Help! I need grooming ideas!

[Ann Kendig]

I have finally decided to break down and get Sheba & Duke's hair cut, professionally.  I have really struggled with this as I LOVE the way they look. Another reason why I hesitate cutting Sheba's hair is that she will be so much lighter because the groomer will be cutting off her black tips and the fur below the tips is much lighter.  : (   It is just so darn hot for them and we want to take them swimming without worrying about the mats.  

I love their beards and the length of the fur on their faces/head/ears.  Would a puppy cut look better?  Will they look like a bobble-head if their head is untouched but their body is shaved?  Would it be better to shave or just a scissor cut???  Would you get them groomed or just leave them the way they are?  Decisions, decisions, decisions!

Sheba and Duke don't mat much on a daily basis so I don't have to spend much time grooming them.  When Duke swims his fur doesn't mat to badly.  When Sheba swims it's a whole other story!  When we were in Florida in December she was going through her coat change.  What a mess!!!  She was a matted mess from the coat change AND swimming.  I spent hours cutting out mats and brushing her.  A few weeks ago I took the dogs to NJ for a romp.  Sheba did a lot of swimming and got extremely matted.  Again I spent hours brushing her out.  I am amazed that she has any fur left!  I got a regular sized Walmart bag full of fur.  

I welcome any ideas.  Please feel free to post a picture of your doodle showing their summer cut or any links you know of that show doodle haircuts as I would love to have a photo to show the groomer. Thank You!

This photo was taken after our trip to Florida.  (I also spent hours while we were in Florida de-matting her.)

 

This last picture is a dog we saw at Bow Wow Beach when we visited with Joanne, Spud & Starlit.  I don't think I'll do a cut like this but it was kinda cute.  (I cloned out the poo!)

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Oh wow! Sedona looks just like my Gracie Doodle. Go check her out on my page. Amazing! Gracie is an F1 Goldendoodle. I need to go to your page and see what Sedona is. She is adorable,

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

I went to your page (which is fabulous, by the way) and I see what you mean - Sedona and Gracie Doodle do look very much alike, especially with their new haircuts!!! Sedona is a multi-generational labradoodle. We got her from a breeder in Davis. They also breed golden doodles, so maybe Sedona's mother was "stepping out" secretly with a retriever!!!!!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

They sure do resemble each other but then there is something about both Gracie and Ned that says 'related' too so...... maybe someone's mom did have a secret rendezvous!
Sedona (great name by the way) is such a cutie.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Love the new haircut.

[shelly]

Oh Ann... Your dogs are beautiful! I'm probably the wrong one to comment as I prefer Tori's hair longer. We just got her groomed this past Monday and for most people - they wouldn't even notice unless they saw her right before. I'll have to post a pic. Tori does NOT get cut with a buzzer... I ONLY have her scissor cut. I probably could have gone a bit shorter, but we are going away in July and may bring her for a trim again before we go. I do think she may be hot - it has really been hot here... she pants and looks for cooler spots in the house, but.... not sure if she would really be COOLER.... her hair is so thick and still would cover her skin like a rug.... and would still probably look for those spots.... plus for those times that she got BAD cuts... she really went into a depressed mood for about a week. People always ask me if I am extra hot with MY long hair....but it never really bothers ME! but I'm no dog! LOL Good luck! I know how hard it is!!!!!

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Ann,
I think this might work for you. When I groom Samantha, I take the hair on her head, comb it forward, put the hair between my fingers and snip a little. Run my fingers through it and if it needs to go shorter I repeat. I think that is look you might be going for. Natural but shorter.

[Ann Kendig]

I want to thank everyone for taking the time to give me some ideas on cuts for Sheba & Duke. We took a unexpected trip out of town and didn't have computer access. Tonight or tomorrow night I hope to sit down and look over the discussion and be able to read all of your helpful responses. I haven't seen my Mother (who is in a nursing home) for a few days so I am heading out to visit her and spend the day with her. When I have Sheba & Duke groomed I'll be sure to post pictures. Again, thank you for responding and posting pictures of your beautiful doodles! Here is a picture that we took this weekend when we went out of town.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I know you want to go shorter for summer but they sure do look cute!

[Ann Kendig]

I have a grooming appt. set up for this Friday. Yikes! We are planning to attend a romp in Akron this weekend at the beach where I took the photo of the dog with the lion cut. (Photo is in this discussion) I will definitely have to get Sheba groomed as she loves to swim and I don't want her to get matted like she did last time she swam. I may try to groom them in the next day or two. If they don't look so good in their "homemade haircuts" I'll take them to the appointment on Friday so the groomer can even them out. I'll keep you posted! Again, thanks for helping me out with all of your comments and photos!