Thoughts on a hair cut

[Rosie's Family]

Even though Rosie doesn't have a Fleece type coat, we are thinking of giving her a hair cut. In the next month or so it will probably be close to 100 Degrees in Utah. 

This would be her first haircut. For her kind of coat how would you normally cut it, Maybe cut it down to an inch all over? Or is better to leave some parts longer? She will not end up being cold in the summer if we cut her hair, right?

Thanks

[Lindsey Holt]

Jake does have a fleece type coat, but much more wavy and straight than curly and we live in Phoenix so we shave him in the summer.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

No matter what kind of coat your dog has, it insulates them against both heat and cold, and also protects against sunburn. Cutting a dog's coat doesn't keep them cooler in summer, and shaving it can actually cause them to be warmer, as well as get sunburned. If your dog is very active, it may be easier to keep up with your grooming by cutting the coat, but I would try to stay as long as possible.

JD has never had a haircut; he gets trimmed around the face and feet, and that's pretty much it. 

[VScott & Lloyd]

Rosie looks a lot like Lloyd.  I got him cut (not shaved) once when he was almost 1 and it was pretty short.  I can't remember the length but it was 2nd to the shortest they do at PetCo. I had them leave his tail alone though. He came out looking like a poodle but I liked it :) Since then I've let it grow out and he's super shaggy and when he gets a bath at the groomers he's come back all fluffed out and looks a bit ridiculous. I was thinking of getting him cut again. I can't find the picture right now but I'll post it once I get a hold of it. And he was not cold.

[Leslie J]

We have Cocoa's hair cut to 1" every 6 weeks because once it gets much over 21/2'" it mats terribly. If Rosie doesn't mat, though, I'm not sure why you'd cut it. I think the hair is like "breathable" fabric and will keep her more comfortable- especially light hair like Rosie has.

[Melissa]

I cut my doodle's fur in the spring - fall to about a 1 inch length and she does not get cold. It is important to leave some length as fur does protect them from heat and cold and from getting sunburned.  I only cut her hair shorter in during these months because she LOVES the water and it is so hard to keep her coat mat-free when it is really long and always wet. We also walk on a lot of bush trails, with her long fur she comes home looking like a tree with everything that gets stuck in it. I also like it shorter during this season as ticks are much easier to spot than when her fur is long and thick. 

[Rosie's Family]

Thanks all for the advice!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I would only cut  where she needs it, perhaps her face.  My Clancy does not have a fleecy non-shedding coat either but his still grows and needs trimming often.  We tried a short cut on him once and it was an epic failure.  We simply live with the shedding.

[Kate C Pappas]

I live in the high desert of So CAL and keep my wavy fleece coated girl very long 5 - 6". During the summer she goes in the pool and gets rinsed off when she's done. Her long coat flows and I know she is not too hot with it. My other girl has a curlier fleece coat which is now about 3" and she is also fine during our triple digit summers. They are never outside unless we're with them etc. Their coats offer protection from the elements and as long as they're not matted, there is good airflow through their coats.