First groom

[Kyle]

My puppy is just over 5 months old. I was wondering when do most take their dog to the groomer for the first time?

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

I took both of my doodles for their first groom right around the 5 month mark. With Lucy it was just a bath, blow dry, sanitary trim and some detail face work. With Oscar it was a full groom, including clipper cut. The professional groomer let each doodle's tolerance of the whole experience dictate how far to go.

[Emily, Bentley, & Maserati]

I started with grooming around 3 months for familiarity of going to a groomer. It was mostly for brushing, face trims, nail trims, and handling. We didn't do a first full groom until about 6 months as it wasn't needed. You could go at any point you feel comfortable.

[Rosella T]

I took my doodle for his first groom at 4 1/2 months. Just a word of advice. Make sure you trust the groomer, have read reviews on line and be very specific about what you want them to do. When my Omar was groomed the second time I went to new groomer based on the recommendation of another neighborhood doodle owner and yet his hair cut was a disaster. I was quite specific too. I even showed them a picture of his first hair cut and yet the groomer SHAVED the inside of his back legs, around his butt and the top of his muzzle and it looked terrible. Since then I found a great groomer and my little guy looks great. Just make sure you trust the groomer.

[Kaitee and Orwell]

I'm taking Orwell to the groomers tomorrow to also establish familiarity with the groomer, but he's only getting washed and his paws trimmed. He is 17 weeks. As of yet, I don't have any problem brushing his coat out and don't see a need for a trim. He has a straighter-wavy fleece coat. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

We have always taken our dogs to the groomer around 4 - 5 months so that they begin to get used to the procedure.  I do not groom myself, so I see it as a necessity.

[Kaitee and Orwell]

Today Orwell is 4 months and I just left him at the groomers. I've never left him anywhere... I felt like I was abandoning my baby, lol.