Grooming nightmare!

[Lyndsey Mallett]

Help! I took Dexter my F1b to the groomers this morning, and we were very explicit that we only wanted a slight trim - we love his curls! He's come out looking like a poodle! I cried and cried! How long will it take for his coat to grow back? Experiences of others would be very helpful please. I'm devastated!

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I have to say he is gorgeous but you join a long list of DKers who have cried after picking up their Doodles from the groomers lol.  Please join the Grooming Group here on DK, you will find it under groups on the bar across the top of the main page.  The good news is that it will grow back and in a couple of months you will be much happier.  Next time you go to the groomers you will have a list of what you want and more importantly don't want.  You can print it out to show and take pictures of Doodles that you like the look of.  Or you can do what I do and groom yourself at home...it's not as hard as you may think once you have the correct tools.  The good thing is that he now has no mats and is a clean slate.  Be sure to brush and comb very regularly then there will be no need to shave him close the next time.

[Lyndsey Mallett]

Thank you! I will join the group :)

[Joanie]

Before I took Lan to the groomers the first time, I read what everyone said on here about their problems they have had with getting doodles groomed.  So I made a list in my head of questions I would ask potential groomers before I used them.  Those questions included: are they familiar with the breed?  have they groomed this breed before?  do they know how they should look?  I went to many different groomers asking these questions until I found one who was very knowledge with doodles, has a big client base of doodles, etc... and I use them all the time and have never had a problem.  It might help to make a list such as this and call up groomers, or stop in to see them and chat them up about the breed and see how knowledgeable they are about the breed.  It definitely helps.  I'm sorry to hear you had a bad experience with your groomer, but I'm sure your baby still looks adorable and hair always grows back :)

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Um, I don't think he looks like a poodle at all and looks really cute but if you don't like it then your Groomer did not listen. Join the Grooming Group, they will help you through...beleive me, we have all been there.

[Ginny Nightingale]

I think he looks very nice! He is very curly and will naturally look a bit poodle-ish--his legs are very nice and not poodle-y at all--they trim the feet on poodles! But the curls are gone because they used a blow dryer and a brush--take a spray bottle with water and spray his coat and then just rough it up with your hands. The curls will all come back. And then wait two months and his hair will be a lot longer! :) 

You should specify a length that you want the hair to be also. The clippers have combs that can be used to make the hair as much as 3 inches long--but not everyone does that. If you want it that long, sometimes you have to ask for and pay for a scissor cut where no clippers are used. Also, the shape of the face and muzzle may be too short for you, so get some pictures of shapes you like and bring them next time.

[Joanna, Zoe & Bender]

Hi!  the first couple of times Zoe got groomed she always came back looking like a poodle.  I remember being so sad bringing her home and was NOT looking forward to DH's reaction LOL.  We tried a diff groomer each time and said every time "do not shave her nose, do not give her a puffy head, do not make her into a poodle" yet every time she looked like a poodle!  This last time was the only hair cut of hers that I liked but Ben didn't like it (Ben is our other dog LOL).  I think with each hair cut I got to know what i liked and didn't like.  Don't worry,  his fur will grow out a bit in 2-3 weeks and he will look more like himself.  It might help to go over all his fur with some water or a damp cloth right now and it might calm down some of the blown out hair.  

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Lyndsey, I think Dexter is just adorable. I think it will look better in just a few days. It is just poofier now since he is all brushed out. I have low standards with my Doodles...I just want clean when they come from the groomers :) Dexter is going to look great in just a month or two. Meanwhile, take pictures to the groomer's next time of Doodles that have the grooming style you want. I am sorry you are so upset. It will grow out. Dexter is very handsome, in my opinion.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I'm so sorry that Dexter ended up with a cut that you hate. I have been there too-many of us have!! It really does grow out very quickly and I agree with the others that you will see a difference in just a couple of weeks.  One way to look at it is as an opportunity to see Dexter's coat in varying lengths. As it grows out you may find that you like his coat better at a medium length rather than long and shaggy. And you may discover that you appreciate the ease of care with the shorter or medium length coats, too.

[Diana Erhart]

I agree with what Ginny said about spraying with a little water.  My Charlie has a very curly coat and he always comes back from the groomer looking like a fluff ball but after a few days it starts to curl back up.  Also, about the face, I usually tell my groomer to "leave the mustache".  That usually works.  It takes awhile to find a groomer that you trust and like. I think we have gone through about 5 or 6 over the years.  When we moved last February it took me several groomers and many interviews of groomers till I found one that I really like now.  Charlie's first haircut after the move was so bad that it looked like the groomer used hedgeclippers on him.  I couldn't believe that she actually did that to him.  He was embarrassed until I was able to get him into another groomer 3 weeks later.  It was devastating at the time but this too does pass.  Good luck in finding a groomer that you like!