Summer Cut-downs ~ Do they work?

[shelly]

I know I'm probably the odd-man (well, woman) out on this, but was just wondering....  I love to keep Tori's hair long... that is her 'trade-mark' (plus I like to keep the poodle under cover (LOL- sorry poodles). However with the recent heat wave here over over 95 - 100 degree temperatures (today it was a cooler 90), do you think doodles really feel cooler with their hair shorter? I know I feel better with my hair off my neck in the heat, but my body temperature doesn't necessarily feel cooler.  Am I just being vane and making my poor puppy-girl suffer?  After all she knows no difference in her looks (I think)....

[Lorraine Bromley]

After a week of swimming alot I would definitely do a summer cut on Neely if we had a pool or cottage that meant he swam everyday. It seems to cause alot of matting behind the ears and such and balls of marble fur balls in his legs. Mind you he is so soft and fluffy after the brush and blowdry :)

[Lesley, Wellington & Bingley]

Welly is definately cooler with his summer hair do. The fact that he doesn't moult means that he has no way of changing his winter coat to a summer one. If your dog moults his soft under coat falls out and this is the insulation for colder months. Many doods don't have an undercoat to shed and instead have the type of wooly coat that will not fall out. Hence the sheers!

Not all coats are as thick though. Welly has a thick wooly coat and I only think it's fair to let him take his jumper off for the summer =)

He no longer seeks out cool floors or drafty sleeping spots... no longer pants all day... is happy to spend the whole night on his bed... runs around like a cool dood....because he is cooler without his thick coat.