Where are the ears??

[Carol and Banjo]

I have not had Banjo professionally groomed yet.   I have wanted to but chicken out each time....I'm so afraid he'll come home looking like a different dog.   I plan to wait til late spring/early summer and have him cut then.   In the mean time, I have cut his "bangs" and between his eyes so that he can see.  I love his "muppety" look!    The question I have is.....is there a way to trim along the sides of his face so that his ears are more visible?    The hair on his head, face, neck and ears all blends together and you can barely see that he was ears.    Maybe this is just the way he is??   Any help/tips would be appreciated!

[MIZZ DOODZ]

My hairdresser mentioned these to me as she trims her dogs too... hoping she will pick them up for me as I never seem to get over there...Arlington Ridge??? Would rather invest in the scissors as I am OCD about brushing/trimming Halle! She will be 7 mos in about 10 days so haven't trimmed too much so I can see how her hair grows!

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

I have two pairs and they are either 6" or 7" but are curved very slightly. That way you can do more contouring. I don't use a straight scissor on Gracie. Basically, I use three types. The curved, the thinning shears and then some short ones with round tips on the ends. Don't use your scissors on anything but Doodle cutting. I always have to hide my scissors because the DH will just grab whatever scissors he happens to see to cut paper, cardboard, wires...you name it.

[Carol and Banjo]

Woo Hoo! Just ordered our thinning shears! Watch out Banjo...here I come! Now I really need some tips using the thinning shears. I've drawn lines on the attached photo.....which direction do we cut? As drawn on the right side OR as drawn on the left side?

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Actually, both sides are correct but for different effects. If there is too much hair thickness on the snout then (looking at Banjo's photo) I would do the right side to thin it out. Remember to never cut continuously or over and over in the same spot. If you were trying to even up and make the shagginess look uniform and fluffy then I would do the left side. The thinning shears are also excellent for covering up mistakes. If you were to make a huge straight edge scissor mistake you can feather it out with the shears. I have to do this all the time with Gracie. For the eyes It is hard to tell which way Banjo's eye hair wants to grow. You saw the picture of Calla that F. Parker posted. Where you see the straight edge cut by the inside eye, that is where you would feather the ends with the thinning shears. Just one or two snips across but not two snips at the same time or on the same line. It will soften the harsh straight line. Just take it slowly and comb out after each snip. It doesn't take much to get it right but we love to use those shears and we get carried away. Sometimes you can say "just one more" and that is the one too much!!! Do a snip here and there. Live with it for an hour or a day and then see if you want to do more. Eventually you will learn how much you need to do every time you need to groom. but in the beginning...take it slowly! Anxious to hear how it goes! Good Luck!

[Carol and Banjo]

Thanks so much Nancie - that's so very helpful! It already takes me a number of days just to do the trimming I've been doing. He's a bit of a wiggle worm and also I like to get a good look at what needs to be done. I was watching different you tube vids the other day on dog trimming and was AMAZED to see some of the dogs who just sit or stand very still or lie (as if asleep!) while they're being trimmed. Someday??? I can only hope!

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Carol...it should slowly get better each time you work with Banjo. Gracie learned a lot of the words from the Groomer since she went there a lot the first year. It helped that she already had table discipline in her. But, I have also really worked with her. She just seems to know when the clippers and all the tools come out she is required to behave. It is really a great bonding time with them. You just keep it calm and reassuring. Keep talking to them telling them what a good girl/boy you are, Momma loves you, you are such a sweet girl/boy. Hold, or in my case Gracie does best if I use her name before the command so she knows the next word is directed at her...Gracie...HOLD! Good Girl...Hold...Good Girl... You will make mistakes and you will see a big chunk out of his fur but you would be surprised how no one else sees it but your eye goes right to it. Trial and error with our Doodles and it will always grow back. Two clippings ago the dog next door barked and it startled Gracie and it was just as I was taking the clippers up her chest. When she jerked she knocked the comb attachment off the clipper blade and she got a long sheared to the skin stripe from under her collar down her chest. I was absolutely sick about it. She wasn't hurt or anything. Just shaved to the pink skin and when she would sit you could see it plain as day! It grew back! Have fun learning!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I am late coming back into this discussion. This was going to be my next question. Thank you for posting all of this. Look out Starlit, here I come. I have Thinning Shears and Now I am not afraid to use them!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

This picture really helped.  I saved the post and came back to it last week. I finally had a chance to see how this would work.   I can really tell the difference now with the cut to Starlit's face.

Thanks for the directions!  I'm happy

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Do we get to see a photo of Starlit's new do???

[Donna K & Quincy]

Banjo you can't get any cuter, ear difinition or not. We have a Sallys beauty supply in our area and Quincy's face needs some trimming up, time to go shopping. I need some better scissors, I start to get a blister before he is completely done, he is really good for grooming and we get everything done at one time.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I would love to know how to use the Thinning Shears I bought.

I don't think they work on the Curly Crazy Coat--like Spud's, but Starlit is due for a face clean up--on the sides and I think they might just need this tool.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Just cut about the length you want. That will take out a little. Keep doing that until is looks good. The hair may collect in the scissors. Be very careful in removing it. My thinning shears are very sharp and the first time I used them I managed to cut me as much as the doodle. Here's a perfect example of what not to do. I groomed Calla the other day and didn't use the thinning shears next to her eye. That straight edge looks awful but will be fine once I get the thinning shears to blend it better, but first I have to catch her : )