I want to cry! My doodle has lost face.

[Sandi, Jeff & Mickey]

I took Mickey in for a grooming yesterday and I told her to cut him down a bit so he looked just like he was but shorter. When I got there she said that he was too matted and shaved him down all of the way like we do in the summer, AND she cut his face and head like a poodle. Nothing wrong with poodles. I have owned them in the past, but I just adored his doodle face and now he has a pointed snout and a poofy head. Any suggestions to remedy his head, besides waiting for his hair to grow back?

I just read through the matting suggestions so will take that to the bank. I thought I was being a great doodle owner, but found that I wasn't getting far enough down into his coat.

[Debbie & Cotton Clegg]

My groomer just called me to tell me that Cotton was going to look like a Lab when I pick her up. I too was trying to brush her to the skin but I guess I was doing a pretty BAD job. I do trust this lady and she call me first. I take full responsibility. Guess we will go buy her a sweater. I'll post a pic when she gets home. At least it will grow back.

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

Once that close to the skin matting starts to happen it spreads like a wild fire. If you are not experienced in what to look for you cannot contain it. I barely managed to save the coats on my young breeding girls when they were 11 months old. I groomed them and they were perfect and 2 weeks later, it was like disaster struck.
Don't blame yourself for missing something you didn't know about. Hopefully with the information we can share on this site it will make it easier for people and their puppies.

[Sandi, Jeff & Mickey]

You remind me that one of my errands MUST be a comb this weekend! I didn't know that it happened so fast! Thanks for the heads up! He's already looking more doodly (or should I say dirty).

[Tam]

This was our after :(

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

ok, that's a shave. If it was me, I would take the ears down the same and flatten the head a bit and then enjoy the easy job of brushing you will have for a while. It has been my impression that the dogs love to be naked. This is one of my stud boys that was in a guardian home. They obviously didn't follow my coat instructions and this was the result. He liked it. He actually lives in a different home now. If you go to the page of BillPitcher you will see how he looks now.

[Sandi, Jeff & Mickey]

Yes, he seems to have more energy now than ever. So I know that only ones that really care are my husband and me. He seems to love it. Even in the cold here. It felt like 20 degrees the other day, with the wind chill, and he acted as if it was 50.

[Debbie & Cotton Clegg]

It has been three weeks since Cotton had to be shaved and she is beginning to look like this except the tail, she only has fur at the end. It didn't seem to bother her but she does get cold.
I took all the brushes (6) in and asked which was the best to use and the reply was none of them. She showed me the one she uses and recommended. It is a flexible slicker brush. I found them on the internet and have ordered both sizes. I sure hope they are the answer. I will let every know how they work.

[Debbie & Cotton Clegg]

Here is a pic of Cotton with three weeks growth. It doesn't seem to have bothered her except that she gets cold now. thank goodness spring is almost here.

[Ivy Bates]

As a labradoodle groomer I try to explain to my customers about combing the hair. It's very important to get down to the skin line and out combing a little at a time. Pulling out just a little at a time. I love using the Oster Course Comb because its wide enough and strong enough to start the combing out. Then use a smaller comb once the mats are out. Brush after using the Les Pooche for finishing. So many of my customers just brush the top layer and think it done and then, there is nothing I an do to save the coat when it is that bad. Wool coats tend to mat very easy so you have to brush often. I try to save the coat whenever possible. Especially the face but the muzzle can get very matted. If you come across a mat and it won't come out. Try scissoring trough the mat staying parallel with the body so you don't cut into. It's easier to take out smaller mats hen one large one. Try power on the mat also that could make it easier to get it out. I also like to use Ice on Ice it softens the hair enough so I can get out mats that way also.

But just remember, it's not permanent it always grows back before you know your doodle will be back to their old self sooner then you think.
visit my website at www.doodlestyle.com

[Loreta Janca]

I thought I was the only one who had their doodle transformed into a poodle by a groomer!
Same thing happened to me. Took himi to the same groomer twice, and the first time wasn't good, so the next time I was more specific, and he came home looking even more "poodly". They shaved the top of his nose, adn puffed up his head!
I'm trying another groomer next time, for sure, and bringing a picture.
I also recently found some matts on his belly. I was shocked, as I too, thought I was brushing him enough but he's got some anyway. I'm trying to brush them out, but if I can't get through them all, looks like he'll be shaved underneath.
He's 11 months old, and getting his adult coat, so I guess that explains it, but I feel terrible I didn't get them sooner.

[Gay Lord]

I think Mickey looks great. Last year Bentley was very matted, I came home and my daughter and her friends shaved him down to nothing! I almost fainted! I felt sorry for him, but I do believe he really felt better. He didn't go out in public for a while! :-) I learned my lesson now I try really hard to brush him at least every other day if not everyday. He is really good about it and it keeps him from matting up.

[Denise Armstrong]

I have have been through this and my girl looked just like yours. I liken it to when my daughter was a baby and she had a terrible skin conditioner that looked horrid but was not painful. The pediatrician told me it " it is much worse for the mother and grandmother than the child" This is the same for your doodle she doesnt care and it will grow out we all learn our lessons and i too cried when it happened. The worse part is everyone thinks they are poodles when they are so short.