When to do the summer cut

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

I used to live in Vancouver, where it was cool and damp most of the year. I let Coopers fur grow long (6 inches) and last year I did not give her a summer cut (we had about 2 weeks of summer). The year before I did give her a summer cut.

Now we live in northern Ontario. It gets hot here in summer so Cooper will need a summer cut. Its still not too warm here (we even had snow and a frost last week) but I dont want to leave it too late so that her fur wont grow back long again ready for the very cold winter (which she hates).

I know some people have given their doods their summer cuts, but of course temperatures vary around the globe. 

At what temperature do you give your dog their summer cut?

EDIT - do you prefer to cut when your dog is all brushed out and fluffy, or when their fur is in its curls?

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Kaytlin, if you want to cut her shorter I would do it by early May. By mid-May it will start getting hot. That being said, I need to take Sophie in the next couple of weeks. I just can't keep up and she's getting mats left right and centre. I don't know how you maintain a 6-inch coat. Sophie hates the brushing so it is a real pain.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

Cooper only needs brushing once a month, as long as she hasnt been swimming a lot. The Les Poochs brush makes it much quicker!

[Carolyn Shusterman]

When Hershey was a puppy (under 7 mo) she didn't like to be brushed either.  I started to make it fun for her by just short brushing times followed with cuddling and treats. You could get Sophie used to the brush by putting it near your chair when you watch TV.  Hershey's 6 " coat dosn't seem to mat very much.  She does have very silky wavey fleece hair.  I brush her once a week.  I really love the dematter comb to breeze through her hair.

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

It's hot in Texas already so his winter coat is gone! He got his buzz on Friday!

[F, Calla & Luca]

I started on Calla last week and have legs and fine tuning to do yet. Unfortunately she'll be long again long before summer is over here in NJ.

[Bonnie and Kona]

I always clip after they are shampooed and completely brushed out. If you join the Grooming Group there is tons of info on how to groom your dog. It is better for the clipper and scissors to cut when the hair is clean. I brush out the dogs to be sure there are no tangles or mats and to get a more even length. If you like the curls you can spritz the fur with water after clipping to get them back. It usually takes no time at all for the fluff to go away and the curls to return on my guys so I don't bother. Good luck with Cooper's cut!

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Myla is going in at the end of April and will probably get her cut for the same reasons,we want it there in the fall/winter.

It's hard to say as far as weather though.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

I took Cubbie from about 4.5inches down to about 2inches last month when we were in the 80's here.  I will probably wait until early May to give him his true summer cut.  I always brush, wash, dry, brush and then cut.  I used clippers with a comb attachment when I took some of the lenght off of him and wouldn't have been able to get through the coat if I hadn't brushed it out again after his bath. If I am just using a blade and no comb, I still brush him out after the bath but don't worry as much about some of the very small tangles because the clippers go right under them.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

lol my idea of a summer cut IS 2 inches! i cant bear to cut her shorter (though I guess it depends on how hot it gets!)

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

I will use a #3 blade on Cubbie for his summer cut and it gives him a nice soft black crushed velvet feeling coat.  He loves it because it means that I only have to brush out his legs, head, and tail :)  I scissor his legs so they don't get as short as his body.  I like the longer coat, but short is just so much easier to care for in the summer.

[BG and Gavin]

We did it today.  The hot spell we had in Southern Ontario two weeks ago just about did him in.  It is supposed to stay fairly warm according to the long range forcast.

[Carolyn Shusterman]

Hershey's coat is 6 inches long and the easiest way to keep it matt free is with the Coastal Pet Safari dematting comb.  I love it so much I bought two more for two greatful friends.  I bought them from Strictly Pet Supplies.