Just Don't Know if I can Keep Grooming Him Myself

[Sandy]

Toby is SO hairy.  He has curls, but not tight curls.  I've been trying to groom him myself since January or so.  My son and his girlfriend did it twice in the summer.  She is a vet tech, and it took her THREE HOURS.  Toby does not stand well to be groomed - he likes to slouch, lay down, lean away from you, etc.  He's never aggressive, just doesn't participate well.  Also, I don't really know what I'm doing.  :)  

         The thing is - I would hate to take him and leave him somewhere to be groomed unless I really trusted the person.  The one who WAS doing it for me was a mobile groomer who came to the driveway in an outfitted van.  I don't know why, but she told me to feel free to find someone else, as she knew she was expensive.  ?????  I have since heard that she doesn't like to do doodles because they are more work.

          I guess I'm really just looking for a cheerleader to tell me to keep going....I can do this..... :)

[sherrie west]

I feel your pain.....haha....we are woman,hear us roar! We can do it!...with the help of Barb and everyone else here on DK. I love this site! So much information. Have a great day!

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

Three hours is quite fast for a doodle. I can do my wool doodles that are 4 and 5 in that amount of time including brush, comb, preclip, wash, dry and haircut.

My younger doodles that are involved in coat change are usually longer. Sometimes a lot longer. This is to avoid a shave down. If you just shave them off, 90 minutes will give them a shave and bath.

These times are based on standards.

[Barbie]

This may sound like a dumb question, but why would you blow-dry? I'm still trying to learn the Doodle coat, what to expect, and how to properly maintain it. Also, what are the signs of the coat change? My little boy is 6 months old.

[Sally, Ditzy Mitzi & Sgt. Pepper]

Oh, my!  I have been working two hours on Mitzi and I have just barely begun.   I really know I must plan on at least four hours just to get her to begin to look presentable.  More often than not, I spend several hours for several days until I am satisfied.   The bath alone takes almost  an hour and that doesn't include total drying.  However, I use my small hand dryer so that slows the process down.   It certainly is easier to send her to a groomer, but I enjoy the challenge and truthfully it is easier on her to not be crated in a grooming parlor waiting for her turn and easier on the budget, too.

[Susan and Sasha]

Hi Sandy...

Yes...it does take a lot of time and patience to groom our Doodles...but having them groomed the way you want...the bonding experience...and yes...even the feeling of accomplishment is So Very worth it!

The more you practice...the better you will get at it...and Toby will learn to stand and listen to your command to "hold" while you are using scissors on his face...etc...

You can even do it in segments...on different days...so it's not as overwhelming for you or Toby.

The great thing about doing it yourself is...that you decide! (smile)

Keep going my friend...You Can Do It!!

[Stella]

You can do it Sandy!!  To make you feel better, it takes me two to three hours to brush and comb Chase out, depending how long his coat is.  I usually do this the night before to break things up for both of us.  Then I clip him the next day, which takes me at least three hours to do a full clip and scissor.  I usually leave cleaning his ears and cutting his nails for another day, that takes another half an hour or so.  So, you are looking at six to seven hours and that is without bathing him because I am lazy!!  I usually do some touching up over the next couple of days, he always looks different once he gets wet and his coat curls up again!

[Stella]

Chase also doesn't like to stand for so long - who would want to stand still for three hours!  So, I let him lie down for some bits.  I have found I can do his tail, belly, and parts of his legs with him lying down.  Then I get him to stand up again at the end so I can tidy everything up.  Every half hour or so, I let him off the table and we go outside for a run around and a pee break!  I bought a grooming table from Rens for a really good price, being up on the table and the using noose help to keep him still when I need him to.  I also use a LOT of treats!!

[Sandy]

Okay - I guess my timing isn't so bad then.  :)  He will definitely never look like a show dog.  I usually just use one length of clipper for everything, and then trim up his feet and face with scissors.  He loves a bath, and I just do that in our tub and use the removable shower head to hose him down.  I definitely brush out the day before, and bathe on a different day as well.  Maybe if I did it more often - say, once a month, it wouldn't be such a big chore when I got down to doing it.

[Lynda Kamrath]

I kind of do the opposite.  I scissors trim the body and legs and shave (clipper) the face and the feet.  I usually take several days to complete a cut on the dogs but I start with shaving between the toes and around the eyes and back to the ears with the clipper.  I also clip the stomach, sanitary area and inside the ears.  Then the fun starts.  I do a blunt cut on the rest of the body (with the scissors)  and then take a break (probably for a day).  On the second day, I give him a bath, blow dry, and final cut.  The last time I was cutting Groucho, on day two he walked up the ramp, stepped into the sinks and was totally cooperative.  The more you do it, the more accustomed they get to being groomed.  My smaller dog I can pick up, but when he saw Groucho "walking the ramp" he wanted to do it too.  But of course, when he got on the table, he was not about to step into the sink.  That is just asking too much.  And don't worry about looking like a show dog.  As for as I know, you can't show these dogs anyway.  So do what you like.  Who  is going to worry about it???

[Jeanne, Tura and Dolly]

I try to comb and brush by doods every other day.  When its time for a haircut, I really go over them the day before and make sure I have every mat out.  Then I go to a shop and I give them baths, bring them home and start on haircuts, maybe clippers one day and legs and face the next.  I have a bad back, so I stretch it out over several days.  The dogs are more patient with shorter sessions and for me (I'm retired),this works best.

[Stella]

Saw your post about the groomer.  Good luck tomorrow!!  Hope it goes well for both of you!

[Sandy]

Thanks.  Her web site is www.goodfurday.ca if you want to see where I'm taking him.  I really hope it works out!