[Layla’smum]

So my spoo puppy is now 16 weeks old. I live in Ontario Canada and due to COVID-19 lockdowns all the dog groomers have been shut down. The groomers have now been given the green light to open up again but at this stage they are only able to groom dog that are matted etc. And are needing work that is not a styling etc so the groomers I have called either won’t take new customers or say because I am looking at getting styling work on Layla ( I am looking to get her face, feet belly etc trimmed up). They won’t take her at this time. So my question to you lovely knowledgable people is - How hard would it be for me to do this trimming myself at home ? I have never groomed a dog before but I have clipped horses in the past so I have handled a set of clippers before 😛 When we got Layla from her breeder at 9 weeks she had a trimmed face, belly and around her butt so she has had a set of clippers on her.

 

[jnolde]

So my spoo puppy is now 16 weeks old. I live in Ontario Canada and due to COVID-19 lockdowns all the dog groomers have been shut down. The groomers have now been given the green light to open up again but at this stage they are only able to groom dog that are matted etc. And are needing work that is not a styling etc so the groomers I have called either won’t take new customers or say because I am looking at getting styling work on Layla ( I am looking to get her face, feet belly etc trimmed up). They won’t take her at this time. So my question to you lovely knowledgable people is - How hard would it be for me to do this trimming myself at home ? I have never groomed a dog before but I have clipped horses in the past so I have handled a set of clippers before 😛 When we got Layla from her breeder at 9 weeks she had a trimmed face, belly and around her butt so she has had a set of clippers on her.

YouTube has plenty of instructional videos. I have a 5 month old and I just tried myself. I was able to do her feet, but could NOT get her to stay still to do her face. I think I will make a funny "instructional" video myself the next time I try.

 

[Layla’smum]

YouTube has plenty of instructional videos. I have a 5 month old and I just tried myself. I was able to do her feet, but could NOT get her to stay still to do her face. I think I will make a funny "instructional" video myself the next time I try.

Lol that would be great. I guess I should get on YouTube and start watching video’s to see what I would be getting myself into

 

[Oonapup]

I'm in Ontario as well. Oona (now 6 months) was getting so shaggy and started getting another eye infection which I think her shaggy face was contributing to. So a month ago I bought clippers and have done her face and then feet and tail a couple weeks later - it is possible if you go slow and are patient. You can do it! A bonus is that I spent about $175 on the clipper and it will help save a lot of money if I can do maintenance to extend time between professional grooms which are $100+ each where I am.

I watched some youtube videos on how to clip her face and feet - actually Raindrops made one recently and posted here that I found helpful. I don't have a grooming table but I put her on our laundry table to do her face and, like with her baths, gave her tons of breaks and treats as I went. I tried to do her feet with her on a towel on the coffee table but that did not work well, as she kept putting her face in the way with no loop to hold her ... I had more success and was able to do all 4 feet (not perfect but workable) and tail with her on a towel on the floor while chewing a bully stick.

I imagine you've been doing regular brushing so your puppy's coat is in ok shape and not getting matted. I want to try trimming Oona's coat overall at some point if we can't get into a groomer, but it's been recommended to get metal comb attachments rather than the plastic comb guards that came with the clipper. So for now I'm just planning to maintain FFT when they start getting shaggy. I find the clean feet also prevents snowball toes, though excessive salt still bothers her.

 

[Layla’smum]

I'm in Ontario as well. Oona (now 6 months) was getting so shaggy and started getting another eye infection which I think her shaggy face was contributing to. So a month ago I bought clippers and have done her face and then feet and tail a couple weeks later - it is possible if you go slow and are patient. You can do it! A bonus is that I spent about $175 on the clipper and it will help save a lot of money if I can do maintenance to extend time between professional grooms which are $100+ each where I am.



I watched some youtube videos on how to clip her face and feet - actually Raindrops made one recently and posted here that I found helpful. I don't have a grooming table but I put her on our laundry table to do her face and, like with her baths, gave her tons of breaks and treats as I went. I tried to do her feet with her on a towel on the coffee table but that did not work well, as she kept putting her face in the way with no loop to hold her ... I had more success and was able to do all 4 feet (not perfect but workable) and tail with her on a towel on the floor while chewing a bully stick.

I imagine you've been doing regular brushing so your puppy's coat is in ok shape and not getting matted. I want to try trimming Oona's coat overall at some point if we can't get into a groomer, but it's been recommended to get metal comb attachments rather than the plastic comb guards that came with the clipper. So for now I'm just planning to maintain FFT when they start getting shaggy. I find the clean feet also prevents snowball toes, though excessive salt still bothers her.

Thank you so much for your encouragement I think I can do it if I go slowly and I guess if it doesn’t look good at least I know the hair will grow back lol 😆

 

[Click-N-Treat]

You can do this. I started grooming Noelle by watching, and rewatching all of Sue Zecco's videos on YouTube. She goes through step by step how to do just about everything you need to know. Start there. Go very slowly. One clipper swipe=one treat. If it takes you all day to groom four feet, so be it. If your dog looks like it was attacked by a weed trimmer, that's ok, too. It grows back.

 

[Layla’smum]

You can do this. I started grooming Noelle by watching, and rewatching all of Sue Zecco's videos on YouTube. She goes through step by step how to do just about everything you need to know. Start there. Go very slowly. One clipper swipe=one treat. If it takes you all day to groom four feet, so be it. If your dog looks like it was attacked by a weed trimmer, that's ok, too. It grows back.

Thank you. I’m going to check those videos out. I do hope my squiggly girl will sit still so she doesn’t look like she was attacked by a weed trimmer lol

 

[Phaz23]

Im a former groomer and when I was starting out here’s are the top 3 best resources I had:

1.https://www.jodimurphy.net/
2.https://www.learn2groomdogs.com/
3. Poodle Clipping and Grooming: The International Reference

Jodi Murphy’s dvds are my top recommendation. She shows all the tips and tricks for making things look good without a ton of scissoring, and she explains things very clearly. She also didn’t stand in front of the camera haha.

As for recommended equipment

1. Andis 2 speed excel or Andis Pulse ZRII
2. Set of Geib Gator Shears
3. Blades: 10, 30, 40, 5, 3 3/4
4. Stainless steel comb attachments
5. Chris Christensen or Metro force drier

 

[jnolde]

Lol that would be great. I guess I should get on YouTube and start watching video’s to see what I would be getting myself into

 

[jnolde]

There are some good ones that groomers posted to help get their clients through COVID19 shut down that are very basic. Like the hygiene clip, paws etc. They just make it look so easy. I think you really need that grooming table with the bar above to hold them. I even had my son helping and I still couldn't do her face. She just kept resisting and turning it back and forth. She's only had it done one time so far at the groomer.

 

[Layla’smum]

There are some good ones that groomers posted to help get their clients through COVID19 shut down that are very basic. Like the hygiene clip, paws etc. They just make it look so easy. I think you really need that grooming table with the bar above to hold them. I even had my son helping and I still couldn't do her face. She just kept resisting and turning it back and forth. She's only had it done one time so far at the groomer.

Hopefully with the help of my man we can do it. Otherwise I guess I will have to look into getting a table lol

 

[jnolde]

Well, I guess a table would pay for itself versus $80 a groom. I convinced my husband that I would be able to do it myself before we got a poodle. I think I could if I could "knock her out." Just kidding, but not. I have been practicing with the clippers on our mutt. After all, it is just hair. As long as I don't cut her, it will grow back. If you have access to HBO Max, watch Haute Dog grooming competition and you'll be inspired like I was!

 

[jnolde]

I'm in Ontario as well. Oona (now 6 months) was getting so shaggy and started getting another eye infection which I think her shaggy face was contributing to. So a month ago I bought clippers and have done her face and then feet and tail a couple weeks later - it is possible if you go slow and are patient. You can do it! A bonus is that I spent about $175 on the clipper and it will help save a lot of money if I can do maintenance to extend time between professional grooms which are $100+ each where I am.

I watched some youtube videos on how to clip her face and feet - actually Raindrops made one recently and posted here that I found helpful. I don't have a grooming table but I put her on our laundry table to do her face and, like with her baths, gave her tons of breaks and treats as I went. I tried to do her feet with her on a towel on the coffee table but that did not work well, as she kept putting her face in the way with no loop to hold her ... I had more success and was able to do all 4 feet (not perfect but workable) and tail with her on a towel on the floor while chewing a bully stick.

I imagine you've been doing regular brushing so your puppy's coat is in ok shape and not getting matted. I want to try trimming Oona's coat overall at some point if we can't get into a groomer, but it's been recommended to get metal comb attachments rather than the plastic comb guards that came with the clipper. So for now I'm just planning to maintain FFT when they start getting shaggy. I find the clean feet also prevents snowball toes, though excessive salt still bothers her.

I used a bully stick, too! Got my puppies feet done, but the bully stick would not work with the face!

 

[Layla’smum]

Well, I guess a table would pay for itself versus $80 a groom. I convinced my husband that I would be able to do it myself before we got a poodle. I think I could if I could "knock her out." Just kidding, but not. I have been practicing with the clippers on our mutt. After all, it is just hair. As long as I don't cut her, it will grow back. If you have access to HBO Max, watch Haute Dog grooming competition and you'll be inspired like I was!

Yes I will have to look for that show for sure. I’ve been watching YouTube videos this morning they are very informative and they make it look so easy lol. I can only hope my Layla can set quietly like their dogs do

 

[Basil_the_Spoo]

Congrats on wanting to take the leap. Everyone's first or second attempt at a trim look like it was done by a weed whacker. You can take pressure off yourself by repeating that it just needs to be good enough. Baby steps, patience, and grace. By the 6th attempt or so you'll start to get a hang of it... Like swim lessons. We're never a graceful swan the first time.

I promise that once your baby gets use to the expectations and being rewarded on a grooming surface that you'll be like, "dang my baby's looking fressssh". It's one of those situations where as you get better as a furparent, your furbaby will get better. We all start somewhere.

If you start to look back in this grooming section on the pf forums, you can learn a ton from other beginners and advice given. Topics like this pop up once every week or so. You'll learn a ton by just reading and absorbing, like osmosis. This community are like superhero furparents. We're really lucky to have the depth of poodle and pet industry professional experience at our finger tips on this forums.

Once your ready for action, then we can be there too each step of the way with best practices, tips, etc.

 

[Layla’smum]

Congrats on wanting to take the leap. Everyone's first or second attempt at a trim look like it was done by a weed whacker. You can take pressure off yourself by repeating that it just needs to be good enough. Baby steps, patience, and grace. By the 6th attempt or so you'll start to get a hang of it... Like swim lessons. We're never a graceful swan the first time.

I promise that once your baby gets use to the expectations and being rewarded on a grooming surface that you'll be like, "dang my baby's looking fressssh". It's one of those situations where as you get better as a furparent, your furbaby will get better. We all start somewhere.

If you start to look back in this grooming section on the pf forums, you can learn a ton from other beginners and advice given. Topics like this pop up once every week or so. You'll learn a ton by just reading and absorbing, like osmosis. This community are like superhero furparents. We're really lucky to have the depth of poodle and pet industry professional experience at our finger tips on this forums.

Once your ready for action, then we can be there too each step of the way with best practices, tips, etc.

Thank you for your encouraging words. I will be sure to post some before and after pictures hopefully it won’t look like the weed trimmer got her 😊

 

[CieCie]

You CAN do this!! Don't expect to do everything in one day or even all 4 feet. Work as long as you can without either one of you hitting that FINISHED wall. I always stop while it's going good so Winnie never sees grooming as a bad experience.

 

[Layla’smum]

You CAN do this!! Don't expect to do everything in one day or even all 4 feet. Work as long as you can without either one of you hitting that FINISHED wall. I always stop while it's going good so Winnie never sees grooming as a bad experience.

Thank you everyone I think I can do this 😊

 

[Keeva_spoo]

I used to have some very embarrassing haircuts on my first two spoos also! I'm a bit better these days but still have gaff ups. Best bit of new equipment I've bought recently was a dryer. I bought a Flying Pig and love it. Essential for that velvet look.
One thing to watch out for when clipping is that you switch out the blades before they get too hot. When I shave my spoo, I'll frequently place the clipper on my arm or leg (I don't actually use a table but do her on the floor - big no no but it works for me!). If it's too hot for me, I'll swap it out with a spare.

I usually use a 7FC on my spoos body, 7FC (or 4FC if I want fluffy legs), 10 or 30 on her face and tail base and 10 on her feet and back end.

 

[Rose n Poos]

Yes, you can do this! It just might take a bit

Raindrops has made some great detailed videos, Porkchop has a thread or two giving very detailed instructions for clips on Lacey Rose, and PeggyTheParti has a thread called Diary of a Nervous Home Groomer.

If you check the top of this forum you'll find stickied threads with a lot of grooming info. Also, if you search thru this section back in March, probably, look for the quarantine grooming threads (there's plenty to look at .
There was a lot of "Oh my fuzzy poodle!" going on around then.

Phaz23 is generous in sharing their knowledge. I haven't seen Jodi Murphy's dvd's. I hope to find something of hers online to get a peek, and I'm another Sue Zecco fan.

My mantra was "Is there less fur than when I started? Then I did good".

Try not to laugh at your poodle, tho. They're sensitive souls lol.