Need a Check of My Grooming Instructions for Rosco's Grooming!

[Adina P]

I'm taking to Rosco to his third 'pro' grooming.  In 5 years he's only been to a groomer twice (other than for baths and sanitary trim) because I've mostly done it.  But no time now and he needs a haircut.  He is not a dog that mats easily but might have a mat here and there as I don't brush him regularly--but really he's not the type to mat to the skin and I can virtually always comb or brush out his mats on my own.  His coat is NOT thick -- example of this is that I can use plastic comb attachments on my Andis clippers and they go through just fine.

 

His coat is a wee bit over 3 inches and I'd like him to be taken down to 1.5 inches. 

 

Here are my instructions that I want to print for the groomer and I need to know if ANY of this can be grossly misinterpreted or if I need to clarify any of it (I will put my explanation or notes to YOU in italics).

 

-- Trim coat to 1.5 inches ALL OVER (including tail but excluding any of the specific details below).

-- Clean up face (around eyes, snout, beard) but NO shaving anything to the skin or shorter than 1/2 inch around the face.  I just want his head to match his coat but without his eyes being covered because 1.5 inches hanging over his eyes is a bit too long.

-- Sanitary Trim

-- Clean ears and trim ear hair directly under the ear flap and around the ear opening very short.I want air flow under his ears and the hair surrounding his ear hole to be short but I DO NOT want that odd shaving under the neck from ear to ear that poodles get.

-- Paw fur trimmed and very short underneath/around paw pads but NOT poodle feet.  So far, at least at PetCo they always screw this up and there is still a lot of fur between his paw pads when all is said and done.  I want the 'clean feet' of the poodle but ONLY on the underside of his paws. I don't want to see the bare feet from the top.

-- Hair on outside of ears should be layered rather than blunt cut at the bottom -- When I do this, I use clippers and a comb attachment and go over his ears so that all the hairs are one length and look 'layered' rather than just trimming the bottom hairs to shorten the ear fur length. I don't like the look of the 'bob' blunt cut at the bottom.

 

So I'm asking for help as he goes in today in the afternoon and don't want him to come out totally opposite of what I'm asking.  But I need to know better 'groomer' terms and need to keep the instructions short and sweet.  I don't know if this groomer is experienced or not...I'm just crossing my fingers.  Any tips on improving the directions that are in bold???

 

Here is Rosco a few weeks ago--he had recently had a bath.

 

Adina

[Jeanne, Tura and Dolly]

I am concerned that the face and head instructions may be unclear.  Do you want it 1/2 inch? or 1 1/2 inch? or somewhere in between but no shaving?  Maybe when you get in there you can go over the instructions area by area so they know what you want.  Remember, it grows back......  Good luck.

[Adina P]

I want his overall body to be 1.5 inches...but obviously that's too long for his fur that covers his eyes.  So what should I say about his face.  I just want it to match and not be way shorter than his body but not poofy and bigger and I want to see his eyes without ANY shaving of his face.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I personally would clarify the "Sanitary trim" or they might possibly shave his little poo area ...... several on here have had problems with that being shaved and getting irritated.

 

I would definitely walk through each step and clarify with them ..... particularly the face and under the ears part. 

 

The part about 1.5 inches (including the tail) was a little concerning to me as I wouldn't want the tail only 1.5" .... I always just trim the tips on the tail.

 

My last comment to the groomer when I was taking the girls was always ..... if for any reason you can't do it this way and feel anything needs shaved, you call me first ..... I'll make that decision.  I don't want surprises when I come to pick them up.

 

Good Luck ...... hope all goes well.  We will be anxiously awaiting pictures.

[Adina P]

I always shave around his butt for the sanitary trim...so whatever groomers normally do to cleanup that area I'm OK with.  What I mean by 'including the tail' is I want him to look even.  I don't want a short coat and poofy tail.  If she wants to use the same clippers and comb attachments on the tail to keep all even I'm OK with that.  I don't like poofy tails and heads with shorter body fur.   I'm also NOT worried about getting a shaved dog.  That has never been an issue with Rosco.  If I mess up his cut I am OK with that because I'm not a pro... But if I'm gonna pay someone to do it then they better do what I'm asking.  To be fair I want my instructions to be understandable.  I will go over all this demonstrating on Rosco what I mean.  But in case they forget I want the written instructions to be clear.  How should I say the part about the tail ALSO 1.5 inches?.

[Apple Creek Doodles]

To be safe I wouldn't mention poodle feet at all, you never know if the groomer may see poodle feet and not read it correctly and give your dog poodle feet. I wouldn't expect a groomer to shave the throat like a poodle unless grooming a poodle but then again you never do know do you? 

 

This is what I would do with your instructions.

 

E guard all over (E guard is 1" long, that is probably the longest most groomers will have) trim tail, round feet, trim beard with a bit shorter guard but leave bangs and trim up. Shave under ears just under the ear hole with a #10 for air circulation and shave any bulky hair on the inside of the ear that will not be noticed if gone. The ear trimming thing is tricky, I get what you mean and a groomer should too...I don't like that blunt look either, using thinning shears may work too. I think your instructions are pretty good but I would nix the poodle feet thing just in case, maybe say shave paw pads - rounded feet??.

 

The shaving of the feet and sanitaries should not have to be told, they should just do that with every dog getting a haircut but I understand some groomers need instructions to the t.

 

The haircut you describe would be called a puppy cut in groomers terms. It would be similar to what he looked like a bit younger when his hair was a bit shorter but still all one length. Hopefully all turns out ok, groomers are all different with how they think a doodle should look. Hopefully you get a good one.

 

Quick terms.....

1" puppy cut, rounded face, rounded feet, trim tail to match body, trim corners of eyes, shave under ears, sanitaries, anal gland.

[Adina P]

Thank you that helps!  Can you define "rounded face" for me.  When I read "rounded" I get nervous about it as I'm not sure what that means. ROUND conjures up funny images of a circular face which doesn't look good in my mind's eye.

[Michele, Biscuit & Mo]

Boy, I'd say you have it covered, Adina.  I always took for granted that my Petco groomer knew want to do about Penny's feet/paw pads.  Too bad you're not closer to Scottsdale.

One final thought:  is there a photo on DK of a dood whose haircut you like?  You might consider printing it out and taking it in for the groomer.

Good luck - can't wait to see the new 'do!

[Dori & Rua]

Adina,

 

Prior to Rua's first grooming, I met with the owner and I took this with me as well as a picture of Linda's "Toby". 

http://idog.biz/Pictures/Professional%20Groomer%20Inst.pdf

 

Once her adult coat is in, I want to have her groomed like Toby, so I started with providing the groomer an idea of where I eventually want to be.

[Jenny & Henry]

I just looked at pics of Toby and I want my dog groomed just like him as well.  He's too cute.  I think my doodle may look somewhat like him too.

[Dori & Rua]

This is the picture of Toby that I love.  I actually printed it out along with the grooming instruction sheet.

 

Can't wait to see your puppy.  Bet you are excited.  I know I was beside my self waiting to be able to pick up Rua.

[Carol and Banjo]

I just LOVE  LOVE LOVE this photo of Toby!

[Bonnie and Kona]

So darling. Toby you are one adorable dood.