Please help with grooming tips for a doodle with a strange coat

[Nancy and Georgia Brown]

My Georgia is almost 16wks old and I have to start thinking about her first groom.

I do want to do it myself. Zero experience I should add.

I am clueless in general about this, but even more confused when I watch the videos and the dogs don't have anything close to her coat.

Her torso has a completely different coat than her legs and chest. It's coarser, it's super thin, and the hair grows in lots of different directions. Is this just a puppy coat? 

So far she doesn't shed if that helps. But when I use the flea comb to groom her I do get some hairs/fur in the comb. (Yes a flea comb. I may have to go and get something a tad coarser but it works better than the nice expensive brush and comb that I ordered online--way too coarse to do any good.)

Any advice? Here are a couple pictures that show her coat. They were taken 2 days ago. She's a great dog and this isn't a complaint, just need advice cause I really don't know what I'm dealing with and how it fits into the spectrum of coats described in the main page of this group.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Georgia is adorable!!! Both of my doodles have mixed textured coats. 16 weeks is a puppy coat. They don't usually go through the dreaded coat change until between 7 and 15 months. Your sweetie could probably get along with just a face and sanitary trim at this point. There are some Youtube videos on clipping doodles. They were helpful for me.

Here is one on line-brushing that also has other clipping videos. Line brushing is essential for maintaining a doodle coat:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szIij_zknNs 

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

One of the best things to do is to spend some computer time going back into the archives in the Doodle Grooming Group. There is a ton of information and advice.  All the different coats and textures are discussed and grooming techniques and equipment.  It will take some time to read all the information since it is close to probably 6 years of info.  Everything I know I learned in the group plus I have contributed a ton over the years to the discussions.  Good Luck!!

[Bev and Tess]

Georgia is so cute! I think it is way to early for any full hair cut. I also decided to cut our Doodle Tess's hair myself, and had never done this before either. I started with getting a pair of grooming scissors with rounded tips. I started this whole hair trimming very slowly, by just doing what area was bothering me. With Tess it was the hair between the eyes. Then it was the hair above her eyes. These two areas seemed to clean her up for a few weeks and then when they bothered me I did them again. I do a complete scissor cut on Tess, and I'm not sure what look you want or what type of hair Georgia will have at one or two years old. Tess's hair is still changing and she is two and a half now. Start slow and get her use to a brush or your comb, and take little steps on the trimming. You will build confidence and be ready for her legs and torso when it's time. Good luck.

[Camilla and Darwin]

She is beautiful! Does she tangle easily? I think a fine toothed comb is a good way to go, it is a pretty failproof way to prevent tangling.

[Nancy and Georgia Brown]

Thanks for the advice.

She doesn't tangle easily so far. I think it is some combination of a hair and fleece coat. I like the shaggy but not too long look. My vet said at my first appointment that she will have that permanent bed head look and that's fine with me. We will match perfectly.

My main issue is getting the right tools because I have a chris C. butter comb and brush that I bought based on comments here but they seem useless. I don't want to waste money on the wrong things for her coat type because it certainly isn't the typical thick coat I see on most doodles. I currently use the flea comb almost daily to go through her coat.

I have a small scissors with the round tip that I have been using around the pads of her feet and on her sanitary area, and once around the eyes. I have been working on getting her used to the dremel for her toenails. I don't know how to give her treats hold her toe in place and use the dremel at the same time. It seems I'm missing an extra hand. She isn't afraid but has tried to bite the dremel a few times with a not so positive outcome. She also tries to bite the grooming tools as we are working.

I think the next thing to get is a good pair of scissors for the main body and legs, but I just can't sort out what she needs from the massive selection available and reading all the posts here only confuses me more. Do you buy scissors based on coat type or is there the basic one that you start with that doesn't depend on the dog? If you like the shaggy look does it require the serrated type? Thinning shears: I'm assuming that her coat is very thin already so it doesn't need thinning so that is not in the running.

I wish there was a class for this, kind of like the puppy class we go to.

[Bev and Tess]

I got my scissors from a Coastal Farm and Ranch store. I don't think I even spent over $10 or $15 for them. They are just regular (not thinning) scissors with the rounded tips. The shaggy look comes more from the type of hair, and the length of it. 

[Camilla and Darwin]

I think you should continue using the comb if it's working for you. Darwin has a very thick, fleece type coat and our routine is brushing with a slicker brush, then going through everything with a fine toothed comb. The comb is really the essential part for us, to make sure his coat is tangle free. I am sure that on a thinner coat, you would definitely need a finer comb rather than wide toothed. 

[Teresa Joyce]

Hi Nancy,

It's great that you are already thinking about grooming. At 16 weeks, she's ready to become acquainted with the tools of the trade even if you don't use them on her coat.  It would be a good idea to use something that vibrates (like a clipper ie - electric toothbrush or men's electric shaver) and allow her to get use to the noise and vibration.  Just let her smell it and then run it over her body. Lot's of praise when she accepts without getting fidgety or anxious.  You can start looking in her ears and get her use to you touching her feet.  It is really important that the puppy realizes early that these are not things to be feared.  You can also start introducing a blow dryer to her.  This will  make your future grooming time much easier if you decide to groom her yourself and if not, she will not be as frightened her first time at a groomer. A flea comb is okay, but are you getting all the way down to the skin?  If not, then invest in a greyhound comb, it can be found for around $4. Use the wider tooth end first then follow with the finer tooth end.  Good luck!

[Nancy and Georgia Brown]

thanks,

I have been getting her used to most of the stuff. I trim the pads. Her ears get cleaned regularly and we are working on the nails with the dremel. The hair dryer is the one we haven't really tackled yet. 

And her coat is pretty darn thin--especially the torso. Getting down to the skin with the flea comb is not a problem.

[Janice Sutherland]

She is gorgeous, Nancy! She is quite similar to my Jasmine. Her puppy coat was a bit obnoxious. I gave her first groom around 7 months and again at 12 months. Her coat is now so beautiful. Wavy and full. So easy to care for. No shed, no mats, no brushing necessary, unless I think she is feeling left out-- the others require more coat care. I can use the slicker brush or steel comb on her. Her legs are still a bit wooly compared to the rest of her and it does require more careful brushing to make sure all the tangles are out. She is my fastest to brush, bath or clip. I think you got very lucky indeed! My Jas needs a bath after this last warm spell (crazy weather here!) and then I will take some picts and post them in the next couple days.

[Nancy and Georgia Brown]

Glad to hear! I would love to see pictures.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Oh, Wow, she is absolutely precious and unique!  No advice on her coat except that I don't think she needs trimming yet - at least from your pics.