Riley is having a Christmas/Hanukah first professional groom and I need your input

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Riley has no mats as I groom him myself regularly however I have decided to treat myself (and Riley) to a professional groom. He has a loose fleece coat and I'd love all of you to post your favorite post groomed pictures of your Doodle that I can show to my groomer.

[Cyndi, The Boys & Callie]

If I uploaded correctly, this was the boys in the Spring and has been my favorite so far.  I keep having trouble with the groomer getting their bangs just right (and yes I'm a little picky). Sully's (the red one) are a little long and I trimmed them after this pic but it was close. I keep them a little longer in the winter.  

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

I think the most important thing is to ask them to blend the head into the ears so they don't make a topknot like poodles have.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Lovely pics.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Very cute! Oscar's coat (9-1/2 weeks old) is very different from Lucy's (woolly coat). His is more a loose fleece, like your dood's, Lori) which has a really nice texture (not at all rough like Lucy's is in some areas). I've been curious myself how Oscar's coat will behave/look before and after a groom. If he'll mat less easily than Lucy's (who's woolly coat has a very dense, but fine texture and mats easily if left too long). My gut feeling is he'll mat less and we'll be able to keep his coat longer. Love seeing the different cuts on the fleecy coats!

[Camilla and Darwin]

We always have Darwin really short so it takes him longer to grow out. We basically just assume he'll look like a goofball for the first couple of weeks. the groomer actually did a pretty good job of making him still look doodle-like this time though. It's a bit choppy but overall I like the way he came out.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I think you do a wonderful job with Riley so I would take pics of him that YOU like.  If you bought a calendar, check Jack out. I think his coat looks Rileyish. Ned always looks a bit poodlish because his coat is poodlish - can't really change that.  Clancy has a straighter, shedding coat so it isn't like Riley's either.  Here are a couple of pictures of them that I do like:

[Carolyn Shusterman]

I feel like I'm still learning the grooming techics.   It's kind of learning as we go, with a little nip here and there to get the look you prefer.  This is my favorite of Hershey's grooming sessions.