A Different Groomer...?

We just went to the feedstore to pick up some chicken Canidae for Chou, since she likes that better than the mixed variety, and I saw a card for a groomer there. She uses the same building so I walked over with Chouette to check her out. She seems really nice, and competent, and knows labradoodles, although she said the ones she grooms aren't as laidback as Chouette, who was lying peacefully on the floor after accepting a dog biscuit and exploring a bit. She noted that the doodles in her area are a pretty wild bunch, and it didn't seem as though she thought much of them, although she was very impressed with Chou. I told her how careful I'd been to research breeders and be sure that health issues were investigated thoroughly. It sounded as though the ones she knew were just haphazard lab/poodle crosses to take advantage of a fad, rather than the result of a thoughtful breeding program. One more argument for choosing your breeders carefully!

She commented that Chou's current cut was a poodle trim, not a labradoodle style, and knew that most doodle owners like their pets' hair to be longer. I made an appointment for Chouette for the end of November, since by then she'll definitely need it in the face, at least. Michele also suggested coconut oil for her ears; she says it's an excellent antioxidant and is good for yeast issues. Apparently you buy it at a health food store like Haars, in a glass jar preferably, and mix it with their food after softening it. (She puts some in a bowl and then heats it in water on the stove because she doesn't think microwaving preserves the antioxidant values as well.)

She'll charge $35 for Chou's size and no more than $50 for a larger doodle. And she bathes, trims, does nails and ears, and all the usual stuff. And she's 15 minutes away from us, about the same as Petsmart in another direction. Not sure what I'll do with myself for the two hours she needs, since at Petsmart there are lots of other stores and other things for me to get into in the general area. But if it results in a happier and better-groomed puppy it's worth it!

So I guess I'll hold off on the clippers for a bit!

Leslie