How to find a decent groomer?!

[Paul Kensler]

Hi folks,

First time post here.  We really need some advice.  We've got a doodle (obviously) and have had just an awful time finding a decent groomer.  Maybe the problem is with us, failing to describe what we want.  Anyway...  we've had our doodle to several groomers and have had the following problems:

Doodle comes back shaved (and embarrassed)

Doodle comes back with mats still in fur

Doodle comes back with mats cut out of fur, but where the fur wasn't trimmed down to match ("chunks missing")

Doodle comes back looking..  I don't want to offend anyone here, but...  looking like a "show poodle".  You know, all round and poofy.  Yuck.

We like the "natural" look but we need to keep her fur short because it mats up so easily when it gets longer.  Brushing her is out of the question...  She doesn't mind getting brushed but when her fur is long enough to brush, we just can't get the brush or comb through it.

I've tried trimming her myself, but her fur is so thick I can barely get the trimmers through.  I bought a pair of expensive trimmers, supposedly professional grade, and her fur broke them the first time I used them!  I had them fixed via warranty and haven't used them since, except for minor trimming of feet and tush.

This is the best dog ever, but her fur is so thick and heavy its unmanageable.  None of the groomers we've taken her to seem to know what to do with a doodle.  We took her to the groomer recommended by her breeder and just didn't like the results.  We live outside a large metropolitan city.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Even the best groomer in the world is not a magician. If the dog comes in with mats in her coat, the only thing the groomer can do is shave the dog down, cut the mats out, or leave them there. 

This doesn't sound like a problem finding a good groomer so much as a problem keeping your doodle's coat maintained in between groomings. You need to be combing your doodle, not just brushing, and you need the right tools. I would suggest you join the Grooming Group and learn what brushes, combs, and other tools you can use to help you keep her coat mat free.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I would start with getting your doodle trimmed close to the skin and then you won't have a problem combing between grooming appts. I tell my groomer that I want 'a puppy coat', scissor trimmed to finish. 

It sounds like your doodle is going to the groomer with mats and knots which is why you are so unhappy with the results. No groomer can work magic.  You have to either comb out completely, keep your doodle short or go in more often to be groomed in order to keep the look you want. I vote for all the above!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Also, all dogs need to be brushed regularly, no matter how long their coats are. I'm not sure what you mean by "when her fur is long enough to brush", but fur doesn't need to be long to be brushed. Even very short coated dogs like German Shephards need regular brushing. It removes dead skin cells, stimulates the skin, distributes oils throughout the coat, and most importantly, removes any dead or shed hair to prevent matting.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Paul, I feel your pain! Tara has a coat that is very difficult to maintain too and I was very unhappy with the results I was getting from groomers.  I was at my wits end when I joined DK and discovered the Grooming Group. With their encouragement I ended up grooming Tara myself and learned many tricks to keeping her coat mat free between grooming sessions. The tools that you use for brushing and combing can really make all the difference in keeping the coat mat free and that is what is needed to get a good grooming result. I still keep Tara's coat fairly short or it would require daily brushing and combing which neither of us want to go through!  Consider Les Pooches or Chris Christensen brushes/combs and other products. They are expensive compared to many other grooming tools but very much worth every penny. Please join the Grooming Group and search for this items and you will read many positive reviews about them. Good luck!

[Elizabeth & Cosmo]

Paul, in addition to the Grooming Group (which I also highly recommend), there is a DFW Doodles group, for doodles and their owners living in North Texas. You can find it at this link:

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/dfwdoodles

You may be able to find a specific recommendation for a doodle-friendly groomer in your area!

Best of luck!

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

This is Tigger clipped down  (and wet)

This is Tigger about half grown out

I am possibly part of the silent minority, but here is how I handle by dogs' grooming. 

First Tigger has the very heavy, thick, curly ALD coat.  Roo has a somewhat less heavy coat, but still very curly, and dense.

I live in the suburbs of LA so I have about a million choices.  I have tried about six,  not ever really that excited by results.  I gave every  groomer except one multiple chances - my dogs are five and four - so I've had time.

I now am a do it yourself groomer.  But I shave them down and then let them grow out.  I do about three major shave downs a year, based, in my case around swimming weather.  I use an Andis clipper that I bought at Petsmart, the best one  they had.  I don't use any of the clip on accessories as they won't go throught their hair/fur.

Between clipdowns I clip their butts, privates, and ears (under the whole flap, front of ear canal to where the ear attachs to the head on the back of the head) and feet about every six weeks.  In addition I scissor trim their faces in a way that I like. 

Do they look like they are professionally groomed?  Not at all.  Are they still cute?  Very.  Do people still admire them?  Yes.  Am I guilted because I don't brush/ or comb them at all ( unless one of them gets into something).  Not anymore.

Right now they have been growing since mid August  - I love them that way.  I'm not crazy about the first two weeks after they have been clipped down, but I can live with it.  I have neither the time nor the patience to keep their coats "perfect"

It takes me a good two hours per dog to do a complete clipdown and about 45 minutes per dog to do the mini cleanup.

 

Downside of this procedure:  If you shampoo a dog with a uncombed out (tangled and matted) coat and don't rinse really really well, a hot spots or spots can develop and they can be very difficult to heal, and actually life threatening if they go septic.  So rinse very thoroughly if you "clip and grow".  Unless you are my husband you think the dog looks a little naked for about two weeks after the clipdown.  For me this happens twice when they are swimming everyday so I don't mind.  The one I mind is the Dec or Jan clipdown.Brrr....  On the other hand even a perfect detangled dog can be nicked by the clippers and if you do it, you will know where it is and makes sure it heals properly.  Groomers do not always remember to tell you that they nicked your dog and sometimes you get a hot spot or infection and you don't catch it right away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ginny Nightingale]

That is a great way to deal with the coats, Maryann--and if it works for you, it is all good! I only groom doodles and none as curly as yours  but I wanted to mention that they have clipper blades that cut the hair at the length of 5/8 of an inch or 3/4 of an inch-I am not talking about a comb that fits on the blade--those are hard to get thru a thick coat--but an actual blade that is thicker--I got mine from petedge.com. I find it easier to use than a blade with a comb attachment and maybe that would be OK for you to use and the doodles wouldn't be quite so naked.....but, if you are happy with what you are doing, then I am happy too! 

Just thought i would mention it....

[Ginny Nightingale]

I only groom doodles, but live VERY far away from you! I just wanted to say that there are some coats that are what I call "sticky"--they are soft, cottony coats that seem the mat the minute you take the comb out after removing the knots--the hairs seem to adhere to each other.....and yes, most groomers will shave because they do not have the time or the patience to pick away at those mats--they have too many dogs to groom!  I only do a few dogs a week and never more than one a day (it is just a small retirement business) and some of the thicker coated doodles take me 3-4 hours....

Also, if you do not like the "poufy" look, just spray her with a fine spray of water after her haircut and scrunch up the hair with your fingers--it will curl right up again!

So, take everyone's advice that you got here and get to the grooming group and learn how to maintain the coat between groomings and keep her on the shorter side if it is just to hard to keep up with the mats--oh, and by the way, if your doodle is between 10 and 18 months old, the coat is going thru a transition and might improve as far as mats go.