Love them or hate them, we have to groom doodles. There is much debate over these dogs. How often should they be groomed? Is there a breed profile for these dogs? There are many different opinions out there, and I’m going to give you mine.  We see more and more doodles coming into the shop every day.  These are active dogs who like to swim, hike and play. They have a variety of different coat textures. As groomers, it is our job to educate owners on proper coat maintenance.  For this article, I have chosen Fletcher, a one-year-old Labradoodle with a very thick coat.

 This is Ernie, a three-year-old English cocker spaniel. He is a finished champion who is now living in a pet home. When shown, the English cocker spaniel is never clipped; instead, the coat is mucked out and stripped. Now that Ernie’s show days are finished, he is kept in a clippered pet trim, which still keeps the style of the breed. A shorter version of the groom is easier for both owner and groomer.  The English cocker spaniel has a unique hairstyle and is a breed that rarely comes into our grooming shops.