About $120 month...?

[Pat and Traveler]

Here are some pictures of Traveler, just back from the groomer.  The pictures aren't good and don't do justice to his appearance--he looks gorgeous!   

Here's the thing.  His fur has reached a threshold--just a tad shorter and he pretty much stays mat and tangle free.  This time, he had to be hand scissored, and had many small tangles.  His coat has gotten much thicker as he's gotten older. 

The groomer wants to keep working with him once a month, but it takes time and effort and real skill to keep up with his coat.

Is $120 a month a reasonable price for maintaining a doodle coat?  I know it's an individual decision, but I never had him groomed on a regular basis and really have no idea what people pay.

I sort of like a scruffy appearance for doodles, but for Trav that means mats.  Bummer.  Any thoughts or ideas you may have would be most welcome!

 

[Pat and Traveler]

Thanks, Laurie.  Trav likes the groomer okay, but he hates being left there or anywhere--such a mama's boy!   Pinking shears--hmmmmmm.....that could give a nice doodly look!

Let's see--sounds like $120 would be about right if Trav weighed 200 lbs.  Bummer!!!  LOL  

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

My dogs walk into her shop like they are on the way to the gallows:) I forgot to add I just love Traveler's color. It is so unique.

[Pat and Traveler]

Thanks, Laurie.  LOL about F&V walking like they're on the way to gallows.  Perfect description of Trav's attitude too!

[Pat and Traveler]

Emily, I just have to smile every time I see Jace--and I just went to your page for another smile.  He's hard to photograph, isn't he?

Sounds like you got a most excellent deal on your grooming, especially with mats!  This time around, Trav had more in the way of little knots or tangles rather than actual mats.  Strange.

[Ginny Nightingale]

I would charge about $75 for that, but I live in a rural area and I know that people closer to the cities charge more--I was reading over the replies and want to add that the LP brush is expensive partly because the tips of the bristles are rounded and do not cut the way a cheap brush of the same type or a slicker brush would. I know this because I have hit myself with the slicker while grooming and it cuts me and the LP brush does not--so I feel that it is much better for the dog AND me if I use the LP brush. As you brush, pull the hair down away from the body and brush from the roots of the hair so that you are not brushing into the skin. A steel comb with teeth closer at one end is a good thing to use after brushing--I bet you can get him mat free in between and do the grooming every 6-8 weeks . A lot of people like to use a silicone spray like Cowboy Magic as well to keep the hairs from clinging into mats.

Also, The clippers have combs that can be attached so that, if there are no tangles, the dog can be clipped to a one inch length or even longer without scissoring. But the tangles have to be out first.

[Pat and Traveler]

Ginny, thanks for the grooming advice, which I seriously need!  I actually have most of the grooming aids, other than clippers, and have used that horse mane and tail stuff as well as Cowboy Magic.  Away from the skin--got it.

Raven, the groomer, actually charged me $96 this time, but told me she just didn't have a clue what to charge--she hadn't warned me this time, and actually didn't expect the groom to be as challenging as it turned out to be.  However, in the future she felt she would have to charge about $120 for the monthly sessions.

I had Trav's nails clipped at the vet's office one time, and they charge $23 for that service!  Dremel (I think it's called) of nails is included in the grooming, so I suppose that drops the actual grooming fee down even more.  Oh, and ear plucking at the vet is somewhere around that cost also--and it's included in grooming.  Trav didn't need it this time, but that's another $$$$ consideration. 

[Ginny Nightingale]

PS--The cut is great, but I would leave a bit more hair over the crown of his head--he is a bit short there compared to the rest of the body.

[Pat and Traveler]

Yes, I would have left his mustache too--it was kind of cute.  :)   He looks like he has a little head attached to a big, fluffy body!  His fur should lie down a bit over the next few days. 

[Trudy Harlow]

I agree with you, Ginny. And I wouldn't trim his feet poodle-style, as they seem to be. And, yes, the mustache! Gotta look like a doodle, after all!

[Jennifer & Darwin]

Hi - this sounds like a very familiar story. Darwin is about the same size as Traveler - 58 lbs. He has a soft, fine cottony fleece coat that just matts easily if his coat is long. It took months to realize that I just couldn't keep him long. :-( My current groomer (who I LOVE!) charges me $86 plus tip. I take Darwin every 4 weeks, alternating between brush/bath/blow out and full groom. The price is the same because the most significant part of the work is the brush out. During the summer, his coat is about 1/4-1/2" and in the winter, about 1+". This has kept Darwin in great shape and only minimal matting, if any. I brush him about once a week - using LP and CC brushes and a steel comb. I never expected to pay this much on grooming, but it is worth it. The consistent grooming has made all the difference!

[Pat and Traveler]

Jennifer, Darwin is adorable!  He looks smaller than he is!  Sounds like he and Trav have similar coat types.  I didn't worry at all about brushing for a few months while he was getting to his current length.  I think this is his threshold length--here and longer are just difficult to maintain.  His groomer is enthusiastic about trying for length, but she's a lot younger and has more stamina than I do.  lol  I'm afraid if I go back to "grooming" him myself, he'll go back to looking like a stray that's been living in the bush.  Maybe a reasonable compromise would be to do just what you're doing.  Ricki said something that really resonated--I'd rather play with him than groom him.  We'd both be happier!

[Marnie, Stanlee's Mom]

Hand scissoring is an art; it leaves a crisper, smoother finish and takes a lot longer to complete.  That said, many groomers with do a quick once over with the clippers then a hand scissor finish.  However, considering the time and skill it takes to make Trav look this HOT, it was money well spent. 

I liked the idea of taking him in for intermittent baths and brushing to keep the mats at bay.  Trav looks fabulous (and Jennifer, so does Darwin!)