Why I keep my doodle's hair short...

[Melissa & Porter]

Hi!  I started this group for people who keep their doodle's hair short most of the time. 

We can share haircut style tips and bond over how many times we are asked, "What kind of dog is THAT?" or "Is that a poodle with a long tail?"

So for anyone who wants to join in, even if you're dood's hair is long and you feel like chatting, here is a thread where we can share why we our doodle's hair is short. 

I keep Porter's hair short because I have three kids and freelance jobs, and I need to spend my special time with Porter getting exercise for us both.  Also, I have asthma, COPD and allergies and cannot have the increased mold and pollen that might come with a long-haired outside-playing doodle. Finally, my husband grew up with a standard poodle and has "issues" with wet beards :-)

[Louise and Toby]

I have finally figured out the best hairstyle for our goldendoodle! He has a mixed coat with some of the nasty coarse hair (kemp) down the back, nice fleecy legs, very fluffy ears. (That's just the way he turned out!) He just looks best with the body on the shorter side and the legs longer. If the legs are cut short they just look like sticks! I like his ear length at about the same level as his beard, which is not too long. He's looking kind of cute with his fluffy mustache these days but it is SO fluffy - like two giant cottonballs!!

So, besides looking kinda cute the care is much easier - the hair around the neck and down the back that would get so thick it was almost impossible to comb or brush is now a non issue.

I wish I knew how to de-fluff those ears though!

[Melissa & Porter]

Congrats on figuring out the right trim for Toby. He looks adorable!
My neighbor's goldendoodle has long long legs too :-)
Porter's ears could be very fluffy, but I have the groomer trim the hair all over them, not just across the bottom...maybe that would work for Toby?

[Melissa & Porter]

:-) I was wondering if you'd see I started this group. I noticed you as one of the consistent short-haired doodlers.
(I wish I had the cojones to clip Porter's hair.)

I love the velvety feel too.

[Louise and Toby]

Thanks you all - I'll try thinning shears on the ears!

Albus is so cute with his hair short, well, heck he'd be cute any way. (I just watched his sit stay video!) I don't know if I could do that short all the time. Toby has been really short, if you see my pics you will see one like that, but that was NOT on purpose - just a groomer gone wild! We fired her and have gone elsewhere. LOL

[Michael Gurley]

I've joined! I keep Sunny's coat pretty short for a few reasons:
1) She feels better to me, like a super soft teddy bear, when her fur is short. She has a little bit of coarser hair down her back but when it's freshly cut it's just about as soft as the rest of her. She has wavy fleece.
2) She attracts dirt and leaves when she's outside with long fur and then deposits it around the house. With shorter fur, this is not as bad of a problem.
3) She sleeps on my bed and with long fur, she gets really hot at night and jumps off the bed in favor of the cooler floor. Then I get really cold because my heater has left the bed!! So with short fur she stays on the bed and still all night long and my feet stay toasty warm.
4) The really short cut really accentuates her "princess" attitude.
5) I can see any boo-boos on her with really short fur
6) The doggies at the dog park don't have as much to grab onto when her fur is short. With longer fur, the dogs grab her and pull, and it really scares her!

[Melissa & Porter]

I think number #3 dog-heater and #4 princess are the funniest reasons :-)

Welcome!

[Susan, Zeke. Lily & Jasper]

I have 3 doodles so groomimg is a constant thing.  They each have a different coat type and attention spans for grooming.

-Zeke has a very dense wool and fleece combo coat that sheds a little, plus he always seems to be hot and takes forever to dry after a bath or the occasional romp in a creek

-Lily has a curly fleece coat that is very fine but medium thick.  She mats terribly, especially on her ears and hind quarters.

-Jasper has a wavy fleece coat that so far is the easiest to care for, some matting on his ears but not much.

I do their grooming mostly and I like the look of a trim cut with a longer face. ears and tail.  Since longer coats mean more time and trouble I keep mine fairly short.  I also like it that you can see their body style:Zeke-boxy & masculine, Lily-sleek and girly, Jasper-perfect combo of muscular and cute. 

[Melissa & Porter]

They are all soooooo cute.  I can only imagine the brushing schedule for three doodles, short or not!

[Suzan]

They are so beautiful!!

[Sally, Ditzy Mitzi & Sgt. Pepper]

Great Group!  We keep Mitzi's coat short most of the time.  Actually, right now she is the longest she has ever been only because I haven't had the time to give her a full trim.  I usually keep her 1/2 inch long.  She swims a lot and it really helps her dry off quicker with the "crew- cut" length.  I also keep her beard shaved off because she drools so much with hair on her chin, leaving our terrazzo floors dangerously slippery.