Bad Haircut

[Doodle Grooming]

Dublin is 10 months old and just got shaved...we boarded him and then they groomed him for us this a.m. The groomer called and said he was pretty severly matted and she may have to cut him really close. Well, he's pretty much shaved (except his ears and his tail). I'm freaking out - he just looks different than when I left him and now I'm worried he looks too thin. Of course, he used to be a huge puffball so I'm sure he's fine. Any advice on preventing this again? Different groomer? Now we
re thinking he won't need to be groomed for a while, because he is SOOO short.

[Sally loves Maple & Lucky]

At the recommendation of our Vet, we bought a professional electric shears to groom Maple ourselves. We waited too long, but we were dealing with back to back blizzards here in DC at the time. We took her from a 6" puff ball to a one inch curly. It took my hubby and I three hours on a Sunday afternoon the first time (w/ 4 breaks). We ran into some mats and I attacked those with a hairdressers scissors by hand. The electric shears with a guard will not go through a mat. That first cut took her close to one inch with a few little "holes" where mats had been. She was so happy to be cooled off! About 6 weeks later, we trimmed her again, this time we put her on the picnic table and we only did her torso. The holes had filled in. It took about an hour but was good gentle bonding time for us all. I use the smallest guard and it works great for warm weather without being shaved to the skin. The pro shears has now paid for itself!

[Lu]

Ted had his haircut for the first time yesterday. I asked the groomer if I could stay to watch, so that I could get any tips and spend some time getting some advice. I was also very curious to see what goes on and how the dogs behaved.

(just laughing my head off- he's just caught a glimpse of his "new" reflection for the first time)

I was most impressed. They had a cockadoo in who was having to have a much shorter cut than the owners had wanted because he was so matted.

I asked what i could do to prevent it - she said I should just continue as I was doing and brush him every day - making sure I get the brush right through to the skin - and she said this is the only way to prevent it.

Ted is only about 19" at the mo and he was a total fluff ball - long fleecy/wavy coat -it takes me just 20/30 mins of an evening while watching the TV - if he didn't keep trying to attack the brush it would take a lot less time

[Leigh & Allie]

What hapeened to the flobee? You remember the thing that attached to a vacuum and cut everywhere at the same length. I want one of those.

[Robin, dalai, and Parker]

The best thing I have done is get a Les Pooches brush (the green one). I took Dalai to the groomer last week to get her hair cut for the summer (since we were going to the Doodle Romp at Dewey Beach over the weekend). She was astonished that I knew what a Les Pooches brush was. She told me Dalai's coat was well maintained. I can brush her every day now and both of us enjoy it. Not a chore at all because the brush is flexible, easy to hold, and can get through her coat. The brush is pricey but good tools are worth it!