Another day as a (new) doodle parent.....coiffure, hairdo or shearing at home?

[Lanell in Colorado]

Poor Zoe, I took a pair of scissors and attempted to style her and I made a big mess.  Of course it wasn't all my fault because Zoe didn't think this was fun and wiggled a lot, and I was just learning and very nervous about cutting skin, or permanently disfiguring my gorgeous puppy.   I was VERY slow and VERY awkward.  I needed something to practice on besides Zoe.  It was not a pleasant experience for either of us, although she can now see through all that hair.

So, determined to conquer this challenge, I started researching doodle do's...as in 'hair do' ( my previous project was doodle do's and don'ts but that's another chapter).

I started by looking at pictures -- WOW, a tremendous variety of coiffures!  Some of them were coat-dependent.  Many were just personal preference.  Some were really awful.  I found THE look I wanted via an excellent video from a breeder.  The result is a little scraggly but still looks groomed:  uniquely Doodle with no Poodle  Now I just have to figure out how to achieve it.

Having learned from my 'I can do this' experience, but not giving up entirely, I decided to look for online lessons.  YouTube has a lot.  I must acknowledge that most of the YouTube 'coiffure clients' were much better behaved than sweet little wiggly Zoe.  So I need to figure out how to solve the wiggle problem too.  I hope my proven success with  c o o k i e s  works magic for haircuts too.  I now have print-out of lots of recommendations, how-to instructions with diagrams, how-to-steps, and even cutting angles.   Its my bedtime reading material.  Yeah team, we are gonna conquer this challenge.

Next I researched tools of the trade -- obviously my technique is only part of the problem, I need the right tools to do the job right.  (of course I do realize that having the right tools does not ensure success -- back to the need for practicing, but WHO or WHAT can i practice on? ).  Clippers, scissors, brushes, combs...on and on and on.  Then, I discovered the grooming tables and then.....all the PRODUCTS.  Oh my, this is rapidly becoming expensive.  Maybe groomers are the right way to go.

So -- detour -- now I start looking for a groomer.  Being the 'expert' after seeing all the pictures and reading all the instructions, I quickly became disappointed in my options.  In the Denver area, no one seems to understand the 'correct' doodle-do ( according to me, Lanell ).   At least, I haven't found anyone yet.  I've followed up on recommendations, but the dogs weren't really true doodles' like my Zoe, just mutt mixtures of lab and poodle pairings and looking like a clone of one of the parents.  I'm feeling my doodle-mommy protective nature growing rapidly at this point -- and of course, my Zoe is a mess and not showing her true unique doodle self at this point, I'm sure most people just see scraggly puppy and not the potential.  Alas  What have I done? ).

Whew, Now, I'm frustrated and exhausted and right back to the starting point.  The scissors are beside me on the computer table and calling me to pick them up and have a go at it ( I have not purchased any 'professional tools') and Zoe is beside me looking pretty pathetic.   I'm probably gonna try it again.  I have a special table now set up and Zoe has been practicing standing still while being brushed and eating cookies.  Dual processing genius, my little Zoe.

Next step is to get ONE of the diagrams and go for it...probably just cutting off some of the fluff on her body.  Its very hot and she would be more comfortable with a shorter coat...and I CAN PRACTICE.  TA DA  Sounds like a win/win proposition to me.   Next time, I'm going to try to minimally correct some of the mess I made around her eyes.  

I'm not going to tackle her mustache or mussel until we both have more hours 'on the table'.   After all, it will grow back, no matter how badly I mess up.  I know I can do this and I'm looking forward to having Zoe in a true 'doodle do' especially here in the wild west.  I just put my ego at bay, admitted defeat of the first round and took a picture of Zoe  -- with the expectation of having an 'after' shot very soon.

PS: discussion, recommendations and all suggestions are greatly appreciated.

[Ginny Nightingale]

Looks great--very helpful!

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

I have that book. It is pretty helpful.  I know that it has been mentioned several times in the grooming group so other people probably use it too.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I also groom my two and found it a little intimidating at first, but realized pretty quickly that A. They don't care what they look like and B. if I went slow enough I really don't screw up that bad ( but if I do...see A.) and C. What a great bonding and training opportunity it was.
I had been a hair stylist in my last career so scissors, clippers and thinning shears didn't scare me. That is your first hurdle. Learning how to handle and respect the tools you are using so you don't hurt yourself or your doodle. Tons on info in the grooming group here and I learned most of what I use from there.
Good luck, you won't regret doing it yourself, certainly not nearly as much as you would if you get a bad grooming, pay lots of money for it and your doodle is petrified to go back!

[Katie and Sophie]

I cut sophs hair myself too!  It is a work in progress, but it is getting better each time.  I am lucky in that she is the worlds most easygoing dog and just stands there and lets me do whatever I want, for however long I want.  For the face I find thinning shears to be the most useful!  Invest in a good pair of these :)

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

I have noticed just how FAST Coopers fur grows when its short - an inch a month at least! means that mistakes grow out fast

[Kimmy & Chewie]

Dear Lanell, don't worry too much about it. Labradoodle fur is very forgiving (even for new parents) and their hair grow soo quickly, your alleged "boo boo" will be unnoticable in no time at all.

I also groom Chewie's face myself. Here's a link I found very helpful with detailed instructions and pictures.

http://www.labradoodle-breeder.com/faq_labradoodles_groom.html

I also have very little grooming equipment. 2 small pairs of scissors (one thinning and the other normal one), a comb and a brush.

Survived with these for a whole year until I'm confident I was ready to move on to clippers. Ordered my first clippers last week, which I used on Chewie's paws and belly :)

 

Also, for those taking your doodles to the groomers, I found this instruction where you can tick off the type of cut you want. It's great! (See file attached)

[Lori, Rooney & Zuzu]

Kimmy- Thanks for the reminder on that pictorial grooming link.  I had forgotten about that one and it is really helpful for figuring out how to trim the face.

Which clippers did you buy? I'm thinking about taking the plunge soon on buying clippers as well...

[Kimmy & Chewie]

Lori - I bought the Wahl Storm. I like the size and weight of it. I have relatively small hands so the curved shape in the middle makes it easy to hold. It's also pretty quiet so jumpy Chewie doesn't get spooked by it.

So far, I've only used it on his paw pads and a bit of his belly. So far so good :) It comes with #10 blade which is perfect for paws and sanitary trim.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

ok i have to stay away from these grooming discussions - ive just "had to' give cooper another cut. This is the 3rd in about 2 months poor thing. she hates it, but stands still and lets me do it! I scissor cut (too scared of clippers plus i worry about the sun on her skin if shes too short) but she is about 1 inch long now...thats with the curls pulled out. Her legs are still long and so is her tail and face... hopefully she will be cooler now - the humidity here is terrible