How to save a wool coat.

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

Many of you with wool coated doodles get into trouble with the coat change between 8 and 18 months. If you are dead set against having a groomer shave your doodle here are some steps you can try. What have you got to lose? If you doodle looks messy or funny after you can still get it shaved.

 

Step one:  Blow out the coat with a high velocity blower. Use a detangling spray like "The Stuff" while blowing. This step could take up to an hour. Many of you think a blower is really for professional groomers only, but the money spent on this piece of equipment will make your and your doodle's life so much easier. You will save the cost of the equipment by reducing the need for professional grooming.

 

Step two: Cut the coat down to about 1 1/2 inches in length with scissors.. Be very careful around the armpits, just in front of the hips and around the throat as there is a lot of loose skin there that's easy to catch with scissors. In delicate areas, put your comb in between the skin and your scissors. If you can't get your comb in there you might as well stop there and have your doodle shaved as matts close to the skin will not brush out.

 

Step three: Blow coat again. This will loosen a lot of the tangles.

 

Step four: Start brushing and as the 'fuzz' starts to appear, trim it off. Continue with this until most of the fuzz stops coming up. Brush each 4 inch section in all directions. north, northeast, east etc.

 

Step five: Comb out the coat. You can use various products and dematting techniques during this phase. Here are some dematting techniques.

Pull apart matts with your fingers

Comb with one tyne..ie turn your comb so you are combing with the end of the comb.

Cut matt apart in the direction of hair growth with scissors and brush out.

Comb in litte bits working from the outside and gradually work towards the skin.

 This may still take quite a while even with all the brushing you have done.

 

Step six: Blow coat again to check for missed matts. Trim off any parts that are sticking out. If you don't find any, you can go ahead and wash your doodle.  good work.

 

Step seven: Blow the water out of the coat, always going in the direction of hair growth. ALLOW TO DRY NATURALLY!!!

 

If a coat is totally out of control, this process could take 6 to 10 hours to save the coat. Your doodle must be very patient. If it is too stressful for the dog, go ahead with the shaving. It's not worth torturing your dog.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Gee, I thought you could just put it in mothballs--just kidding, please don't follow my advice.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Wow, that is a very good description for all the people who are having trouble with matts right now. I think I am more and more glad that my Goldendoodle has a very soft wavy fleece coat. I nor Gracie Doodle could stand 10 hours of grooming. I think 3 is bad enough!!!! I sure hope all the people who have been posting asking for help see your discussion. It is valuable information!!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Okay, we have never been to a groomer so I have no idea what kind of " blower" we are talking about. Oh, an idea just hit me.... I will go look one up on petedge.com

Having one doodle with wonderful fleecy hair and one with wool I know what you are talking about. It took me 10 DAYS to scissor cut Spud's hair. You are a groomer so it takes you only 10 hours :)

Barb, as always I want to thank you for taking your time to help us all with keeping our dogs happily groomed.

This was great advice. Thanks

I will copy and save your directions in my grooming kit.

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

You are very welcome.

There are a couple of discussions on blowers in here somewhere.

Don't give up hope. I have some 3 and 4 year old wool doodles. I just did one of my 3 year olds this week in 3 hours. That was everything. Dematting, which was minimal, brush, comb, ears, nails, feet, haircut, wash and dry. I hadn't brushed her for quite a while. One thing that helps is my doodles are soooo good during grooming. Grooming training is very important. I start teaching my dogs stand stay at 12 weeks. Right now my 9 and 10 week old pups are learning sit and heel and change of pace on leash.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Thank you for these directions. You will reach so many people this way. We were very lucky that we caught Ned's mats early and already had a groomer who cares very much how he looks. If you can't do the cutting yourself, having a groomer who has bonded to your dog is a must.

[Rosemarie, Roxie & Kirby]

Thank you so much for this, I will purchase a blower tomorrow and try all you have said. If I see her getting to stressed I will definitely go the shave route. Then start from there doing it right as it grows back in.

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

You are so right....the groomers can't be expected to keep up the coat. Coat care starts at home. This is why I started the group. At least a few doodle owners will be able to see what they must do if they want longer coats. On the other hand, there are some doodle owners out there that would spend that to save a coat.
At the grooming school I went to, sometimes the teacher would make the people/dogs come in before she would book the appointment. This was not only to assess the coat, but to see the dog's temperament. I'm thinking it might not be a bad idea for groomers to 'interview' doodles before booking so the time and cost could be assessed. By the way, groomers in my area charge $20 hour and if you ask how much it costs to do a doodle, the answer is $90 and up.

[laurie lehr]

I think my groomer doesn't charge enough at $40 for a wash , cut , and blow even though Jasper usually has no matts and it takes 3 hours . I consiter myself lucky , plus she does a great job .

[Rosemarie, Roxie & Kirby]

All I can say is thank you, thank you, thank you!!! Yesterday, Roxie and I sat outside for about three hours and I combed her completely out. I used the poodle comb and the Magic Cowboy and she was mat free over 95% of her body and totally enjoyed the combing, she stretched right out :) Tonight, I will be working on her belly a little more to get the last 5% out and she should be ready for her summer cut not shave!! Yayayay!!!!

[Rosemarie, Roxie & Kirby]

I only wish someone would have told me from the beginning what to do. I purchased the les pooch brushes and thought I was doing the right thing. I now know better and I can guarantee that she will be combed every night. As far as cost, we usually pay between $70 - $100 to have her groomed and I never complained, because I know her coat takes a lot of time.

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

Many breeders do not know how to handle the coats unfortunately. Did you buy a blower?

[Rosemarie, Roxie & Kirby]

I did not get the blower yet, the one they had at the store did not seem any more powerful then my professional blow dryer. Can you suggest any?