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!)

[Doris]

Hi Ann! You are getting great suggestions! I think you should take PICTURES to the groomer and they will do fine. If it is too short it will grow back quickly. The shorter hair is much easier to take care of, especially in the summer months!

I'm done with school- I'd love to try the dog park with you!
doris & Bodi

[F, Calla & Luca]

Okay, here's Calla whose hair is the shortest it's ever been.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Calla looks GREAT!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks!

[Sara Schultz]

Calla looks gorgeous! How hot is it where you live? I'm in Texas, and it is already in the 90's almost every day.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks. I'm in NJ but it's been almost 90 with lots of humidity for about a week now. Real summer weather.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

What a pretty coat Calla has. So she and Luca are both white?? They look very similar except in the face. Funny you should say this is the shortest she has ever been. That is how Gracie Doodle looks when she is long!! ha ha

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks. Calla has what I think of as an ideal doodle coat. She is cream/ white with a tinge of color on her ears mostly. I guess her coat was really shorter when I got her at 17 weeks but not since then. Luca is really a caramel but he is much lighter in most areas than he was as a puppy. Needless to say there are times when I confuse them but I did that with my sons, too.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Calla is gorgeous! I love her soft curls - gives a definite long coated impression but you can see the body lines. Except for the ears I like Ned's summer cut. Clancy is due for another cut but he has an infection on his tummy so we have to wait. Here is Ned's summer cut. He and Halas look a lot alike this summer.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Ned looks terrific and cool! Thanks, yes, at last Calla can be seen to have a "waist".

[Adrianne Matzkin]

F - the photo next to the chair should be cropped and put up on your wall! That face!!!!!!!!

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

Sedona is only 10 months old and aside from some trimming around the eyes, had not yet had a major cut. However, as summer is here, her groomer suggested a short cut so that she'd be cooler. I love her fuzzy look, but we went ahead with an all-over cut yesterday. Sedona looks like a completely different dog, but IS STILL ADORABLE!!!