Grooming is one of the most important things in regards to this breed, and for new pet parents we know it can be frustrating and overwhelming so I'm here to help! I'm a professional groomer and have over 10 years experience, specializing in poodles, doodles, bichons, and bedlingtons. I've taken many classes, seminars, and courses on these coat types with multiple grooming styles, as well as coaching/classes on handling/teaching puppies and inexperienced groom dogs for grooming manners. So below I've laid out key pointers for a smoother grooming sail, and more positive relationship building between your pup and your family. While your puppy is with us we do bi weekly grooming of clean face feet and sani from 2 weeks of age through 16 weeks of age. At 8 and 16 weeks of age we do full grooms, from 16 weeks forward we groom our dogs every 4-6 weeks depending on the cut we have them in and the maintenance necessary to keep up that trim/shape.
NO.1
Number one, make every grooming interaction as positive as possible while staying firm in parameters of coaching good grooming behavior. An example would be a puppy nippy or mouthing the brush or your hands during brushing, I see this a lot. In response I personally will gently grab their muzzle say no bite then redirect their attention to something they can work on while I brush. As a distraction I've used various types of treats, Kong filling spread on a lick mat, or a soft toy they can hold in their mouth while I do what I need to do. REDIRECTION IS YOUR BESTFRIEND! This goes far beyond grooming this goes throughout all training and correction!
NO.2
Make grooming a positive experience! Grooming is a lifetime commitment for this breed not only as a pet parent but as the pet itself, so make this something thats a positive for them making the every 4-6 week groomings something they enjoy and see as pampering vs. punishment! Reward and positives will vary depending on your dogs love language but typically its broken up into 3 groups; those that seek physical attention example rubs and scratches, those that prefer verbal praise example "What a good girl Suki!", and those with a love for all that is tasty otherwise known as food/treat driven. As you brush out your pooch, give them their preferred reward throughout airing on the light side for moments they clearly enjoy and get heavier/more frequent with rewards in areas you know they specifically dont enjoy. Do not confuse this with reinforcing bad or negative behavior! If your dog acts out during grooming its always important to react firmly with a "No" correction, giving them a treat in a way to stop or better said pause poor behavior will act in the opposite. It will teach your dog this behavior is what you want! And neither you, your dog, or your groomer want that.
NO.3
When in doubt.... brush. I say this to clients constantly. If you want a medium-long trim YOU and your dog must be comfortable with brushing, if this is not something you are willing to set time aside then its best to set everyone up for success by choosing a shorter trim that will require more maitnance and time. I've found brushing time sets up great bonding time when both you and your dog get comfortable with this activity and establish a routine of sorts. If you are running your hands through and over your dog's coat and think you may feel some gathering or knoting focus on that area more so during your brush time, if you arent sure if it would be classified as a mat, "When in doubt... brush!" Applying this quote will more often then not save that beautiful fluff for whatever trim you have your eyes set on. Brush and com exposure is part or our EGE program, and should be continued on a time schedule that fits your family and routine after bringing your sweet pup home, techniques and instructions can be found in the grooming tab of your puppy go home folder.
*I will be adding grooming videos via links of my various grooms and tips as time goes on, with this I would love input and requests on video content you'd find helpful so I can be sure I'm hitting points that benefit you all rather then just talking your ears off with boring or unhelpful media.