Pom poms for ears

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Monty had his haircut a week ago and our new groomer had to go shorter since he was matted. It's fine since we usually go shorter once the sun comes out. However, she left his ears looking like pom poms. I did shorten them a bit in the meantime, but there is still a lot of fluffiness in them.

How do you cut the ears properly? Here is the pic I took of him after he came home from the groomer. Since I shortened the ears, they are now about 1/2 shorter in length. Still lots of fluff.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I think he looks adorable. His ears look perfectly fine to me. :)

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

LOL, thanks Karen. I'm still contemplating grooming them myself since it seems we have a new groomer every time we go in. I would love to take a course on doodle grooming if it was offered anywhere.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I have never had that urge, and I've had poodles and poodle mixes since 1977. Of course, JD has a wash & wear coat, but I wouldn't even try grooming him myself. I give those who do their own grooming all the credit in the world. I've never even bathed a dog myself. 

[Emily, Bentley, & Maserati]

I'm jealous you've never had to bathe a dog! Mine can find a puddle or mud anywhere! We are frequent bathers in this house thanks to their romping around. Grooming, no, gladly, we love our groomer! She is awesome! 

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

I keep fighting the urge all the time. Every time they come back from a new groomer I huff and puff about how they look (well, mostly Monty since his hair is more high maintenance). Ever since our original groomer died, I have not been happy with the new folks. It's either a horrible cut in three hours or a nice cut, but the dog is stuck there for 6 hours. I do give the boys baths between haircuts, but I'm scared to clip their nails.

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

His ears are a little too full for balance with the shorter coat. You might try making them a bit shorter and also layering the rest of the ear too. The biggest issue that groomers have is making a line between the head and the ears instead of blending them together.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Thanks Barb. How do I layer them correctly?

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

Do you have blending shears? You cut in the direction of hair growth. Lift hair out from the ear and try and make the same length along the whole ear. You could then blend the ears into the head a bit.

[Trudy Harlow]

My doodle has this problem. I just have them thin the fur on his ears, blend it into the moppet on the top of his head. Since your dog has less of a moppet, it makes the ears look bigger. You could grow the top of his head out and then the ears wouldn't look so pom-pom-ish.

[Emily, Bentley, & Maserati]

I think Monty's ears are cute! 

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

My personal, totally untrained opinion is that it isn't the ears as much as the transition from the head to the ears.  It looks to me like they took that a little too short and as Barb mentions it doesn't blend to the ears smoothly.  For me when I'm grooming the head is the hardest part.  I like you would have started by taking the ears shorter in length but I'm not sure the transition can be fixed as it is already too short.  In a few days you probably won't even notice it.  In this photo anyway it looks like it is mostly the right side.  The other transition looks a little smoother (but that could just be the picture).

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Yes, they took way too much off the top of his head, and it's uneven as well. I've shortened the ears and layered some of the volume as well. I like it better that way, although it's not perfect. It will grow. And in the meantime, we'll look for another groomer. I've got a recommendation for a mobile groomer from Monty's sister.