Trimming around a puppy's eyes

[Teresa and George]

George is 2 1/2 months old and will soon go for his first grooming visit.  We can barely see his eyes, but both our vet and the groomer advise against trimming around his eyes.  They say we should wait to see if the hair grows long enough to flop over and stay out of his eyes.  Is that the right thing to do for a labradoodle? I have no idea!  Would appreciate any advice.  Thanks!

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

I much prefer to see their beautiful eyes and to have them be able to see. I think you should trim at the bridge of the nose at the very least. This puppy is 16 weeks and due for another trim. Her name is Piper.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

I'm with Barb, I would much rather see the pup's eyes, but if you're not comfortable with trimming around the eyes then by all means wait. I found short rounded-tip trimming shears and used those around Lucy's eyes when she was young (I've long since been using regular shears, but now she sits still for the trim, where she was quite squirmy when she was a pup). I know a lot of people allow the hair to grown above and around the doodle's eyes. I think its really a matter of personal preference, and as long as the hair isn't actually touching their eyes, that's fine. Personally, I like to see the eyes (and look into their sweet souls :) 

This picture was taken after the first time I trimmed Lucy's eyes at 10 weeks (a very minor trim). Before that, her breeder had trimmed around her eyes before I brought her home at 8 weeks.

[Renee and Charly]

My Charly is just 9 weeks today. What kind of shears did you use to trim around Lucy's eye's? I can see where

Charly maybe could use a little trim around her eyes at home in the next couple of weeks as I am not quite comfortable taking her to a groomer yet.

Also, did you trim around her whole eye, or just the top?

Thanks for any help or suggestions.

Renee

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Renee, I think Debb said she used a shear with a rounded tip which is what we used for Tara at that age too.  I trimmed  over, under and between her eyes as needed to keep the hair from touching her eyes and from blocking her vision. There have been some doodles who have developed some fear issues because they were unable to see well due to hair blocking their vision.  Other than that it is, as Debb mentioned, personal preference as to what "look" you like your doodle to have in the face area.

[Renee and Charly]

Thanks much! I just wish she wasn't so squirmy. I'm a little afraid at this point to go for it. I will take it slow.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Renee, Tara was a squirmy girl too and I used to get her good and tired before I would trim around her eyes. Once she dropped from an extended playtime  I could snip away without her caring! 

Also, I used treats to teach her that the brush, comb and scissors are her friends.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Sorry Renee, I'm just seeing this. I did use the rounded tip shears around Lucy's eyes. We now have Oscar, 15 weeks old, and I've been trimming around his eyes almost weekly, as his hair grows so fast. Since I've had so much experience now with using regular shears (yes, the pointy tip kind) with Lucy, that's all I've used around Oscar's eyes. It takes a lot of steady and careful work. Puppies can be extremely squirmy (Lucy was at that age) and unless you've had lots of experience and a mellow puppy, I wouldn't suggest you use pointed shears.

I trim mostly the top of the eye (I also cut the eye lashes) and also angle outward down the snout (just around the eye). I so can't stand not seeing a pup's eyes! Here's a photo of Oscar not long after I trimmed around his eyes:

 

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

I should mention, that Oscar is such a mellow pup when it comes to grooming. He seems to love it. I'm not sure if its because he's mellow or that he eats up the attention, but he lets me do whatever I need to without any fuss, squirming or whining. I've even bathed him and used the high velocity blow dryer on him and it didn't seem to phase him. He's got the perfect temperament for the kind of dog that will need routine grooming for the rest of his life.

[Renee and Charly]

I sure wish my Charly was mellow. I will have to take this very slow. I have a hard time even brushing her right now. I guess it will be one step at a time with her.

[Teresa and George]

Renee, it should get much easier as Charly gets  older.  George is almost 6 months old now, and he's gotten a LOT better about being bathed and brushed and trimmed, etc.  I still take him to the groomer for trimming around his eyes, but he's almost to the point where I will attempt doing it at home. 

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

As Teresa said, just take it slow, and use lots of little bits of treats introducing Charly to combs, brushes and other grooming tools. Lucy hated it all too, but consistent practice (sometimes with a combing or brushing session lasting only a few seconds) and a little maturity (on Charly's part) will bring her around. You'd never guess Lucy is the same dog, the way she 'tolerates' all kinds of grooming.  Oh, and Oscar is more of the exception than the rule, I think. He's just got that lab temperament and whatever you want to do, he's up for... anything, anytime.

[Hazel & Chester Wayte]

There was a discussion on here about behavior change- when a Doodle can't see. We always get Chester's eyes trimmed.

We waited for his shots before we took him to the groomer the first time.