Hot dog!

[Rowena Fry]

Hello!
I was just wondering what the owners of long-haired pooches do in the summer? Any suggestions?

It's just starting to get really hot in Hong Kong and even though Gum Gum's hair is fairly short, she's already getting hot and puffed out when playing outside with her friends. I guess it's cos she's a poodle and her hair is so...dense. (Dunno if that's the right word)

Someone suggested shaving it all off completely, but that's a bit excessive in my eyes. Okay, it's more cos my 'Gummy Bear' wouldn't look so much like bear anymore and I don't like the idea of that! :lol:

[Grace Erick]

Here in the states, some people with long haired dogs bring them to groomers and they cut the hair pretty close to the skin to keep them cool and I think it gives them a break from always having to brush them too. I'm sure they are easier to bathe that way too.

For some people, maybe it's a good way to be able to see ticks if they live in areas with them. I have a short coated Chihuahua, so her hair is no problem for me, except to keep the sun off of her on drives where I cover her with a white napking on her back to keep the sun off.

[Tera Kuhr]

I usually have Maximus's hair cut short for the summer. I know a lot of owners of Yorkie's like to keep their dogs' hair really long, but for some reason Max looks a lot better with shorter hair...plus I think he feels better with it cut short.

This is the shortest I've ever had it cut...I generally try to keep it a little longer:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/tjk427/max2.jpg

[Rowena Fry]

Thanks guys, cutting short would be the easiest way, although I took her to the groomers and they said her hair is already short and she doesn't need it shaved (she had a drastic haircut about a month ago, down to less than an inch on her body). They said that apart from her normal grooming routine (i.e. haircut due in another couple of weeks), to put a fan in her room or put the air conditioner on at a low setting if I was still concerned.

They have a toy poodle themselves and I saw his hair was pretty much the same as Gum Gum's. She should be okay, I think I'm being a bit of a worry-wort. I should give her a bit of time to get used to the weather changing and see how it goes then.

xoxox

PS Max is so cute with short hair!

[Amber]

Do you know what number blade your groomer used on Gum Gum? I have a toy poodle, Precious, and my groomer will usually use a #7 (the higher the blade, the shorter the coat) just because I like her coat short most times. She's a white poodle, and as for most white dogs, and she LOVES the mud, so I hate to leave her coat too long.

[Rowena Fry]

Hmmm, Amber, I'm not really sure. I can find out but it'll take a while cos I don't go to the groomers very often.

This is what she looked like after her haircut, it is quite short apart from her legs and head. Of course it's grown quite a bit now cos it's been a month since these pics were taken. She's due to go for another grooming session in a couple of weeks.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/rowenafry/WhatsThat.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/rowenafry/GottaGetItOut.jpg

[Grace Erick]

Gum Gum looks adorable with her hair cut! She has a beautifully colored coat.

[Rowena Fry]

Thanks Grace! I think she looks like a little sheep! I prefer her hair short like this actually, but I do miss the darker bits that appear when her hair gets longer. You never get everything though! LOL