grooming

[Jane Gerald]

I washed my Doodle today!  He likes to take a shower!!!  He does not like to be dried with the hair dryer.  He was groomed for the first time two weeks ago at 5 months.  I like the longer look so I am hoping to let it grow awhile between groomings.  But if he doesn't let me dry and comb him properly I won't be able to let it grow.  How often do you groom? What do you do in-between?  Hints?

[Chris & Abby]

I have Abby groomed every 4 weeks. She has a cottony feeling coat and I like the fluffy look the groomer gives her. She's been really matting lately so I'm brushing every day. Other than the brushing, I don't do anything else between groomings. She hates the shower so we avoid bathing at home!

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Jane, come and join us in the Grooming Group. We have tons of great info there and ideas about grooming. You can also search through our old discussions for help.

I found with Tara, and many others have too, that a grooming table makes a world of difference in our ability to control the grooming session.  Also, he is just a baby so the hair dryer is probably a pretty scary thing to him. Use the time between grooming sessions to acclimate him to the dryer. You could leave it out and turn it  at different times so he becomes used to the sound and then slowly work toward moving it closer to him, using lots of praise and treats as he tolerates it.  Do the same thing with the comb if need be.  It's wonderful that he likes the shower-that's a huge step!

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/doodlegrooming

You may also get some help and ideas in the Puppy Madness Group:

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/puppymadness

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Ricki had great suggestions, and slowly introducing the comb or brush with praise and treats will help him get more used to the grooming sessions, not only with you, but at the groomers as well.  I groom my two by myself and unless it is very cold out, I hardly ever dry them.  I towel dry to get the most moisture out, let them shake quite a bit in the tub and then let them air dry.  When dry I comb or brush. Mine are bathed often by some standards, at least every 2 weeks and more often when we come home from visiting our cabin in the woods as I like to be sure I feel every inch of them for ticks.  In the summer they are in the pool everyday and then rinsed off.  Again no blow drying.  So maybe try just letting him air dry?

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I agree with air dry.  We don't use a regular hair dryer because the heat can dry out their skin.  I do have a regular dog blower which is basically a big dryer without the heat.  I use it to just blow a lot of the water off of them before I bring them out of the tub an I only do that sometimes.  Most of the time I just towel them off and let them air dry and then brush out.  

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

I pointed the blow dryer at Quincy all the time while drying my hair when he was a pup and he got used to the noise and feeling.  Can't say he loves it, but he tolerates it.  

In the summer, I make a game of drying him with the leaf blower!  He runs all around and I point it at him- he loves it! That dies his hair up pretty quick! 

But I also take him for regular grooming about every 5-6 weeks and keep him on the shorter side once the weather warms. He seems to prefer shorter, cooler cut.  He sleeps in the shower on the porcelain floor most nights!

[SoSa]

The groomer told us Ace was a dream with them, but he hates the bath here at home. Once we manage to get him washed, he'll sit through the blow drying and brushing so long as he has a bully stick.

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

My two doodles are adults now and they go to the groomer every 8 weeks for a complete groom.  I sometimes give them a bath in between grooming depending on our activity and travel.  When I bath them, I brush first until a comb runs through their hair and then bath them and towel dry as good as I can and then use the hair dryer on low speed blowing them gently as I continue to towel dry, then we go out and chase some balls in the sun.  Remembering back when they puppies, I believe their first bath was when they were about 5 mos old and that was a sanitary trim.  Generally puppy coat is very easy care until you hit the coat change stage at about 8 mos - a year depending on the puppy.  Then it is major brushing every day to keep mats at bay.  I did not bath either of them when they were going through the coat change - they went to the grooming every 7 weeks then. Good luck.  You might check out the Grooming group and join if you have not already done so.  I too wanted mine to have longer hair, but when they are very athletic, it is often easier to keep them in a shorter cut. It is all a personal preference.  As your doodle matures, you will figure out what is right for you and your doodle.

[Jane Gerald]

Thanks everyone! I will be trying the great ideas! I am so excited to find this group! Everyone is so helpful. I love having a Doodle. It is like belonging to a special club:)  I joined the grooming group!  Can't wait to read the "old" threads.