New to a dog that needs grooming. Do groomers research the breed?

[Lagattolove]

We have a lagotto and the groomers I’ve contacted don’t know the breed.it’s recommended by the breeders club that they are clipped back at 3/4 months to encourage a strong waterproof coat yet no groomer will cut before 6 months.

Do I need to just keep looking for a groomer or is this a case of groomers protecting themselves and I’m not going to one willing to do the chop?

Have you looked to see if there’s a Facebook page? I don’t have a lagotto but another breed which needs hand stripping, ours has a list of recommended groomers or they also show you how to do it yourself.

I’ve looked. There’s very few of the breed if any around here unfortunately so had no reply’s to specific recommendations just lots of ‘my groomer Is fab’ but those contacted won’t cut before 6 months.

Are you in the UK? And whereabouts? The two lagotto associations both have facebook pages where you would hopefully get better responses. The clubs also run grooming demos sometimes.

Groomers tend to be pretty rubbish - they don't believe that you really want them shaving down, and they can't get the head right.

The easiest thing to do is do it yourself. Invest in a decent pair of clippers (Heiniger or Andis - you want to be spending at least a couple of hundred quid), a #5 and #10 blade, a decent pair of scissors (at least £50, £80 would be better), and a proper table. This sounds like huge amounts of money, but the groomer visits soon add up, particularly when they won't shave your dog properly! Also lagottos are addictive, and not many people manage to stick at one...

This book: lagotto-grooming.com/en/shop/boek-lagotto-romagnolo-grooming/ is the full guide, which you don't really need unless you're showing, but it helps with the head. Otherwise, #5 all over, #10 for bum and armpits, and just have a go at shaping the head. It's only hair and it grows back! We often shave ours completely - heads and all - then reshave the body leaving the head a bit longer. Only have to do it a couple of times a year, and very little grooming in between...

Thanks Pigletpoglet. We are north east England. I think DIY may be the way for us. Everyone thinks he’s a cockerpoo and I worry the groomers will just poo him.

Did you have any experience with grooming dogs before. We have always had labs so bath brush and nail clip is my limit so far in life.

With a water dog, especially for their first cut, I really, really would insist on a specialist. If you need to drive 5 hours, then so be it.
I think their second cut too but I'm not sure.
Try and find breeders nationwide through the kennel club, as some might do it themselves or know a specialist groomer.
Afterwards you could probably learn how to do it yourself or use a standard groomer and put up with endless 'is this a cockapoo?'

We had a terrier before, who got hacked at with the kitchen scissors! Honestly there's no great science behind it - most of our puppy owners have been complete beginners and have learned well enough to take dogs to Crufts. Lagottos literally just need shaving.
I have a feeling there is a lagotto walk coming up in the north east - I will try and post a link. Most owners DIY, so I'm sure you would get hints and tips and some confidence.

You've just missed a walk, but there's one on 14th May - check out the calendar of events on the LRCGB site.

Thanks all some really great advice.

Ask the breeder who you got him from?

We have a SWD and had the same problems with groomers not knowing the breed.
We invested in some clippers and a couple of blades and have done it ourselves the last 3.5 years. Clippers are expensive but easily pay for them self.

Hi I am a groomer and yes I do research the breeds but I do think in this case you will either need a small grooming salon - someone who is willing to work with you and has the time, or a specialist groomer - you could do it yourself but its not easy especially if you've not done it before and you have a wriggly dog! good luck with it

I have a lagotto and was about to suggest investing in clippers, a grooming table and the book linked above! I took mine to my breeder for the 3-4 month cut and have done it myself since. I literally followed the instructions in the book. The hardest part is the head but I’m improving each time and he definitely looks like a lagotto. I’d be devastated if I took him to a groomer and he came back a ‘poo’.

I’d honestly never heard of that breed. They are gorgeous.
Our Bedlington has had some shocking grooms. Unfortunately, due to his curly coat and despite me asking if the groomer was familiar with the breed, he has had three …’poo type cuts.
His regular woman, thoroughly researched the way he should be done and every 6 weeks or so he looks a picture. Two days after, he looks a tramp!

So bit the bullet and got some decent second hand clippers and bought a new blade. Followed a YouTube tutorial and just went for it. Happy enough for a first attempt and he was really good. I was a bit scared with his head and ears so didn’t do a lot there but I’m sure I’ll get there.