I have a standard poodle, and the place we go to ends up costing me about $200 after tip (I usually do $25...my dog is still under a year old and a giant PITA). I knew it would be expensive, but they are saying we need to come every 6 weeks instead of every 8 weeks, and it's ending up costing me quite a bit more than I originally thought. Not to mention I find them to be pretty rude and condescending, so I am really looking for a reason to try somewhere else!

I would like to do it myself, but it's unrealistic. I do know I need to brush differently and more often (DH promised to help with grooming as he's the reason we had to get a non-shedding pup...I'm still waiting). He's the first non-shedding breed I've had, and I'm still learning how to take care of the kind of coat, and instead of giving me helpful tips the groomer just basically makes excuses for why they couldn't do something we asked them to do.
I keep clipping the pup shorter and shorter each time in the hope that it will make the coat easier to maintain. We're eventually going to be shaving the dog down to nothing (and then why am I paying so much?!?).
What do you pay for a dog of similar grooming requirements (~45+ lbs, non-shedding coat)?