Royal Diamond Youtube videos

[Stephanie and Ragley]

I want to groom Ragley myself and all you home-groomers on here have definitely given me plenty of inspiration and encouragement to feel confident that I can accomplish this task with a little practice! So as I quickly approach the time to whip out some scissors, I have been doing tons of reading and trying to dig up how-to videos as far as scissor cutting. One of the video series that I found was done by a woman at Royal Diamond Labradoodles. She has a whole series on grooming a doodle and, for the most part, I feel they are pretty informative. I don't agree with all of the methods or finished looks of the cuts (everyone grooms their dog differently- we're allowed to like different "looks"), but she maintains the "shag" and I do like that part of it. I think she teaches in a way that is easy to understand and helps simplify the process. All the comments on her videos are so awful, though! People are SO MEAN on the internet these days! Holy cow! I know that there are a lot of doodle haters out there (calling them stupid mutts, overpriced mutts, everything negative imaginable about her mutt) and then there are just plain haters as well. A lot of them criticize her "dangerous" methods of scissor cutting the dog and how she is being so irresponsible etc. I was definitely not struck with that feeling when watching the videos and I think I will probably employ some of her methods when doing my cutting, so I'm just wondering if anyone else out there has watched these videos and can help explain to me how she is being so "cruel" to the dog? Am I missing something? Maybe naive and ignorant me is just totally clueless, but I like to think I'm not...

[Julie and Max]

Why do people set doodles up for failure by saying they don't shed or that they don't need a lot of coat maintenance. :(

I see your points to Marie, but like Stephanie I realize that a lot of work goes into a doodle, and found the videos a good starting place for me to get the confidence to begin my own grooming. I already bath Max too much lol...and brush him daily.

[Marie Dennen]

Thank you Julie and Stephanie for your positive feedback on my points. Julie, I don't understand the setting up the doodle for  failure either. I find it incredible frustrating as a professional in my field. I don't come on here too often. I know I have voiced perspectives that might be viewed as a "hater". But I think it is important to address even controversial issues as a community of these types of dog. (All breed lovers have little communities) I never planned to take on a doodle,but I did. I know many people on DK are very invested in their doodles from reading posts but as a groomer I can tell you endless stories of "doodle drama" occurring from not being not so invested, ignorance, inexperience or just plain people being jerks. Certainly owners of other breeds commit grooming "offenses". But there is a consensus amongst groomers that doodle owners tend to stick out. I think it comes from a combination of their popularity and there seems to be a lot of first time dog owners getting doodles. Dog parenting/ownership is a learning experience overtime. You can do a lot of research ( and kudos to you for doing so) but you always learn as you go and get better as you go, hopefully. Some people never get it. I know 'doodle grooming drama' has shaped the way  I do business. I cut back on the amount of them I do. Right now I am not taking on any more doodles unless a spot opens up from moving away, death or if a client fires me. Luckily I have a  very loyal following. I cut loose clients that were difficult to deal with or just didn't get it when I sold my last salon and set up a private studio in my home. Grooming is physically hard work and if you are going to last a while you need to be mindful of your body. It might seem illogical to turn away business like that , doodles are very high maintenance and need frequent grooming. Their revenue is nothing to turn your nose up at, however dealing with the people who never get it takes away from your time and income. I think sometimes people don't realize what they are asking their groomer to do in terms of dematting and the entire process. They see their dog go in a shaggy mess and come out looking beautiful. The process it a lot of hard work and it is done multiple times a day. Seriously, imagine grooming multiple doodles a day on top of a couple malteses, shih Tzus throw in a couple of crazy labs and so on. I know I am probably preaching to the choir , I am more speaking in term of the general public so please don't take offense if I seem critical or condescending. It's not my intention,  I just am throwing out some perspective. I know I veered a little of topic of the original post but my thought process was shedding light on where some of the nasty comments come from, I don't condone the comments but I have to say I understand a person expressing frustration when it comes to doodle grooming.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree with much of what you have said here, Marie. You are completely correct in that there are more first-time dog owners of doodles than most other breeds. Part of the problem is the mistaken idea that "doodles are not like other dogs". A lot of people who are not really "dog people" seem to acquire doodles. People say they have researched the "breed", but all of that research seems to have been done on breeder websites or in books about doodles, where the information is very limited and misleading at best. Instead of researching doodles, people need to just be researching dogs and learning about dogs in general, and the parent breeds in particular, not just doodles. This applies not just to grooming, but to things like behavior,  training and health as well. Because doodles are dogs, just dogs like every other dog. Wonderful dogs, but all dogs are wonderful. 

[Marie Dennen]

So true. I can look back on my early days as dog mama. I know I made mistakes. I know I have come along way. To this day I am still a better groomer than a trainer. Plus my training and handling experience is specific to the grooming area. Learning the fundamentals is key in anything. Like you say, start out learning about dogs, then after get more specific to breed traits/characteristics. I have a whole list of breeds I would love to own one day. But I tend to stick with what I know. I think if I were to acquire a breed I hadn't had before,knowing what I know now I will spend time with experienced people with that breed and want to hear the good,bad and the ugly.

[Brittney & Cally]

I know this is an old conversation but I have decided to take the plunge and make the investment and buy all the grooming things I will need to groom Cally at home. I found her videos very helpful. I do not like how she makes the belly all one length as I prefer the arched look. I also did not like how she shaved under the neck but other than that I really liked them and I know I will form my own styles as I progress!

[Stephanie and Ragley]

I also prefer the arched look, and you will definitely create your own flare!