A classic Golden Doodle story....

[flyingfur]

yes, we've heard it all before.....

It was his first groom. He is a year old. Mom was brushing and "combing" him. She knew he had a few mats, and "an extra set of ears".

Hubby drops off. I brought him down to show him with the dryer just how bad the matting was. Explained everything, said he could think about it, talk with his wife and come back next week if he wanted (I'm not busy right now-the calm before the storm of Christmas). Told him that by spring his legs would be like casts. He would be delaying the inevitable and explained that skin infections can start under mats. He almost had tears in his eyes thinking about shaving the dog.

I used a 5FC for most, a 7 and a 10 in some spots. Finished with a #4. I would have left more on his head, but I had to shave the tops of both ears, the neck and "extra ears" were awful.

Mom and daughter came to pick up. I told them please don't laugh at him, he's very handsome. They laughed. Mom said "so you had to take him down to the wood" (a 4??), daughter kept saying "it's not the same dog" and "his manhood shows". Finally I said, "You love the dog - not his hair, right?"

This dog was so absolutely wonderful for his first groom. He was very interested in everything coming off of him! He loved his blueberry-vanilla facial scrub (thought it tasted great!) and he also appreciated the Happy Hoodie during drying.

[schnlove]

How could they not love how he looks? I will never understand the way people think about their matted dogs, somedays it makes me want to give up on grooming!!

[groomingfool]

I think he looks very handsome, and so does he- you can see it all over his face!

[Alice]

I think he looks SOOO much better! How can they not think he looks great? He looked awful before. Great job!

[samilott]

I have one Golden doodle that comes in always very matted and of course they want him to grow "long"..(These dogs can’t get long).but her daughter brushed him out for 45 minutes the night before???and I am sure only the night before since the last groom 2 1/2 months ago.....#10 was hard to take off belly and legs I told her no dog can leave with mat's they told me they will be looking for another groomer and they wont be back I told her good luck and good bye. I don’t know what picture they are looking at or what TV show they are watching but they are so far out there with this dog they need the magic wand...Ha-ha. Her brother was bringing a large mutt to be bathed about every three months and the last time he brought it in he was moving to another town to a pet friendly apartment complex. So he calls me 2 weeks later after the move and says that his dog has fleas and he knows that he got them at my shop 200 miles away, I said how do you know this and he said because his 4 years old dog has never had a flea before till now I said when was the last flea spot treatment on your dog he said he does not have to use flea medicine his dog doesn’t get fleas. Yesterday he called 6 times wanting to get his dog a bath I would not answer his mother just told me last Saturday that they will be looking for another groomer so why would they want back in so soon... maybe because I am the only groomer in my small town who will take the troublesome family they have burned a bridge here people that constantly complain I can’t deal with them I had let go several bad customers in the last few months go especially since I got a bark control box I have really been able to weed out the crazy dog’s too.

[wynningway]

He looks great and he even looks like he is proud of his new doo. Why can't the owners see what the hair is doing when the dog is matting up? I groom a Labradoodle on a regular schedule of 5 weeks he always has mats but we are able to demat him with out hurting him. He get a hair cut every groom but not short. His owner still ask why she can not let him grow all natural like his breeder said they should be grown. It is very frustrating.

[rapuzzled]

You did a great job! I really like how you did his face . I'm sure that they will get used to his new look, I can understand how they would be a little shocked at first, he really does look like a completely different dog.

[doggydivas]

Awesome job! I think he looks handsome!

[abandk03]

I love him! You did a great job.

[artman100]

You Did A Wonderful Job

When it comes to first cuts its always difficult especially due to the fact that there is still lingering puppy hair in the mix.People don't understand the concept of matting and how you just cant brush out a matt.The fur is like a knitted sweater and its not fair to the dog to try and even attempt to brush it out.I tell people you pay me for my time,and time is money and the more time spent on brush outs the less money I make besides if the owners really cared about the dogs coat they would brush our precious friends on a daily basis.shave downs suck but it beats the alternative.thanks for the pics!

[scullysmom]

he looks great!!! Some owners-ugh

[Dolly]

I think all of us have a few of those type of clients that swears that they brush him everyday. What I tell them is to use a human comb, and go deep to the skin when combing. Brushes can slide over-on-top of the matts, but a good combing will educate these clients about what their dog's coat is doing at skin level !!

Happy Comb-outs !!

Dolly's Barking Bubbles, LLC

https://www.dollysbarkingbubbles.com

[Jenneversage64]

I think he looks great

He still has plenty of coat, a beard, fur on his ears and head, what more could hey ask?I never understand people who like long, matted, dirty, stinky dogs with poop under the tail, they don't seem to notice. You are 100% right, they lkove the dog, not just his fur. I will use that one in the future.

[SpikeyTheYorkie]

I think it's sad he nearly cried about the shaving part, and not about the part where you said "infections can start under the mats, his legs will be like casts in the summer," etc...

It's not the doodles, it's the OWNERS!

Tammy in Utah

[DaisyMae]

He looks very nice. Great job.