is what prompted me to do it myself.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Oh my...Wally is gorgeous!!!! I love him already! :)

[Margeaux]

Thank you so much! This is very good advice. I think I will try it on my own and see how I do. I hear what you are saying on having to cut it down because of matting, etc but the groomers actully claimed that he was 2 inches long each time it was so bizzare but I didnt see much point in arguing it, it wasn't going to change the length.

Thanks for your help - I really appreciate it!

[Camilla and Darwin]

The scissors we use came with the Andis clipper set. Most sets sold will come with a pair.

[Margeaux]

Got it-thanks!

[Margeaux]

I think your dog's name is fabulous :)

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

I love the way Darwin looks. He is has the "perfect" Doodle look in my opinion. That is what I want Gracie Doodle to look like every time! Wally, Gracie and Darwin look to have close to the same hair. Gracie just might have a little more curl under the neck.

[Frances Pendrous (Horan)]

I totally agree with everything you said. Frankie is only 8months so we have never had her professionally groomed. Anyway, overnight those darned knots appeared and they truly are a beast and impossible and miserable for her to get out. I had heard horror stories about professional groomers cutting their nails too short and making them bleed, having them all day at the shop etc. etc. so I hired a guy to come out. He quoted me $90 and told me he would have to shave her all over, including legs and that she would look like a different dog. I sent him away as she only had about three knots at that time. Anyway to cut the story short, this weekend my husband and I took the scissors to her and I kept her amused with treats and petting and he cut away. It was a long tedious job but boy, does she look great. No more knots and even though it is far from professional, she still looks like our Frankie and like a doodle. We have decided to keep on cutting her ourselves as I know we will get better and also we can cut her like we want. She, inturn, will get better at staying still and even though most of the time, she was laying on her back with legs in the air, we still managed to clean her up very nicely and trip away all that puppy fur. She is a large puppy 80 lbs and has a thick wool coat, but we feel very proud of what we did. We also reasearched what direction to cut etc. from this site..Thank you grooming site :)