Summer Cut... I need your help DK!

[Christine & Shelby]

I am taking Shelby in for her summer cut on Monday! We live in TX and while Summer hasn't officially started it's already in the 90's and humid! It is clear that Shelby is struggling with the heat.... and as an adjustment we are walking early in the morning and late at night... w/ sprinkler breaks :o)

The groomer I have choosen has been recommended by two other doodle owners I've met here in my area. I am excited, am mentally prepared (I think!) for my fluffy doodle to change to a sleek doodle, but I would hate to have a grooming disaster. Shelby is a red australian labradoodle with a wavy fleece coat that currently is about 6-7 inches long.

I am a member of the grooming group, and I have seen some of the resources on how to instruct a groomer to get the cut you want, but I really think a photo would help! I am asking for your help and would love to see all the "summer doodle do's" posted here on this discussion and any instruction advice would be welcome too! I am a first time dog and Doodle owner, so I want to make sure I am prepared and can give the groomer enough info so I am happy with the end product!

[Holly Doodle]

This is my favorite cut we've had so far, we may even go shorter for the summer cut though. This was probably a little over an inch in length.

[John Doerich]

Christine,
We give our goldendoodle a short poodle puppy cut for the summer. His hair is very curly like a poodle's so it works out well for us.
John

[CElizabeth Stevenson]

I saw a really cute cut in the magazine "Puppies"..... if you can't find it on the newstand look online for it...

[Melissa & Porter]

Here is Porter's "summer"cut from the winter, he had ripped out part of his tail hair. His summer cut happens on Thurs and will be similar except for a more full tail.

Here he is this spring when he had gotten matted and we went even shorter.

[Mark Carlson]

My Doodle "the Dude" is giving me the strong message that it's too hot to be wearing a long black fur coat in South Florida in the summer. She has taken to tipping over her water bowl and sitting in the puddle when she's hot. I love her furry look and I DREAD the idea of making her look poodle-ish. (love the poodle smarts not a fan of the froo froo looks). I'm taking Dude to the groomer and asking them to give her a cut to look like a lab. Any other pix of Doodles with summer cuts?

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Personally I would ask them to leave the head, ears and tail doodley looking. You can cut the rest short but if they do the head and tail you are going to probably have more of a poodle look than a lab look.

[Melissa & Porter]

LOL at the water-bowl puddle strategy :-)
I get Porter 's face cut as much as his body. I don't think he looks like a lab exactly, but he doesn't look like a poodle (or doodle) either. It works for us--neater. He is a big water-bowl mess maker with his face.

[Amanda and Quinn]

This is Quinn's standard summer cut - he's the one in the back, clearly. :) I have the groomer keep the body very short and the head longer. It takes a little getting used to but I actually love it; very little brushing needed!