Summer cut or no?

[Kristin]

I see some doodles with shorter kept hair. We like our Sadie a bit shaggy but don't want her to get too hot while playing outside this summer. I have read that shorter cut hair actually makes them hotter? Is this actually the case and her hair will be serving better as a barrier against the sun? Thanks!

[Julia]

I was wondering about this too! We have a 10 week old black doodle, she gets hot quickly. Would a shorter cut help? 

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

I think it's usually an undercoat that insulates -- and my ALD has a single coat.  I always keep him puppy clipped at 2 - 3 inches,  but in the summer, shorter.  He's more comfortable with s a shorter summer clip and it's great for swimming.

[Terrlyn]

I find in the summer it's easier to have a shorter coat. Oscar likes to swim, and it's much easier to maintain a shorter coat with all the outdoor activities. 

[Christine & Shelby]

My Shelby is now 5 years old. She has been getting a summer cut since year one. Beginning in late March - September she gets a cut about every 8-10 weeks. It is so much easier to maintain with my doodle who loves to swim, hike, etc. the fur grows back quickly. I know some say it makes them hotter, but I don't think it does. I judge when to get her first summer cut once I notice she is having a difficult time tolerating the Texas heat. She loves the shorter cut... She gets really feisty. I love it too - I love her hair grown out and short. Different looks, but adorable regardless

[Shoney & Ruby]

I thought we would go with the shaggy look but Ruby's puppy fur on top of a curly fleecy coat made her look like a giant puffball....it was scary to get her first haircut but she looks adorable and I think she is liking a lighter coat. 

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

More than anything, a shorter cut is about ease of maintenance to us. Any length beyond a certain point is a nightmare to brush/comb through on both dogs, so it's easy to know when it's time to get out the clipper!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

How I understood it is that their coat acts like insulation in your ceiling, keeping the heat out from above in the summer time.  I do keep both of mine shorter in the summer and am very careful that they are not just laying around out in the sun or out for very long unless swimming.  Murphy has very fine hair and you can see his skin easily when he is shorter so I know the sun is just baking on his skin. Not good for temp control or skin damage/cancer.  

So my suggestion would be to just monitor how much sun and heat he is exposed to when shorter. It's not like any of our doodles are outside dogs, so we certainly can limit the extreme temps for them.

 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Our dogs swim a lot in the warmer weather and a shorter coat makes life easier for all of us. Plus, I hate brushing them and a shorter cut helps. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Shorter is more for maintenance.  If your pup is going to swim a lot, you might want to go shorter.  You need to be careful about sunburn if you go too short.  I live where it gets quite hot in the summer and keep my boys about the same length year round with grooming appts every 4 - 6 weeks.

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

I cut my two down to about 1 1/2 a few weeks ago. I am so happy I did. A lot less brushing and matting. I know they are happier too!

[Joyce (Casey & Cody's mom)]

I love a long, shaggy, "doodle" look, but my boys HATE to be combed or brushed, so consequently, I keep them very short year round. They love the short cut and just prance around right after a cut. Cody is solid black and when his coat gets longer, he stays inside in the air conditioner, but when he is cut real short, he will run and play outside more, so I don't believe the length keeps them cooler.

[Coop's Mom & Cooper]

Our doodle seems soo much more comfortable ever since we cut his hair close to 3 inches 2 weeks ago. Cooper is almost 6 months old and everyone says he looks so much better. The long shaggy look just did not work for us at all.