trimming around the eyes

[Denise & Cody]

My 6 month old Golden Doodle can't see (and I can't see his beautiful eyes). I am looking for specific techniques to help me trim...i.e.  tools, angles, location, length, etc... It seems as I try to trim around his eyes, I am making the shorter hairs stand up in front of his eyes, instead of improving the situation. I don't want him to look silly with my unprofessional work. Please help! Thanks!

[Dori & Rua]

Oh!  I want to be able to do that, too!  I did buy blunt-tipped scissors and tried cutting a little off, but I was pretty chicken, so the same thing happened to Rua.  My daycare person, who is also a groomer, offered to trim them for me right before Christmas, and I held Rua while she used, what I believe to be, thinning sheers.  But, since I was holding her, I didn't really get to see what she did...but it looked way better when she was done!

[Denise & Cody]

I've ordered the trimming scissors as I think that will really help... I probably need to bring him to a professional and watch their technique closely! I'll let you know how it goes!. Maybe I'll videotape and post it for prosperity!

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

The easiest way and the professional way are not really the same. Here are some quick tips that work quite well.

Trim all the hair from between the eyes on the bridge of the nose. Especially at the corner of the eye.

For the top of the head, comb the hair towards the face to make thick bangs. Put that hair in a ponytail, or in this case more of a unicorn horn. Hold gently so you are not moving any skin as this will be bad for the end result. Cut the horn off shorter. I suggest you do this in increments until you feel you have the correct length.

 

This technique gives a nice shape around the eyes. Longer on the sides. You can make it look more natural with thinning shears or using some small jagged cuts like they do on people. You can use the same technique on the top of the head. Comb all the hair up into a loose topknot/ponytail. Trim the ponytail shorter. This gives a layered look to the top of the head.

 

 

[Ann Kurtzman]

Great Idea! I'll try this next time!

[Linda and "Toby"]

I use a pair of (people) thinning shears that I bought at a beauty supply store. They give a nice, natural looking cut instead of a blunt/chopped look. :)

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Thinning shears are a must!!!  I use them all the time to soften where I have trimmed and they don't leave straight edge scissor cut marks!  I also use the blunt end scissors to cut above the eyes and I just go from the nose to the side in a curved angle.  Good thing about Doodles is that they always look like a slept in bed and so the hair goes every which way regardless...ha ha  Somewhere in the Grooming Group the eye trimming has been discussed before.  Look around because we had this very discussion a few months ago!  Good Luck.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Here is one of the discussions...http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/doodlegrooming/forum/topics/quest...

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Here is the link I was looking for.  It has good illustrations.  Hope it helps!

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/doodlegrooming/forum/topics/trimm...

[Lynda Kamrath]

First of all, is he accustomed to having you working around his face?  My puppy squirmed like crazy at first when I was even touching his eyes or ears.  Now he readily comes onto the grooming table and will let me clean his eyes and pull the hairs from his ears.  Now I have to do the tooth brushing thing.  I think a little at a time is the way to go.  A snip here, a snip there, a pull in the ears, a brush in the mouth.  My older doodle will let you do anything to him and he has always been that way, but the puppy is more active.