My Latest Talent

This is my wonderful golden-doodle named Ivy. She’s named after the foliage on the back wall at Wrigley. She has the kindest, most patient personality. She loves everybody, especially the kids, and we love and spoil her every chance we get. The only bad news is her coat. Those non-shedding poodle genes were not all passed down. Ivy is nearly 4 years old, and the older she gets, the more she sheds. Clumps of her golden hair rest in every corner of the house. And the hair is so light and wispy that it’s difficult to clean up. It's everywhere.

But have no fear, there’s a trade for that. I’ve visited three different dog groomers in town. One actually cut her leg, so we’re not going back there, and the other is on a break due to an injury. When I tried the third place, I was not happy. After waiting two weeks for an appointment, I brought Ivy in and said, “Cut her as short as possible.” The weather has been so hot and muggy, and the poor dog needs help. But when I picked up my shaggy dog nearly two hours later, Ivy looked exactly the same. Her nails were trimmed, and her body was slightly shaped, but still a massive parka. I paid and tipped, but swore to never return. That’s $85 wasted.

The next logical step, was to groom her myself. I went to the pet shop, bought a trimmer for $175, out to the backyard and dug in. The dog looked hilarious. At first one leg looked thin as a twig, and the rest of her hairy was thick as a bear. I kept on cutting. Pounds of hair fell to the ground and my son helped stuff the trimmings into a bucket. Ivy got used to the process and settled in. With each stroke of the trimmer, she could feel the cool air on her back, and she smiled.

The grooming took way longer than I thought, almost two hours, including breaks. I had to go over Ivy again and again, removing rigid razor lines and random tufts of hair I missed. There was no fade attachment, so I trimmed her head the best I could, squeezing golden bits between my fingers, just like they do at the barber shop.

But in the end, I must say, good old Ivy looked happy and beautiful. And the ultimate compliment came from my wife. “Where’d you get her cut?” she asked. My first grooming and it looks like a pro job? Not bad. Looks like it's a do-over. Ivy won't mind.