scissor cut vs. clipper

[Doodle Grooming]

Does anyone scissor cut their doodle?  Not just the face, but the entire body.  How long does this take you?

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

I just saw PetEdge has 7 1/2 scissors for about $30

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

Cool, Thanks! Going to order now.

[F, Calla & Luca]

If you want to see expensive check out Les Poochs. If you don't want the sapphire bedecked one, which starts at auction for $125,000, the most expensive is a mere $8000.
http://www.lespoochs.com/SHEARS.asp

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

EXACTLY! Judge the best you can and let the curls do their good work.

[Camilla and Darwin]

I have been wondering how to make it look even myself. When I go over it with clippers... it has a sort of... moth eaten look to it for a few days. I don't know why exactly. I think hand scissored dogs look great... but I'm not sure how to make sure I get it the same length all over?

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

It really depends what kind of coat you are talking about. My fleece dogs require a somewhat different handling than my wool dogs. If you dog's coat is fairly straight, it is sometimes called 'groomer unfriendly'. It is hard to get a smooth look on this type of coat. Are you using an extension? What length do you want? I don't want my dogs to be the same length all over, I want to sculpt their coats into the shape I like. Mostly it takes practice. I quickly measure the coat length against my fingers to see if I am on track. For legs I just put the dog on the floor to walk around and see if they look even.

[Kemp Rader]

I like to scissor cut my doodles....in fact, I've never shaved them (except for their belly and under the jaw or "chin strap"). It takes me several hours and several "coffee breaks" to do one doodle depending how much I am taking off - I have four Australian labradoodles so I usually spread the chore over a few days. I usually trim them down to a 2-inch length. I use my 8.25" straight pointed shears and 6.5" curved blunt-tip scissors. I do the trimming twice a year....maybe a third trim depending on what kind of messy activities I am planning for the doodles.

Kemp
Ripley, Shiloh, Oliver and Truman

PS - The "chin strap" mentioned above is a channel shaved under the jaw extending from one ear to the other. It provides better air-flow to the ears which helps to prevent ear infections (yeast) that is common among our floppy-eared companions. The channel is not really noticeable.

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

Kemp, Do you mind posting a picture of the "chin strap" shaved area? I need a visual. Thanks,

[F, Calla & Luca]

I do Luca with scissors. It's hard to say how long it takes because I do it in pieces. Sometimes I'll do his body when he's on the bed with me. Than his face another time etc. I've never shaved him at all.

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

I also scissor cut and have used all the advise I've gotten in this group. Murphy is a combination of fleeces, some straight, some loose curls and some tighter on the neck and ear areas. Just now getting this wavy S shape to the fleece on top of his head. Anyway, it takes me about 3 hours as well and I do the same as Barb. We have had no matting problems to speak of so that is less time consuming than some. I use thinning shears on the face and top of head, cut the body about 2 inches and have legs a tad longer for the stove pipe, big paw look. I clipper for sanitary cuts about every 6 weeks and trim him all over about 3-4 times a year. so every 3-4 months. Being in Phoenix now I will cut him down to 1/2 in. this summer. And will use the clippers to do that one.

As for evenness of length. I like the shaggy look as well and curly/wavy hair is very forgiving in that you really can't see if your off by a 1/2 in or so and that would be about the margin of error for judging it by eye.

My daughter just had to have her doodle shaved and he looks so funny, but so happy!! Have to admit, it sure is easier for the both of them as he has THICK WOOL wavy fur/hair and keeping up with the matts is a full time job. THey clipped him and he isn't totally even but it looks okay. again with the curliness making up for mistakes as it's growing in.

[Deanna Marsh]

I scissor cut my mini doodle (probably a lot less time consuming than a standard). I pull out the scissors almost every time I brush her because I see something that needs trimming. This then makes it easier than having to go through the whole grooming process all at once. I have in the past done it all at once and it did take me about an hour. But I'm not entirely sure what I'm doing so I don't cut too short, then I go back and trim shorter if needed.

[DeeDee and Sheila]

I have a new computer and if I hit the key wrong it sends. So I don't know if last message about my puppy doodle went or not. I am wondering how to prepare her for grooming. She is so wiggly now I can barely do two trims w/ scissors. I'm afraid of hurting her. How about nails? She isonly 14 wks. but I want her to learn to be cooperative.