What kind of grooming will Gracie need?

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

Gracie is an f1 Labradoodle.
So far she sheds like crazy. In the house I see floating dust bunnies of Gracie's hair everywhere! If you are wearing anything black, you've got a dusting of her hair all over you.
Her coat is thick and wavy. She has long eyebrows, a beard, and a mustache. Hehe.

When I gave her a bath, her hair looked really curly, but like ocean waves. She took a long time to dry. I towel dried her, then used a blow dryer. She was still not dry. I crated her for a bit so that I could get some things done. Probably in there for an hour and she still had wet hair.

When I combed her, she had soft wool like hair in the comb.

I'm thinking of having her hair short for the summer. Plus she should be losing her puppy coat as she's 5 months right now.

I will attach some pics.

Just wondering what I should be doing between the grooming sessions.

Thanks!

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

It only uploaded one pic, so here are more.

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

Car ride.

[Joan Bollaert]

I wouldn't shave her down because her coat isn't long at all plus she'll still shed.  Keep brushing her ...every day especially if she's close to losing her puppy coat (which usually happens around 8-12 months).   Unfortunately, American Labradoodles will shed.

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

It tends to get hot in the summer and her coat is thick, so that's why I'm thinking about having it cut short. I'm not worried about the shedding, just thought I would mention it in regards to grooming.
She doesn't have the poodle like hair, so I am not sure if I need to do the backwards brushing (as done for the poodle type hair).

[Carol Bordwell]

I have a question about cutting hair shorter for the summer. I'm hoping someone will chime in---Is it really recommended?

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

Gracie's hair was pretty scraggly and she had "boots" around her paws that didn't match the rest of her. So, I had the groomer trim the scruffy boots up and when they did they had to even her out a bit. So, her hair is a little shorter, but not by much. She just looked even and clean cut. Well that was last week. ;)

[Laura and Angus]

I don't think I can contribute that much to the discussion since I have an F1b goldendoodle who does not really shed and has curlier hair than your pup, but boy is Gracie adorable in these pics!! Does her hair keep growing longer or is she mostly just shedding and it seems to stay the same size. If we leave Angus longer than 6 weeks he starts to resemble a bear... (see starting stages of bear transition below haha)

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

It really isn't growing longer, I guess. When we got her bathed and her paws trimmed they shaved her leg just a little to blend it in and it has grown back.
So maybe this is it for her as far as the length goes?
Thanks for the compliments.

Angus is adorable. He's like a big version of my schnoodle. His hair does that when we let it get too long.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Since she sheds and is a light color I think she is fine as she is. The only trimming I think she might need is to keep hair out of her eyes and the little your groomer has done.  I would not shave her down.  Coats are designed to keep the dog warm in winter and cool in summer.

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

Thanks, Nancy.

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

I agree with Nancy.  Neither of my ALDs shed, but I often wonder if the F1 and others that do shed might be so much easier in coat maintenance.  Gracie is a beautiful girl.  I would leave her as is and just have her trimmed occasionally.