@pixelneko I need to intercept here, OP, because elle_mactans is pretty much insulting a good majority of groomers. (the downvotes on elle_mactans comments speak for themselves) You're only getting this one groomer's side of the story here. Let's start at the beginning:
Theres hardly any reason to shave a dog that close unless total matting. And this type of coat doesn't get that matted without a tin of neglect. This looks like ignorance and laziness. The ONLY time I've done I'll advised is when a once every 2 year pyr refused to pay the cost for grooming
I can get a good 1 comb under most of my worst doodles.
Elle_mactans, are you implying to OP and any pet owner that reads this thread that any groomer that goes shorter than a #1 comb(it's called a half inch) is "ignorant and lazy"? Aside from 5/8ths(#0 to you), My
most popular lengths are 1/2 inch as mentioned and 3/8ths comb(#4 as you'd call it), the latter being similar to a 3 3/4 blade. Do you consider those comb lengths "shaves"? Does this apply to comb attachments specifically #s 2 through 4(and 5 for the newer wahl sets, if you are even using this brand). Or, maybe not comb attachments at all, and only 8 1/2s, 7s, 5s, 4s, and 3 3/4 blades count as shaves to you?
OP, if all these numbers confuse you, then I just gave you a prime example of what makes describing what you want so confusing, and hope it gives you another perspective. One person's definition means something different to someone else, right down to how we refer our blades by length or by number, and at what length is the threshold between short and "shaved". We groomers do not follow a single principle taught under a school, we each have or own principles and style. What happened here is what happens to nearly everyone: the owner has a vision in their head, the groomer has their vision in theirs, and they both think they get what each other is talking about. I doubt it's because the groomer was "lazy", it's because the groomer you went to probably grooms another dog just like yours, and their owner loves that short kind of cut on their double coated dog. They most likely request it every time they come in, like some of my clients do. That doesn't make me or any one else who shaves down dogs at the owner requests wrong except for maybe elle_mactans and some others. Edit: In addition: I advise, like a lot of people have, to try and be as specific and detailed as possible the next time you bring your dog in for a haircut. You can say "I don't want length taken off, just the fluff on the feet and legs(feathering), or anything sticking out taken down to body length, lightly trim tail." Some call that a clean up, some call that "a long trim", some call that "deshed", which I've never heard of before in the 16 years I've been in the industry. Either way, I hope this gives you another perspective to think about and is helpful to you.
