#327 : Mr Fluffy's Styling Salon

A post from Mr B and Me!

Apr 30, 2025

Before taking on a ‘doodle I don’t know the first thing about how much more grooming will be required and how expensive it can be, too. Sweet Gretapie had a thick double coat with lots of what I call ‘fibers of love’ which she shared freely far and wide but, aside from brushing her out, she rarely needed to be washed. Bosco is different. He has hair that grows and grows and grows and if left unattended can mat up like Rasta-locks as well as being painful if not cared for. You’ve probably seen those clips of un-groomed, lost, very sad, abandoned dogs with horribly matted coats.

Before Bosco arrives I schedule a time to chat with his former groomer for recommendations for daily care. She sends me links to a specific comb and a brush that will work best for him. After he arrives, I take him to meet groomers in town and am stunned to learn that for a dog with a coat like his it will be anywhere between $90-150 for a wash, blow-dry, cut and nail trim which they all concur needs to be done every 6-8 weeks for him. Wow! As groomers are solidly booked out here and it’s hard to get spot, I book one for 8 weeks out. They do very good work but after two expensive sessions I decide to learn how to do this myself.

A few months earlier on a walk, a neighbor a few blocks away asks, “Is this a ‘doodle?” When I respond, yes, she says “Hold on a minute. I have some clippers that I will give you.” She heads in to her house and moments later comes out with a brand new unopened box with rechargeable grooming clippers and a set of blades. I am not sure at that time if I will be using them but I keep them all the same just in case. On another walk, I have a lovely chat with other ‘doodle owners who do their own grooming, too. They tell me that the trick to remember is that a “not so great cut” will grow out and with experience you get better and better. OK!

A former groomer says she will teach me and that for $10 I can wash and dry him myself at the local Tractor Supply store. Great! Mr B and I go there several times just to meet the folks, walk around the store, and check out the grooming area so he’ll be familiar and at ease with it.

On the day of our first grooming lessons we head to Tractor Supply early in the morning for his bath and blow dry. His hair is so thick that it takes over an hour for it to dry out even with the dryer on full tilt! I bring LOTS of treats, too. Back at home we take a little 2-legged break 👣/4-legged nap🐾 before hopping back into the car to drive to our first grooming lesson. I have the comb, brush, clippers and nail trimmers with me.

There is a lot to learn. How to hold the clippers, where and how to trim and where not to trim, how much pressure to use, how to hold paws and legs. My brain is full but I know I can do this. Before we leave I ask how I did on a scale of 1 to 10. I come in at a seven. Pretty good for a first time!

After this session I realize that to make this work I’m going to need to invest in a few more tools of the trade—an additional brush, a set of good scissors and, so as not wrench out my back, a grooming table. I take a deep breath and order them all up. At this point, the tools and table total up to just over $400 which is still less than the $720 it would be to take him to the professional groomer 8 times a year. Even with the addition of two grooming lessons ($200) I’ll still save some money this first year and I’ll save thousands of dollars in grooming expenses over the years to come.

This past weekend the table arrives. I unpack and set it up. Without hesitation Mr B jumps up on it as if to say, “Yupz, I’ze done dis before!” His bushy dust-mop tail wags back and forth happily. I give him a treat or two and help him down. Treetz! I keep it easy for day one.

The next day it will be a comb and brush out. I place a little bowl of treats nearby and help him up on to the table. I start with back and sides before moving on to his neck. Ooooo, I likes dis vewy much when U dooze my neck!

Next on to his legs and paws. He lets me know that a light touch is best plus treats ALWAYS make it better! I take the comb to unfurl the poodle like mop on top of his head. Ummmm Yummmm! Mo’ treetz! His feathery dust mop tail is next and I have a special brush just for it. I already see how much easier it is to groom him on our table.

His face is last. I wash the bearded area around his mouth with a warm wet washcloth…oh datz notz my fav…then take a dry cloth and rub it lightly and quickly all over it. Oooo datz fun…mo’ treetz pleeze!

Finally there is a quick trim of his nails and we are done! Mo’ treetz for meeeee! I help him down, put brushes, comb, trimmer away. All in all it takes less time than I thought it would. His naturally tight curly coat is soft and smooth now and I can get my fingers through it easily. Plus he looks good!

Next week I’ll be learning the finer points about using clippers especially in the “sensitive and sanitary areas” and learning to use scissors, too. Until then our morning brush-out sessions at Mr Fluffy’s Stying Salon…wif treetz…are a really sweet way to start our day together.

Now let’s go for a walk my handsome boy!

Yay, walkeez!

RU bwinging treetz?

What I’m Reading

Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

I read this book some years ago and absolutely loved it. I loved the movie, too. If you love dogs, have a dog, and even if you don’t, this is a wonderful and highly recommended read.

Dog Songs by Mary Oliver

Mary Oliver loved dogs and here’s a volume where she writes of special ones in her life. Whether for you or for a dog lover in your life, this is a wonderful book.