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!)

[Adina P]

P.S. your photos are always so pretty! And that Lion cut is hilarious! Would work better on a doodle with a fuller coat =)

[Ann Kendig]

I spoke to the lady about her dog with the lion cut. She said she decided to do it for the fun of it. That dog had the most beautiful blue eyes! Here is a picture...

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

with eyes like that you could get away with any type haircut! It was rather fun!

[Leslie and Halas]

Here are a couple pics of Halas that I took last night at the dog park. It's been a month since I got his hair cut short. I think it's about 1 - 2 inches long now. It's velvet-soft.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

The first time I did Guinness in two stages so I could avoid the "shock" and have time to get used to it. I had him cut down to about 2" the first time, and then about a month later I had another inch taken off. It did cost more doing it that way, but I felt better about it. Over the Winter, I let him grow out again. He just got his Summer cut, but I'm thinking by mid July I'll probably have it taken down even a little shorter so he'll be as comfortable as possible, and he will be able to swim without hours of "dematting". I have no idea what I'm going to do with Murphy. He has a completely different coat that so far doesn't mat at all. I'm going to let him be unless I start to think that he's really getting overheated.

[Lisa and Summer]

I love your doodles hair but I can not imagine brushing it. Summer had her cut about a week ago and they kept the face and the ears and tail long but shaved the rest of her really short. I mean it is less then an inch. I just requested a summer cut and she came out naked. I almost passed out. We were leaving for the beach the next day and DH said the other dogs would laugh and kick sand in her face. Now a week later I have gotten use to it and actually like it. It is really soft and easy. I am sure she is much cooler. She is also going through the coat change so she matts really bad. Now I just brush her head and tail in 5 min. I am all done.

[Laura, Ruby & Sam]

Our Ruby is almost five months old, so I know she's still got the puppy fur/cut... but I do love her haircut. I trim her face whenever I see a hair getting in her eyes and she has gone to the groomer twice for a "tidy up" but they don't trim her body yet. I hope to keep her hair in this style permanently...???

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Ruby is sooooo cute! My neighbor has a 5 month old and she looks a lot like little Ruby. This is the perfect cut for her. You should be able to keep it looking like that when she is grown. When my Gracie Doodle doesn't have her summer cut, she looks a bit more like Ruby and she is 3 years old! I usually have a little more hair around they eyes, shorter beard and a little shorter chest because she gets mats there. Otherwise, they look very much alike. If you check out my pictures you might have to go back to some older ones to see the comparison. I am pretty much keeping her short these days because she is always wet and in San Diego, we are pretty warm year round. She hates being hot!!!

[Laura, Ruby & Sam]

Hi, Thanks! I love her this way too-- and I'm going to go take a look at your photos right now.
I can also tell already that Ruby does not like being hot, Sydney has very mild seasons though summer can get really warm, so I'm hoping I can keep her somewhat this length year round and maybe she won't get too hot in summer???
Cheers!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Ruby is adorable. I am so determined to keep the doodles eyes free of hair because I love to be able to see their eyes. I have to think they like it too. I can't see any reason to change a thing with Ruby's cut. When the dreaded coat change comes you may have some raggedy moments if, like me, you mostly cut the mats out. But she'll look great no matter what. I love her coloring!

[Laura, Ruby & Sam]

Thank you! I agree, I love being able to fully see her eyes and I just assume she likes to see clearly?
I am nervous about the coat change-- does all their hair actually come out? or what happens?

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Take tons of pictures from every angle to show your groomer what you want. Every time you trim that gorgeous face whether you like it or not, snap a picture. You can then make a do and don't album for the groomer. I don't mean to inindate the groomer but you can call and ask when you can meet and have some consulation time and let her pick a few to keep in her file. Just a suggestion.