Starting over :(

I am so bummed!!! We picked up the girls Sunday after grooming and although we have been raking, brushing and combing several times a week, they have mats on their legs. It's recommended that they get buzzed down to start over. We can wait a month or two according to our groomer. We are now in agreement that letting them grow out for the winter is not worth it - the NE winter elements have won!

I am dreading this upcoming buzz-down. She will leave the face and tails fuller, but the rest is going down to what sounds like next to nothing. If you have pictures of your "shaved" doodle, please share with me here so I can prepare myself! Thanks and boo-hoo :(

Picture taken last week, before the trip to the groomer. BTW, the grooming before this was Dec 30th.

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Permalink Reply by Helen & Kirby on February 25, 2011 at 7:05pm

You CAN cut out the mats on the legs, and NOT shave down the body. My dog was the same --no mats on her body, but getting mats on her legs and tops of her feet. I told the groomer NOT to shave her, but I knew there were mats on her legs.

I worked on them for hours first, using a matcutter, and got only some of them out.

Well, Kirby looks great! If you look real close, you can see where the groomer had to cut out the mat. But with thick curly doodle hair, it isn't obvious, and the rest of her is so soft and beautiful.

Permalink Reply by Lynda Kamrath on February 26, 2011 at 10:52am

Hmmm. Well, I shaved down one of my doodles after he scared a jogger on the trail when he (the jogger) came around the corner and saw Hondo standing there. He screamed "Holy s***" before I could tell him that the dog was fine. He thought he (Hondo) was some kind of wild beast. So, I came home and shaved him down the next day. Look on the photos on my page, #2993, 3295, and 3292 on page 5. I did not shave his mustache, left some hair on his head and ears and did not shave down his legs, basically just the body, and it grew out pretty quickly. Your doodles, however, are much thicker haired than he was, and could probably use a poodle cut, but I don't think I would shave them down completely.

By the way, do you, or anyone you know, know how to spin? Poodle hair can be spun, and I used Hondo's hair to weave into a pillow (which I have not finished). It makes me sad to handle his hair, and I like to smell it, stroke it, etc. (I know, I am sick!)

Permalink Reply by Deb, Connor & Simon on February 27, 2011 at 3:58pm

Maple and Lucky are really adorable! A short haircut sure won't change that.!:-)

Permalink Reply by Sally loves Maple & Lucky on February 28, 2011 at 5:22am

Thanks Deborah :)

Permalink Reply by Sally loves Maple & Lucky on March 1, 2011 at 9:03am

Progress Report!!!

Last week I cut out the mats and this weekend, Hubby and I buzzed the doodles down to a "workable" length. Maple is now about 1 1/2" all over. I had to take Lucky down to less than an inch due to surprise mats on her chest. They are still choppy looking after taking them down, but no more mats!

We'll keep brushing them with purpose until their grooming appointment on March 20th. We are hoping by that time there will be enough regrowth for her to even them out to about 1" all over - but we'll take what we can get as long as it's not shaved to the skin. We've decided to keep them at about 1 1/2" Fall, Winter and Spring and 3/4" during the Summer heat. They were loving the outdoors this morning at 29 degrees! All is well.

BTW, I didn't do much to their heads, hence the "bobble-head affect"! :/