My 1st ever attempt at clipper cutting Lucy

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

I'll be posting pics over in the Grooming group too, but I just had to share this in the general forum. I've been gearing up to do my own grooming for Lucy and Oscar, but I've really had a case of cold feet in getting started. I was so afraid and intimidated by the thought of taking a clipper to my dogs. The professional groomer for my 2 was very supportive in my endeavor to do my own grooming and gave me the numbers of clipper combs she uses on the different parts of their bodies, as well as the blades she uses for the best cut. I really was ready as far as equipment goes. I was just mentally hesitant. Long story short, after giving Lucy a bath yesterday (I hadn't planned on clipper cutting her) I made a sudden decision to give her a cut. She waited patiently on the grooming table while I gathered all the stuff. I just dove in, remembering what I'd seen in doodle grooming videos. I followed my groomer's attachment comb instructions and switched them out for the different parts of the body. Lucy has a wooly coat, so it was really very easy. What do you all think for my 1st attempt?

 

 

[Joanna, Zoe & Bender]

Wow! She looks awesome! I want to send my dogs over to u lol! How long did it take you? How big is she?

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Ahh, thanks! Lucy is about 55lbs. What took the longest was getting all the mats out of her ears and tail! We'd gone to the beach a week or so ago (for 5 days) and both dogs came home looking pretty bad. I'd never seen Lucy's hair so matted (ears and tail only). That alone took an hour. The bath and blow out took about an hour,  some face and foot scissor work took 15 minutes and the clipper cut took about 30 minutes. The clipper part was the easiest! There's a bit of a technique to making it look even and blending in the different body lengths, but all in all much easier than I expected. I'm not completely pleased with Lucy's face. That will take more practice  to perfect.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

I want to add here, too, that from everything I've read, each progressive cut will get easier and faster. It will be good to remember how long this first one took, so I can check the time against the ones down the road. My professional groomer could do Lucy in 2 hrs start to finish. Good goal to work towards!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I think she looks amazing for even a professional groomer, much less a first time groom.  Here is my question though.  You said that your groomer showed you which number of combs to use.  However this looks pretty short to me (maybe is is just the angle).  I would have thought this would be just a blade cut.  What part did you use the comb attachment for?

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Thanks for the compliment... You're right I do keep Lucy quite short with her tight wooly coat. Perhaps her cut could have been done with different blades (and they would have had to be different size blades), but with the comb attachments I could get different lengths for her head, body and legs using the same blade. On her back and chest I used a #2 (3/8"), for her legs I used #1 (1/2"), and for her head (excluding the beard and ears) I used a #0 (5/8"). I used Wahl's stainless steel comb attachments.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

I just reread your question and realized you were thinking Lucy was all one length. Sorry. No, she most definitely is not all one length. Guess I did a good job of blending the areas together... yay! She would look quite funny I think all one length, certainly not doodly the way I like them.

[Amy & Albee]

She looks fantastic!! I'm envious of your skills. Glad you decided to jump in and just take it on!

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Thanks, Amy!

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

you're hired! she looks gorgeous!

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

LOL! My DH just told me that he's mentioned to his co-workers that I was doing my own grooming on the doods. They've asked him if I would do their doodles... YIKES!  Give me a chance to catch my breath...lol..

[Gail and Bailey]

Really great job, Deb!  I would love to see a pic of the neck and face area under her ears to see how short it is.  Which comb attachment do you use in this area?  Also...do you blow her dry with a professional blower?  You did every bit as good as a pro!!  What a beauty Lucy is!

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Thanks, Gail! As I mentioned above I'm not completely happy with Lucy's face, especially under her ears and down her neck. (I'm embarrassed to take pictures of it!) I was very timid using the clipper there, as I knew it would make a big difference.. so I went over that area very lightly. I could have taken much more off. I'll be more 'assertive' next time. I used a #1 comb attachment there, same as the top of her head.

I have a variable speed XPower 3HP high velocity dryer. I like it because I can set it to a really low air speed for the face. Lucy HATES anything to do with messing with her face, so blow drying her face and scissoring it was quite the challenge! Surprisingly, the clipper seemed to bother her the least while working around her face.

You know, now that I really think about it, I think I'll go much shorter just under her ears and blend into her neck. It will help with air flow to her ears. I'll stick with the #1 comb for the side of her face though (in front of her ears and behind her beard).