Update: So nervous... first groom

[Jennifer]

I made an appt for Finn's first groom. He's 8 1/2 months old and probably over-due for his first groom. I love him fluffy though. I'm so nervous about it. I know it needs to be done, he'll be going through the dreaded coat change soon and will matt terribly if I keep him at his current length.

I'm going to ask that his face be kept long and hope that will lessen the shock. Here's a recent pic of him. I'll come back and post after pics in a few days (appt is on Wednesday).

 

Here are the after pics. I am thrilled, I think she did a great job. She did exactly what I asked (I did okay the eye scooping but asked that the rest be cleaned up with scissors). I was nearly in tears after I dropped him off. I felt like I was getting my childs hair cut for the first time. I was so happy to see the finished result, I think he looks perfect. He's like a professional version of himself now. :-) :-) :-)

 

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

He is very cute and I love his face.  I hope the grooming session goes well.

[Vivian & Mojo]

Fin is adorable all fluffy but will be just as cute trimmed and groomed.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Jennifer -- What other instructions did you give the groomer?  Do you know if they have groomed other doodles?  Is he matt free, i.e., can you take a comb and comb all the way down to the skin?

[Jennifer]

We discussed length (I don't want to go shorter than an inch), keeping his face/head long, just cleaned up around the eyes. Yes, this particular groomer has groomed doodles in the past. She is a wonderful groomer, she teaches grooming as well. She grooms my Shih-Poo and my mom's dog so I'm familiar and comfortable with her. She actually discussed doodle coat types with me before I purchased a doodle. :-) I'm just nervous about how different Finn will look afterward. I'm going to miss his big ol giant, fluffy legs. I know it'll grow back soon enough though.

He is pretty much matt free but is starting to matt a little on his back legs and combing him out is getting to be quite the chore so I know it's time.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

It is great that you know the groomer.  This will help a great deal.  She should be able to leave his legs a little fluffy as well.  His coat is a lot like Sophie's and I waited two years to cut her and then love it.  She was still very doodly looking.  If you don't have a Les Poochs brush, you should really consider getting one.  It will be a life saver during the coat change.  I look forward to seeing photos.

[kristi moore]

Whatever you do, you have to tell the groomer "ONLY SCISSORS ON ALL FACE , SNOUT AND EARS" OR YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED. they always buzz straight up his nose and shave it down to nothing. For the body. Have them show you the longest clipper blade. Then you will know how long they can leave his cut. I used scissors on Normans entire body.
Make sure you speak directly w the groomer and tell them no clippers or shaving of any kind can be on his face snout and ears. (This is why I am doing Norman MySELF, because I have not found one groomer here that has not shaved off his entire snout.).

[Bev and Tess]

I second what Kristi said. When I read that you want a clean up around the eyes, to a groomer that will be a shave from the nose all the way up between the eyes!!!! They offered to do this to Tess and I said she was ok, but then let them do it the next visit when we got her nails clipped. She was shaved all the way to the skin and an inch wide path from nose all the way up. What we ask for and how they translate is not going to be what you have in mind. That was the only time I let them do her hair. I do it myself with sissors, since she was about 9 months and about every 5 to 6 weeks. I leave it long with only taken off about an inch with each trim. Tell them sissors only and good luck. By the way, your puppy is really cute!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

What a cutie. If your groomer scissor cuts, he can still look fluffy.

[kristi moore]

Great point by BEV and tesa
Just triple confirm the understanding that no clipper blade on face snout and ears no matter what. Normans fluff has remained all over and the steel comb and lespooch brush has saved us on the matting. You might just ask your groomer of at all possible. Even if its an added charge, would she consider scissor cutting Finn and using no clippers at all. It will probably cost 20-30% more but it's worth it. By the looks of this pics. I don't think Finns fluff will leave. Normans didn't at all. (And he was clipped the first 3 times while I kept trying to get w a groomer that would do it right). We never got him from the groomer where his coat was longer then 3/4". So, I don't know if the inch either just wasn't done on Norman or if it ours just wouldn't/ couldn't do it. One thing I have noticed is Norman got whiter not darker. So that was a wives tale if they get too much cut, it comes back darker. We even took pictures and left them asking for the exact outcome and stil picked up a shaved snout every time. You are paying good money so I think if you cover it in detail and let her know how important this is, and that really knows how to do doodles, this is a plus for you. Because no one in my area knows how to do doodles "true teddy bear" cuts. If it doesn't com out, let it grow back and get the teddybear grooming video and take cut Finn yourself and just take Finn for baths and a blow dry (I never THOT or imagined I could self groom Norman but I watched the video and kept pausing it and I was elated that I could do it. Post pics. We will be so happy for you if they do it right!!!!

[Jennifer]

Thanks for the tips ladies. No clipper on face, nose or ears, got it. I'll be sure to discuss that part in more detail when I drop him off. I'm okay with having his body shaved down but I'm asking her to use her longest attachment, I think it'll just be easier when his adult coat starts coming in. As much as I love his fluffy legs they'll be better shaved down as well. He keeps getting into the darn crab grass stickers and then comes inside and pulls them off and spits them out all over the carpet. Then I walk by barefoot and... OUCH!!!!

[Hazel & Chester Wayte]

Ir is nerve racking to do the first groom..But your Doodle's personality will shine through any cut.

Finn is a sweetie..

There is a grooming document that is posted on this website which you can take- it has suggestions for how to cut the different parts.

[Sharon Banks]

He's so cute, he looks like Jake when he was that age. Make sure you tell them  just what you want for a cut, or you might get a surprise.