Puppy Cuts???
Any photo shoots someone can point me to???? |
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| O.k...I feel more confused than ever after reading multiple posts in medical and nutrition disputing OES hair cuts/full coats. I really wish there was just ONE answer to a complicated question. It seems to me that it would feel better to be in a puppy cut than a big shaggy coat in the heat of summer...but, I don't really KNOW. It seems to me that I've been told that they have sensitive eyes and need to be shaded with their hair, but I don't really KNOW. I DO know that my guys seem more paranoid when they can't see, and are more apt to get grouchy with each other when they can't see. It's like they are on alert or something. Also, I know in the middle east they wear a ton of clothes to keep cool, and in Africa they wear almost nothing to keep cool...so....I have no idea which is better for a sheepie. I know I keep a kiddie pool full for them just so they can play and when it is hot....that is where I can find them. We are heading in to a warm dry spring.....and summer. I just want my boys to be happy and safe. No heat stroke. I just can't DO anymore drama in my life....they have to be safe, happy and cool....no matter what. So what is the real truth? Long coats? Puppy Cuts? Does anyone really KNOW? |
Here's the easy answer. Every dog is different.  You really just have to watch and play it by ear. My dogs act the same in coat as they do clipped down. No major difference.Quote: Also, I know in the middle east they wear a ton of clothes to keep cool, and in Africa they wear almost nothing to keep cool...so....I have no idea which is better for a sheepie. That's a tough comparison since other factors come into play for us hairless humans. The coat of the OES does not keep heat out or act as any sort of shield from heat. However, it does really depend on the dog as to what they tolerate. A lot of it can depend on the thickness of the coat. But even then, some dogs just don't seem to care or be bothered. You just have to kind of monitor them. In the summer, I make them come in the house to take A/C breaks even if they seem fine. It's just safer and easier. If you see them panting heavily and guzzling water like crazy then they they may, indeed, be too hot. The pool is a good idea if you don't mind keeping up with the coats getting wet all the time! My Komondor loves lying in a pool... or a water dish... or a puddle. A terrible thing for him since he never dries when he gets that wet. Much easier with a sheepdog since you can blow dry if you have to! Eyes: The pupil regulates the light by contracting if the light is bright, and expanding if it is dim. Dogs have eyes that work pretty darn similar to ways ours do when it comes to that. So, for most part, the eyes will adjust if and when they need to. No added sensitivity. You absolutely do not need hair to shield the eyes-- that will do much more harm than good from walking into things! If something covers your dog's eyes, he's looking through a veil so the vision his going to suffer. Trimming or pulling it back is always a good idea. You don't have to worry too much. Just keep an eye on them. You'll get a feel for what they can and can't handle. If they live in the house with you, chances are whatever temperature you're comfortable at, they will be, too. If you're still concerned, keep a fan going so they can lie in front of it if they need to cool off. I hope that helps some. |
| In the middle east they wear white flowing robes which reflect the sun and allow for air movement near the body, not dark grey thick woolen fur sweaters. Please read what both Carl and I have written on this subject: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=2554 |
| It also depends on your lifestyle. We keep Ru in full coat, we have a very short summer here in the UK and over those weeks we just change our routine. We get up earlier and walk him when it is cooler, keep him inside or in the shade where it is cool as much as possible, then he gets a long walk in the late evening again when it is cooler. If it's still too hot then we take him for a short/slow night-time walk instead. I've had people say he must be too hot when it's only been 15C with a strong breeze. I know he's ok because I take water for him to drink everywhere and don't take him out when it's hot. We see lots of people with thick coated dogs walking them in the late evenings in the summer, when the temperature cools considerably. The best advice is to use your common sense, keep an eye on your dog and take water to drink everywhere you go. If you think its too hot- leave them at home with the a/c or fans on. |
| Zeke likes his fur short. The shorter the better. When it's long, he doesn't seem to have the energy or pep that he does when it's short. He'll lay around more and pant more when his fur is long. He's bouncier and more energetic when it's short. Brick (even though he isn't a sheepie) absolutely hates a longer coat when it gets warm. He'll pull the fur off of his body just to get it off of him. |
| It really does depend on your dog. Some like warmth, others hate it and can't tolerate it. My daughter and I have littermate OES, and they are polar opposite regarding temperatures. They are both almost 4 yrs old, and have been like this the entire time. I have Chewie, and he is hot. Always hot. He leaves sweat prints on frozen pavement! In the winter he finds the coolest spot. He loves the cement floor of the entryway porch, and still lays up against the outside door to sleep. We are in MN - and it gets cold. On really cold nights out there we wake up to ice in the dog water dish.  That is how extreme he is. My daughter and her husband have his sister Martha. She loves to be warm. She sleeps on their bed, or if they're both home (working shifts) she snuggles into a cushy overstuffed dog bed. Martha sleeps in a tight ball, Chewie sprawls to cool off..... Even in the same length coat,I shave Chewie's belly to the skin so he can be cooler. This winter - Martha in the back.  This past summer, the day I trimmed Chewie down from his show coat - Chewie on the left, Martha on the right -  Humidity is a biggy - low humidity seems easier for them, especially if they are out of the sun. You mentioned swimming/pool time - you will want a shorter coat for that if you do it often. Under 1 inch long would be good. Mats form easily, especially with yours younger and possibly still in coat transitions. (9 months?? - then yes they are) If you surf some old posts, there are quite a few about puppy cuts, with some good pictures. I know people have said they take picture examples of the ones they like to their groomers - to have them copy them. There are so many ways to cut hair, you can be as creative as you want!  |
| We live in NY on Long Island , and the humidty in the summer can kill you! I have found my dogs prefer a shorter coat in the summer. We ahve central A/C also and they aare never cold...But I run with my dogs and we are out side doing training and agility, etc. I like their coats short in the summer too...I figure...how would I feel running around in a fur coat when the temp is 80 and the humidity is 90%!!!! As far as the hair shielding the eyes...I spent a fortune with my first OES who was bumping into things, etc...only to find out the hair was blcoking his eyes...The hair around the eyes should be cut into "bangs" or a top knot. They can't really see well with it uust hanging in their face...The idea "they go blind" if you cut the hair, is an old wife's tale! |
| Thank you ALL so much....This is really helpful. We live in Montana, so...it is pretty cold in the winter, spring and fall...and hot to the bone in the summer. They DO love the water, and I have noticed the matting, which is worse in Felix who has seriously fine spider web hair right now that is mixing with thicker hair and causing serious mats. Ferdi is much easier to brush out with a courser coat...besides, he loves being brushed, so I can just hang out brushing him, whereas Felix HATES it. So.......there ya go. I think the puppy cuts I've seen are adorable...reminds me of my Ferdi when he was...a Pup! grin. Thank you all so much....  |
| I agree with everyone, it really depends on climate and dog. I live in Western Illinois right on the border of Iowa, next to the Mississippi. Spring is VERY, VERY rainy here. It rains for three solid months. Which means mud and constant wet on their coat. I shave them down in early spring so that the mud and the rain doesn't become too much for me to handle. Once summer hits though, its very hot and humid. My boy runs very hot, so having a short coat helps, but I still have to watch him and make sure he doesn't get too hot. I love the full coat look and come autumn and winter the coat has really grown in. But I do love the ease of the shorter coat and how happy my dogs feel once they are cool. |
Ashley wrote: We live in NY on Long Island , and the humidty in the summer can kill you! I have found my dogs prefer a shorter coat in the summer. We ahve central A/C also and they aare never cold...But I run with my dogs and we are out side doing training and agility, etc. Hey! Another agility person! Are you entering at the national in September? Kristine |
Kristine....We are FAR from entering anything! We are just learning and getting our feet wet. I had the equipment as a means of entertaining them and just enrolled in a "real" beginners class....At home we have the tunnel, the single bar jump, the tire hoop and the weave polls...The weave polls pose the most challenge. Can't get them to do anything with them!  Ashley |
Well, instead of my hijacking yet another thread  , maybe we can start a "so how do you teach weaving" thread in adv behaviors etc. There are a lot of different ways and dogs can be very different in how they learn so it can't hurt to pool what we know and then maybe you can get some ideas from that. It does take a long time to "make" an agility dog. Hope you plan on attending the national though. Should be fun. OK, back to the regularly scheduled grooming programming (and how did I even end up here? )KB |
| The last time my boys had a haircut was in fall. Before that it was every two months in for a puppy cut. Just for fun(lazy) I thought I would let it grow a "little". I'd say Gar is close to 5" and Simon is close behind. The grooming is more time consuming but I don't mind(much). If I had three hours to spend on each fidgetty dog each week I would keep it. I don't...and they are going in on March 31st to a "new" groomer that I found at the dog show for a puppy cut. Dogs DO NOT NEED BANGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It actually hinders them. Pull your hair in front of your eyes and tell me what you see. |
| When I said "bangs", I meant sort of a visor type cut so the hair is ABOVE the eyes - not bangs that fall straight across into the eyes |
Ashley wrote: When I said "bangs", I meant sort of a visor type cut so the hair is ABOVE the eyes - not bangs that fall straight across into the eyes Right, the "bowl cut." |
Well...the boys are at the groomer.....will keep you posted!!!  |
| pictures please, i am sure you will love them x |
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