ChicMe WW

Australia's most popular dog breed has been named a groomer's 'worst nightmare'

By Maddison Leach|

Cavoodles may be Australia's most popular dog breed, but according to pet groomer of 25 years Emily Myatt, they and other 'oodle' mixes are every groomer's "worst nightmare".

Purebred dogs generally come with a set of standard grooming instructions, but oodle coats are a free-for-all that makes them impossible to predict.

"Their coat types are often a hybrid or a mixture of two different dogs, so it can be really challenging," Myatt tells 9Honey Pets.

READ MORE: Influencer dies after posting 'horrific' final video

Cavoodle Frankie is sad to hear 'oodle' breeds like her are a 'groomer's nightmare'.
Cavoodle Frankie is sad to hear 'oodle' breeds like her are a 'groomer's nightmare'. (Nine)

"They're a lovable little companion dog and they are super cute," she continues.

"They've got a lot of positive attributes, but they don't come with any instructions on grooming or trainingกญ and they aren't super smart."

Myatt concedes that smart breeds aren't guaranteed to behave at the salon either and border collies, among the most intelligent breeds, can be absolute terrors during a trim.

"They're probably one of the worst to groom because they like to chase things; they like to chase the brush, they like to chase the dryer, they like to chase the hose," she says.

Golden retrievers love water and chase the hose, making it a real task to wash them before a cut, and huskies are the biggest drama queens.

"Huskies just howl just for fun, that's their way of communicating, so while they're being groomed, they like to tell the whole world what's happening to them and they'll make it sound like they're being killed," Myatt laughs.

Unable to display TikTok on this browser

Small dogs that usually spend their time being carried around often struggle to behave during appointments, which can be dangerous when Myatt has scissors in her hands.

"The challenge is making them understand that we're using sharp tools, so you need to stand still buddy or you're gonna have something cut off you're not supposed to," Myatt adds with a laugh.

READ MORE: The best smartwatches for kids to help parents keep in touch

She's been grooming dogs since 1998 and got into the field after training as a vet nurse, where she saw plenty of unkempt dogs and discovered there was better money in grooming.

"Vet nursing is not a job that's well paid, and most animal related jobs are not as well paid as what you'd think," she reveals, but the fun parts of her job make up for it.

Emily Myatt originally trained as a vet nurse before getting into pet grooming.
Emily Myatt originally trained as a vet nurse before getting into pet grooming. (Supplied)

Some clients have been coming to her for 20 years now, with one customer going through three miniature poodles named Sebastian with her. They're currently onto Sebastian III.

But being a dog groomer isn't all fun and games; there's a lot of messy, gross and downright upsetting stuff that goes on behind the scenes when you drop off your dog for a trim.

"We deal with all the messy stuff like pee and poo," Myatt says, but human owners are often more challenging than the dogs they bring in for grooming.

Many dog owners mistakenly believe that pooches with short coats don't need regular grooming or brushing at home, but all dogs need some level of at-home maintenance.

"At least once a week we have [a dog] come in that hasn't seen a groomer in six months or moreกญ sadly we do have to shave them down to nothing and start from scratch," Myatt says.

Emily Myatt has been grooming dogs for about 25 years.
Emily Myatt has been grooming dogs for about 25 years. (Supplied)

A lack of at-home grooming can cause a dog's coat to become matted or compacted, where the hair tangles together into clumps that no amount of brushing can get through.

Though it can upset owners to see their dog without any hair, matted or compacted coats can be incredibly painful for dogs and shaving is often the only option.

READ MORE: Harry forced to give month's notice

Online, pet owners share horror stories about dogs going to the groomer for a trim and returning looking unrecognisable, but Myatt says they need to take some responsibility.

"The complaint we hear is, 'I took my dog to so-and-so and she shaved my dog bald', but they've left out the part where the dog was a massive mess and the groomer had no choice," she says.

In some sad and extreme cases where the same owners keep returning with dogs whose grooming needs are clearly being neglected, Myatt has had to get the RSPCA involved.

It's important to trim a dog's nails and groom their coat regularly.
It's important to trim a dog's nails and groom their coat regularly. (Supplied)

"Typically the dog has got other health issues going on; rotten teeth, toenails growing into their feet. It's usually a combination of things, not just a coat," she adds.

Thankfully that is a rare occurrence at her salon and most owners take pride in their dog's coat, though she's not afraid to turn away owners with unrealistic expectations.

"They'll bring us a dog that's quite shaggy and unkempt and a picture of a show dog and think that somehow we can magically transform their dog to look like that," Myatt says.

READ MORE: Kate smiles in new photos with her children for Mother's Day

So what's the best way to get your money's worth out of a grooming appointment and avoid ending up with a horror story? Take responsibility for your pet's needs at home.

"Find out what coat type your dog is and what care it needs. Most people don't even understand that there is a difference in coat types from dog to dog," she warns.?

Groomer Emily Myatt has revealed which popular dog breed is a 'groomer's nightmare'.
Groomer Emily Myatt has revealed which popular dog breed is a 'groomer's nightmare'. (Supplied)

Every dog requires some kind of maintenance at home, especially breeds with long or thick coats, so owners should keep on top of it if they want their pet to avoid the clippers.

And if you have any kind of 'oodle' breed at home, make sure you're brushing that curly coat regularly จC at least every other day.

?For a daily dose of 9Honey, subscribe to our newsletter here

Groomer pics
Dog grooming photos: Hilarious before and after shots

Auto news: The terrifying moment a Ferrari narrowly misses a jogger.