Since having out litter of Saint Berdoodle puppies, I’ve groomed them twice. I started grooming our dogs a couple years ago. At the time, we had five dogs. And I just couldn’t stand the thought of paying over $400 to get all of them groomed when needed. So, I bought grooming equipment and figured it out.
Let me begin by saying that I’ve figured out that typically your dog will be better at the groomer than it will be for you. Our puppies act crazy when we groom them! I get that they are puppies and still learning. But wow… we groomed all three today, and it was a hot mess! They whine, jump around, put their front paws on our shoulders, lift their legs continuously, pull constantly… my back is feeling it currently.
I’m hoping the more we groom them, the better they will behave. The first time we groomed them, we used the longest comb to keep their beautiful coat fluffy. Recently, however, they’ve taken to rolling in the rain and mud, which has gotten to be quite the hassle. So today, we cut their coat fairly short, but left their faces fluffy. It’s definitely a different look, but still oh so cute.
Thinking about grooming your own Saint Berdoodle? Whew! Good luck. See below for a few tips:
-Get the largest, heaviest duty you can find grooming table. You are gonna need it. Even then, it may not be sturdy enough. These dogs are big.
-Get ready to spend about 3 plus hours doing it, especially if you are a novice
-Purchase grooming clippers that are professional grade. These large breed dogs dull clipper blades quickly.
-Know the steps of grooming. Always bath, then dry, then haircut. (Otherwise, you will quickly ruin your clipper blades)
-If you have allergies, wear glasses to keep flying hair out of your eyes, long sleeves, pants, and boots to cover your skin. You may think I’m going overboard, but no, I will itch to death if I don’t. And without glasses, hair gets in my eyes. Not fun.
-If you plan on drying them, invest in a professional grade dog hair dryer. It is much faster.
-Know that by the end of it all, the dog will likely be as tired as you are. And maybe a little grouchy.
-And from my husband who does a lot of our grooming, he adds, “Just don’t do it.” 🤣
Seriously, we know how expensive grooming is. But if you have health issues such as back issues or mobility issues, it is worth it to pay a groomer to just do it for you.
As I’ve perused the Saint Berdoodle groups on Facebook, I’ve found different people prefer various groom types for their Saint Berdoodles. Some prefer them long, which requires frequent brushing to avoid mats. Some prefer to keep their coats shorter. Climate also tends to make a difference. In hotter climates, shorter coats may be better. In colder climates, longer coats may be preferred.
Whatever groom style you choose, start early. The earlier you start getting your dog into the habit of going to the groomer, the better and easier it will be on both of you, and on the groomer. Frequently handling your dog’s paws may also help when it comes to fear of nail trims. Just massage those paws while you’re snuggling together.