First time yourkeepoo haircut

[maggiefromnj]

navillusc, very nice post. Basically we all agree that the adult coat isn't what the puppy coat is, so there is no way to know how Charlie will look when his hair grows out.

Charlies mom needs to figure out what kind of coat he has and make sure he is groomed properly for his coat. Hopefully now she will know what questions to ask so she can get the look she wants. (is the owner a she!?)

[navillusc]

Originally Posted by maggiefromnj

navillusc, very nice post. Basically we all agree that the adult coat isn't what the puppy coat is, so there is no way to know how Charlie will look when his hair grows out.

Charlies mom needs to figure out what kind of coat he has and make sure he is groomed properly for his coat. Hopefully now she will know what questions to ask so she can get the look she wants. (is the owner a she!?)

[bold] So true...some puppies look almost nothing like they will as adults.

[italics] That's the difficult part with a 6-month old mix, and since he's only 6-months old, he would be coming into his first shed (if he does shed) about now and losing his puppy coat and then he got groomed on top of all that, and maybe badly groomed...all without being able to see if he'd put on a 'winter' coat because he was a fall welp. Quite the little challenge to figure out for a "first puppy" [screen name] owner and almost impossible for anyone else without at least seeing the dog before and after.

[bold italics] Nothing quite like a giant shove into the process, I guess. I feel bad for the owner, though...very confusing...sad. The Yorkie-Poo I had years ago never went to a groomer, but I got him really tiny when I was a kid and maybe I just lucked out with him having a wonderful coat to care for and me loving to pamper him and him loving to be pampered. When I got Brody, the photo looked like he had long coat, but they took him to a groomer the day I picked him up and he was puppy cut without ear tips being done...he had really long ear hair...when I saw him in person. I tipped his ear hair myself, but didn't shave his ears, after looking at lots of info and photos, and I looked at tons of photos trying to figure out how to have him groomed "next time" he needed it. I also chose the groomer in advance, and talked to her several times about it, including the day she first groomed him. She got on the internet and found a photo she thought I meant him to look like and it was the same photo I had seen that I liked the look of the Yorkie in...so that's how she trimmed him and I loved it! The right groomer, for sure!

Firsttpuppy will eventually get the hang of it...I think the screen name is an important clue for the rest of us who are attempting to provide info.

[gracielove]

I had a poodle many years ago. Oh, they shed. It's just that it stays in the curly coat until it is brushed out. If it isn't brushed out you get a mat just like other dogs. I feel bad for many poodles and poodle mixes that get so neglected in the grooming end of things. I guess it's the same for any long coated dog. They require special care. Long haired breeds are very adorable as puppies but many people do not think of the long term care when they first obtain such a pup. It sounds like "firstpuppy" is getting the hang of things and should do well in the future with the proper tools to do the job. I guess I wouldn't suggest thinning scissors though. A good metal grooming comb and a pin brush should do the job.

I had never heard of Ivory being used as a deshedding shampoo! I did see that the maker of the Furminator deshedding tool has come out with a deshedding shampoo and conditioner for dogs. I'm planning on getting some for my son's Lab this spring. He usually sheds excessively for two months. Hopefully, this will help speed up the process somewhat. Using Ivory might be more cost effective for a guy his size. I guess my only concern would be if it was drying to the skin.

[navillusc]

Originally Posted by gracielove

I had a poodle many years ago. Oh, they shed. It's just that it stays in the curly coat until it is brushed out. If it isn't brushed out you get a mat just like other dogs. I feel bad for many poodles and poodle mixes that get so neglected in the grooming end of things. I guess it's the same for any long coated dog. They require special care. Long haired breeds are very adorable as puppies but many people do not think of the long term care when they first obtain such a pup. It sounds like "firstpuppy" is getting the hang of things and should do well in the future with the proper tools to do the job. I guess I wouldn't suggest thinning scissors though. A good metal grooming comb and a pin brush should do the job.

I had never heard of Ivory being used as a deshedding shampoo! I did see that the maker of the Furminator deshedding tool has come out with a deshedding shampoo and conditioner for dogs. I'm planning on getting some for my son's Lab this spring. He usually sheds excessively for two months. Hopefully, this will help speed up the process somewhat. Using Ivory might be more cost effective for a guy his size. I guess my only concern would be if it was drying to the skin.

I used the Ivory hand soap mostly because of the ease of the dispenser, and I never saw a problem with drying out their skin, and when you are shedding out a large dog with a thick undercoat, even one who is brushed thoroughly and regularly, when they start shedding that winter coat you spend a lot of time brushing it out.

[firsttpuppy]

Originally Posted by navillusc

[bold] So true...some puppies look almost nothing like they will as adults.

[italics] That's the difficult part with a 6-month old mix, and since he's only 6-months old, he would be coming into his first shed (if he does shed) about now and losing his puppy coat and then he got groomed on top of all that, and maybe badly groomed...all without being able to see if he'd put on a 'winter' coat because he was a fall welp. Quite the little challenge to figure out for a "first puppy" [screen name] owner and almost impossible for anyone else without at least seeing the dog before and after.

[bold italics] Nothing quite like a giant shove into the process, I guess. I feel bad for the owner, though...very confusing...sad. The Yorkie-Poo I had years ago never went to a groomer, but I got him really tiny when I was a kid and maybe I just lucked out with him having a wonderful coat to care for and me loving to pamper him and him loving to be pampered. When I got Brody, the photo looked like he had long coat, but they took him to a groomer the day I picked him up and he was puppy cut without ear tips being done...he had really long ear hair...when I saw him in person. I tipped his ear hair myself, but didn't shave his ears, after looking at lots of info and photos, and I looked at tons of photos trying to figure out how to have him groomed "next time" he needed it. I also chose the groomer in advance, and talked to her several times about it, including the day she first groomed him. She got on the internet and found a photo she thought I meant him to look like and it was the same photo I had seen that I liked the look of the Yorkie in...so that's how she trimmed him and I loved it! The right groomer, for sure!

Firsttpuppy will eventually get the hang of it...I think the screen name is an important clue for the rest of us who are attempting to provide info.

I do have Charlie's pictures before and after in my album. It is difficult to post pictures in the thread ,since it requires particular size for them. So, I posted pictures in my profile Album. Just kind off started and I will post more... Anyway, thank you for the suggestions,definitely will use them. Not sure if any groomer will tolerate many questions and requests .... Yes , it is my first puppy, never had one before and he is my baby now, I also have a 23 year old son, who is in college. Yes , I will eventually get hang of it. Just don't want to repeat the same mistake that I did before. Takes too long for mistake to be reversed.
Liliya, Charlie's mom

[firsttpuppy]

Originally Posted by navillusc

Thank you. I think there are instructions for uploading the pictures but the photo has to meet size requirements or it won't upload. I forget whether the instructions were in the stickies or just in the Profile somewhere.

Do you think the groomer cut just mats then used a shedding tool? If so, that might account for the way he looks now. If sections of his fuzzy puppy hair are cut shorter now because they were matted too badly to be detangled, his hair will still grow out again, but, as others have mentioned, will be whatever his adult coat will look like...not necessarily what he looked like in puppy fur. Also, as others have mentioned, maybe you'd want to even out the coat lengths better so it grows out more natural looking. Additionally, if his coat is prone to matting, you will need to regularly remove all mats...daily brushing, combing, etc.

Thinning shears are special scissors that actually cut tiny sections of hair shorter and leave others uncut and longer. They really do not 'thin' the coat (or hair on humans), but reduces "bulk" making the coat 'feel' thinner because some hair is cut really short where the rest is longer and so will lay down in the gaps where the cut hair would have been and look less "full" or fuzzy.

A shedding (de-shedding) tool just removes fur that is 'loose' and is being shed anyway and would have fallen out or come out in the brush or comb...or might mat with other hair forming a thatch and not falling out at all. If this happens, the dog (or cat) may need to be clipped down. You would only use a shedding tool on an animal that actually 'sheds' and dogs (and cats) that shed, typically do so seasonally an noticeably.

I bathed my Shep/Labs with Ivory liquid during 'shedding season' because it helps them shed out much quicker and used a pin brush daily to remove the loose, shedding downy undercoat hair...and they say Yorkies need lots of maintenance. With them, 2-3 passes of the pin brush would fill it with fur. Found out how good Ivory is for shedding out by accident when I bathed my first Shep/Lab just before taking her to the vet, where huge clumps...handfuls...of fur started falling out onto the floor as she walked. I was near freaking out thinking "OMG what have I done" when I saw those clumps falling out. The vet then calmly recommended that I use Ivory to help her shed out, which was a relief 'cuz the sudden shedding was unusual and I thought maybe she'd think I'd done something bad to my dog. If your baby does shed, Ivory might be an option for you...maybe just add a little to his regular shampoo in a solution at bath time.

I had a Yorkie-Poo years and years ago but he had Yorkie-type thin silky hair and did not shed. His daughter got more of the Poodle-type, more curly coat but also did not shed. Although she had a very thick coat, it was fine and silky, too, and she didn't mat either.

If your Yorkie-poo sheds, regular brushings are a must...daily...especially at shedding times and should mostly eliminate the shedding and matting problems.

Like others have mentioned, there are conflicting reports of whether or not Poodles really do or are supposed to shed. I know people who have or have had, Poodles, and Labradoodles and they do require regular grooming but my friends with Poodles say theirs do not shed. My understanding about Poodles is more along the lines of them being called "hypo-allergenic"...which, as I understand it, means the dander. They call Yorkies hypo-allergenic, too, but there are differences in the coats of the two breeds. Both have hair that keeps growing and must be clipped periodically, and both lose (shed) hair as do humans. But a Poodle's curled hair can hold onto what is shed including the dander, and that shed hair, as I understand it, can become matted with the un-shed hair it gets caught in if not removed regularly by brushing. I think they call it 'thatch' when that happens, and it blocks airflow to the skin, which is an unfriendly mess for the dog and bad for his skin in addition to being difficult to remove and causing pain from the matting. Since my friends regularly brush and clip their poodles, this may be why theirs do not shed...or mat, etc...they are close clipped monthly.

I am sure others could provide better info on cotton coated Yorkies who also mat easily, but I can tell you that I had a long haired soft coated kitty who would mat in minutes...or so it seemed...during shedding season...especially under her arms/legs when she walked just from the friction of moving and I had her clipped by a groomer the first 2 times, then clipped or scissored her myself after learning how. She had to be brushed almost every minute for a couple weeks especially in Spring when the winter coat is shed. If something like this happens with your dog, you will need to start watching him near winter's end and keep brushes and combs, and little bags to dispose of brush cleanings into, everywhere for those 12-second brushings!

I do not know if any of this helps in any way. Clearly your dog is a cutie even if his coat is a bit roughed up at the moment. If you are concerned about smoothing him out yourself, maybe the groomer who did the job would help if you let him know how disappointed you are with the look he gave your baby. After all, as a customer, he might care about you recommendations to others. Of course, you can also give it a month, and find a groomer you feel more comfortable with, too. I became a purchasing customer at my groomer's shop before my dogs became grooming customers, and I was completely confident in her abilities and dog handling skills before their first trims ever took place.

Good luck. I'd be interested in what you decide. Sorry this is so lengthy.

Thank you for reply No, yourkeepoo's don'tt have undercoat, but the groomer brushed out it with a shedding tool and then cut matts out and the lentgh of the coat on the sides, that is what takes so long to grow. I am not sure if it will again. Anyway, thank you for the ccompliments yes, he is a cutie anyway I wwilllet you know the update, I will take my time to find a groomer that I will be comfortable with and post more pictures.

[Donnainohio63]

I have three Yorkie _Poos. Scooter looks a lot like your Charlie did before the cut but have no fear, his hair will grow back. I have had Scooter in a puppy cut and he is now back to the full fluffy coat.

[navillusc]

Originally Posted by firsttpuppy

I do have Charlie's pictures before and after in my album. It is difficult to post pictures in the thread ,since it requires particular size for them. So, I posted pictures in my profile Album. Just kind off started and I will post more... Anyway, thank you for the suggestions,definitely will use them. Not sure if any groomer will tolerate many questions and requests .... Yes , it is my first puppy, never had one before and he is my baby now, I also have a 23 year old son, who is in college. Yes , I will eventually get hang of it. Just don't want to repeat the same mistake that I did before. Takes too long for mistake to be reversed.
Liliya, Charlie's mom

Download Photoscape...resize them...very easy to do...also easy to crop them, then resize them.

Oh, I am quite certain you won't have to repeat the same mistake...there are plenty more mistakes you haven't made yet. lol Trust me...I doubt I am done making mistakes!

I hope I am not repeating previous suggestions, but...

If you plan to talk to a new groomer, you might want to have kind of a 'list' of simple questions in your mind of initial things to ask the groomer...general stuff like...does he stay all day...what is included in the grooming session (my groomer does 2 types...a full groom and a mini-clip)...how far in advance must an appointment be made...do they know of a cut that looks great on other dogs with Charlie's hair type and length...ask for a business card, website, etc. When you take him in for the appointment, then you can ask/tell specifics of the cut you think you want and ask for clip advice from the groomer. I found it helpful to just observe other customers and their dogs coming and going and was pleased by what I saw...and have not been disappointed yet!

I did not get to talk to the groomer who clipped my kitty beforehand, but was present during the clipping and watched, asking occasional questions...but, she also continually explained to me and my kitty what she was going to do and doing, and the session was very relaxed, and since she was so good and my kitty had so little problem with her, I took my kitty back to her the next time.

Originally Posted by firsttpuppy

Thank you for reply No, yourkeepoo's don'tt have undercoat, but the groomer brushed out it with a shedding tool and then cut matts out and the lentgh of the coat on the sides, that is what takes so long to grow. I am not sure if it will again. Anyway, thank you for the ccompliments yes, he is a cutie anyway I wwilllet you know the update, I will take my time to find a groomer that I will be comfortable with and post more pictures.

Good grief! That sounds like quite an ordeal for Charlie......poor baby. I have to admit to wondering why he cut the length of the coat, though...unless to make it look more even after cutting out mats. Also, if Charlie required that kind of work, why not just call you, explain the situation and request a change of plan to a nice, shorter, even-length clip...

I had looked at your photos before, and the before photo is quite good, but the 'after' photo is not too detailed. The bright outdoor light washes him out some, too. Charlie does look much 'thinner' and shorter hair-wise after the grooming, though...obviously something happened there. lol

I think that, if the coat grew out once, it will again. I could be wrong...it is difficult to predict what a mix will do. I am not certain anyone can predict exactly what even a purebred will do. lol

However, my Yorkie-Poo and his daughter grew out...his daughter got longer and thicker hair than he did...he got a Yorkie-ish silky coat. Plus, I had a 'Doodle' (Dachshund/Poodle mix) and he got Dachshund coloring, near-standard-Poodle size, and a Poodle-ish long thick coat...but was not a huge 'mat-er' either.

I do not think anyone is an expert when starting out with anything...no worries...you'll do fine. lol You do have an advantage in that summer is coming and the thinner coat may be to your liking in the coming months. I think by winter, Charlie will be filling out with nice, lush fur again.

If you can, in the meantime, you might consider taking Charlie with you to check out other groomers, either for future trims or to fix what's currently wrong (meaning the 'what you do not like' part of Charlie's current clip). You can also take him to pet stores and strike up conversations with well-groomed puppy parents...get recommendations...talk to their groomers, if possible, and ask for recommendations on whether they can fix his current clip...or whether it should be fixed...and cuts for Charlie in addition to looking online at photos of clips you like. If you are prepared with some basic questions, it should not take but a few minutes, and you'll feel better afterward. Be sure to take cues from him, too...if he doesn't like the place, maybe you shouldn't either...IMHO. lol