Doodle haircut for summer

[Lora]

So my best friend who also has a doodle said to maybe not trim his hair... Because the way it sticks up actually cools him off... I know when he's outside he appears hot and pants when it is mid 70's ! Thanks for any info! Also any style ideas for cuts? Would love pics but am new to site and don't know if pix can just appear on your replies. Thanks again!

[F, Calla & Luca]

We have had many discussions on this and even more opinions. I believe the coat does insulate the dogs from the heat a bit and keeps their skin from burning in the sun.

[Stephanie & Reggie]

I'm curious about this as well? My puppy is scheduled for his first "summer cut" next week, and I'm not quite sure what to do? I wondered if folks trim their doods short in the summer months more for ease of grooming? 

I love my Reggie's long shaggy coat! 

[Jennifer Tramell]

There are many opinions on the subject of short vs. long hair affecting summer comfort.  My mom and sister's doodles definitely seem more comfortable with a short summer cut.  My girl, Charlotte, doesn't show much difference, my boy, Webster, sometimes seems hot in long hair and sometimes doesn't.

I give my dogs a summer cut (which is 3/4 to 1 inch long) because it is easier to keep them groomed, they get leaves, sticks, thorns, etc, tangled in their longer curls, they swim in our pool and short hair dries faster, AND it is easier to watch for fleas & ticks.

 

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

We keep Libby a little shorter during the summer and she seems great with it and happy!  It is much easier to maintain, but we do not cut her way down, maybe 3/4 to an inch!  The picture of your Doodle is adorable:)

[Ginny Nightingale]

I groom my doodles myself and also a bunch of other doodles and we do cut them shorter for summer--since they do not perspire thru the skin, there is an ongoing debate about the coat insulating from the heat vs. holding the heat in--and I think some vets have favored the insulation side--BUT, that said, the dogs seem much happier with the shorter coat and the owners have a much easier time when there is vegetation to roll in and lakes to swim in.

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

I just got my boy cut, (actually shaved) short due to excessive matting.  I never realized that matting hurts-it pulls the skin.  watch out for this excess matting when the adult coat comes in and the soft puppy coat gets all matted in there.

[Chelsie]

Sam was just cut for summer. I asked for 1 inch, but it is a little less than that. He looks happy, but my main reason for the haircut is ease of grooming. He is doing the oh so lovely coat change and was headed to my parents farm while we move. It is 100x easier to groom him now! I love the shaggy look, but am happy with my decision to give him a shorter haircut!

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Chelsie, Sam looks great. Your groomer did a wonderful job on his face and head (the areas that can end up looking REALLY bad) and he looks like velvet!

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Gorgeous! Love his color, and his cut!

[Star and Goldie]

Sam does look great! I went to your page to see more pics but it's set to private. If you have anymore can you share before and after pics? Your profile picture is adorable!

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I trim Tara shorter for the summer. Her coat is fairly thin and her hair is fine with no undercoat. I don't think she has the type of coat that provides insulation from the heat. Plus it really does help keep the maintenance time down.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

I like keeping my 2 short just because of the matting issue. Its such a pain to try to get mats out of long hair. Not easy with shorter hair either, but the really short hair does not mat. Both mine were recently groomed (Lucy on the left was groomed last week... Oscar on the right was groomed Wednesday). Oscar, btw, has a much longer cut face and body than Lucy, but he also has a very different hair type. Lucy's is more a thick, woolly, poodle-type hair, and Oscar's is curly and soft and not as thick. I think they'll be comfortable for the warmer weeks to come.

(Oscar looks HUGE in comparison to Lucy... it was just a perspective thing with the camera. They really are about the same size.) Here's a pic of Oscar again at a different view: