Bad hair day

[momof2]

Poor Pepper. I've never had a dog with hair like this before. We let her fur get too long, and it just seemed to get matted everywhere all at once. I kept thinking I could get it cleaned up if I just spent a little more time on it tomorrow night . . . it just kept getting worse and worse. We took her to the groomer yesterday and they basically had to shave her. It's like we had this lovable mop of fur, unzipped her, and out popped a skinny, hairless poodle. The last time we brought her to the groomers, the groomer commented on how most doodles have lots of matts and Pepper had none; this time she probably thinks she should call the ASPCA on us. On top of the matted hair, she also had a minor ear infection, and we were already treating her for giardia (not sure how she got that). We have become our veterinarian's best customers!

Luckily, Pepper doesn't seem to realize what a rotten Mom I am - she still wants to play with me.

I vow never again to let her fur get so long. It seemed like once it got to a certain point, even nightly combing couldn't stop the matt formation. Is that generally the way the doodle fur works?

Julia

[SamsonsMom]

Oh you're not a bad Mom!!! I notice matts on Samson sometimes around his lower leg area. The area that seems to get the dirtest when outside. Usually I just snip them out.

What kind-of brush are you using? I use a slicker brush on my guys, seems to get out all the dead hair and any dirt or debris they might collect while playing outside.

[momof2]

I've actually been using a comb more than the brush. Seems to get through the fur and down to the skin better. I have two different brush types, but the slicker brush only seems to work well on her legs where the fur is straighter and lays flatter. Maybe I'm not doing something correctly? My last dog was a Samoyed - a totally different grooming experience!

[Jac]

Hey, don't beat yourself up! Your groomer is right, Doodles do mat...especially if thy have the long, fleece type coats! My dogs mat too...mostly in the winter...I am wondering if that is nature's way of keeping them warmer! LOL

I shave my dogs down in the spring and fall. I used to feel so bad because I LOVE the doodle coat...but I don't feel bad any more because they actually enjoy having the hair cut! And, now that I am used to it, I think it is adorable! I keep their face (head and ears) long and their tail...but sometimes if the matting is bad, that has to go too!

It will grow back...and you will LOVE the way it feels when it starts growing!

I suggest that you buy her a coat...she is not used to being shaved and a coat will make her feel warmer and more secure. I always put sweaters or coats on my dogs when they are shaved and the feel so great...they prance around and show off...it is very cute...the Poodle in them, I guess!

Giardia is common...it is in standing water...especially if there are cattle around...once she has it she will probably get it again...just watch for the signs, it is easy to treat.

There is a video on this forum, mentioned in several posts (dont' have time to find it right now) ...it tells you how to brush (or comb) to the skin...it is something I did not know how to do until I saw the video...you will be surprised at how easy it is.

Also, check under her ears and near her collar...and along the base of her tail for mats...that is where it usually starts. If she gets wet, and you towell dry her, it will create mats...so you see, they are easy to get...

You will get used to the shorter coat...I LOVE the 1/2 to 3/4 inch coat with a longer face/ears and tail ... it is very cute and still looks like a Doodle!

The boy in my avatar is clipped down...because of mats...but he is still cute!

[kirama]

I had to get Beck shaved down in Sept. the groomer said he was probably just blowing his puppy coat and that she didn't think he would matt again, well now his coat is grown out and looking really nice and it's starting to matt, mostly on his rear legs grrr. I ordered a green les pooches brush on ebay (got a real good price on it) and bought a spray bottle of mane n tail detangler from our local feed store, guess what? NO more matts!!! the combination of that brush and the mane n tail makes brushing him out completely matt free easy peasy

[deepnite10]

we ve stop d using a brush..it just does nt get deep enough to get the matts out..

to keep matting from forming i use a coat king to keep his coat thin d out..then use a comb
every other day to get any knots that may form in his coat..start with a large tooth comb the first
time around..then finish with a medium and occasionally use a fine one on his ears..

[lindamarie]

Julia! You're not a bad mom!! I have heard how doodles can mat easily. Luckily, I don't have that problem with Bogart, but my Bouvier sure matted.
I took great care of him and loved him so much, but he matted!
Ear infections are common, at least with Bogart and my poor Springer.......and we went through the giardia with Bogart! Where they get it is so hard to pin down.
Okay! Someone wanna call ME a bad mom!!??

We took her to the groomer yesterday and they basically had to shave her. It's like we had this lovable mop of fur, unzipped her, and out popped a skinny, hairless poodle.

[momof2]

Thought I would post some photographic evidence of before:



and after:




Wow, where did my dog go? I'm wondering how long it will take until she returns!

Hope these photos work, haven't done this before.

Julia

[Jac]

Julia! She is STUNNING! Really, her coat is to die for!

Yes, the groomer really did a number on her, but it will grow quickly...and once it gets about another inch on it, I think you will like her look.

She is really a gorgeous dog!

[SamsonsMom]

WOWIE that is different....but not in a bad way. She has a very regal look to her now.

[Remy]

Remy also had a hair cut.
This is before

And this is after

Quite a change But a lot less brushing!!!

[Jac]

Pepper and Remy just proved that you can't make a Doodle look bad!

[boscosmom]

Bosco has the same hair - I get it shaved about twice a year (just as short as yours!) and I've gotten used to it. Now we don't let it get too long because the matts really upset Bosco and he is always trying to scratch them out. So no, I don't think you are a bad doodle mom either! A bad mom wouldn't have gotten him cut so he felt better!

[Jac]

Great point! Matting is painful for the dogs! Plus a matted dog usually has stickers poking into their skin under the mats...I know because I have shaved down matted dogs and found them! I felt HORRIBLE! That is why my dogs do get shaved down twice a year...and I can carefully examine their skin for any signs of trouble...

[MaxandMe]

wow BOTH doodles look awesome with their new cuts!!!


Peanut has to be shaved down every 3 to 4mos as for some reason her legs and ears will matt horribly the past year
at 1st the new cut is a shocker and once it grows a tad bit you end up loving it.