06/08/2025
Why Shaving Double-Coated Dogs Is Harmful - and Why It Needs to Stop
There’s a persistent and dangerous misconception that shaving a double-coated dog will help them stay cool in hot weather. As someone who has been in the grooming industry for years, especially focused on double coated dogs I can tell you firsthand: shaving these dogs is not helpful - it’s harmful.
Breeds like Golden Retrievers, Pomeranians, American Eskimos, German Shepherds, Huskies, Border Collies, Great Pyrenees and POMSKIES all have double coats. And that coat has a PURPOSE of protecting their skin. Their double coat is made up of two layers: a soft, dense undercoat that insulates and a coarse top coat (guard hairs) that protects against dirt, moisture, and harmful UV rays. Together, this coat acts as a natural barrier, keeping them warm in winter and surprisingly cool in summer. Through seasonal shedding, their bodies adapt to changing temperatures in a way that shaving simply cannot replicate.
When you shave a double-coated dog, you compromise this natural system.
Here’s what really happens:
• The top coat may never grow back correctly, leading to patchy, uneven, or wiry regrowth that can’t protect the dog properly.
• Shaved skin becomes more exposed to sunburn, bug bites, and overheating - ironically, increasing the risk of heatstroke.
• The dog loses its natural temperature regulation, making it harder for them to stay cool, not easier.
• In many cases, the coat grows back thicker, tangled, or matted, setting the dog up for long-term coat problems and discomfort.
I still frequently have owners bring in their double-coated dogs and ask for a shave-down. And every single time, I have to explain why that request is not in the best interest of their dog. It’s frustrating - not because the owners don’t care, but because they simply haven’t been given the right information. They’re trying to help their dogs, but unintentionally causing harm.
This is why education is everything.
Proper coat care isn’t just about appearances - it’s about health, comfort, and safety. Instead of shaving, these breeds benefit far more from:
• Regular brushing and undercoat maintenance
• Deshedding treatments
• Proper grooming schedules that support the coat’s natural cycle
As a groomer who deeply cares about the well-being of every dog that comes into my salon and those I raise, I will always advocate for what’s right, even if it means having difficult conversations. I hope more groomers and pet professionals will join in doing the same.
Respect the coat. Respect the breed. Respect the dog.
Let’s do better for them.
The SCIENTIFIC FACTS FROM 2025 -
🔬 1. The Structure of a Double Coat: How It Functions
Double-coated breeds have two distinct layers:
• Undercoat: Dense, soft fur that provides insulation against both heat and cold.
• Guard hairs (top coat): Longer, coarser hairs that protect from UV rays, repel water, and prevent debris from reaching the skin.
🧠 Biological Purpose:
The coat insulates against external temperatures by trapping a layer of air close to the body. In summer, a properly maintained undercoat sheds out to allow airflow, while the guard hairs reflect sunlight and shield from heat.
📚 Source: Veterinary dermatologists note that double coats regulate temperature through passive thermoregulation, a process by which the coat maintains a balance of airflow, protection, and insulation (Miller’s Guide to Dermatology, 7th Edition).
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🌡️ 2. How Double-Coated Dogs Regulate Heat
It’s a myth that these dogs “need to be shaved to stay cool.” In fact, they stay cooler with their coat intact when it’s properly brushed and maintained.
• Dogs do not sweat like humans. They regulate heat mainly through:
• Panting (evaporation from the mouth and lungs)
• Vasodilation (expanding blood vessels in the ears, face, etc.)
• Limited sweating through paw pads
• Their coat creates an evaporative cooling system, especially when the undercoat is shed out but the guard hairs remain to reflect sunlight.
📚 Study: “Heat stress and coat types in dogs” (Australian Veterinary Journal, 2005) found that dogs with their natural double coat had better heat resistance and core temperature regulation than shaved dogs, who were more prone to sunburn and heat stress.
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⚠️ 3. What Happens When You Shave Them
Shaving a double-coated breed can cause:
• Permanent coat damage: Hair follicles may become distorted, leading to patchy, fuzzy, or uneven regrowth.
• Post-clipping alopecia: A condition where shaved fur fails to regrow correctly or stops growing altogether—common in breeds like Huskies and Chows.
• Loss of thermoregulation: Shaving removes the coat’s natural ability to insulate and cool, making the dog more vulnerable to overheating.
• Sunburn and skin irritation: The top coat protects the skin from UV radiation. Once shaved, dogs are exposed to harmful rays, risking burns and increased skin cancer susceptibility.
📚 Source: Clinical studies and veterinary guides (e.g., “Small Animal Dermatology,” Muller & Kirk) warn against shaving double-coated breeds unless medically necessary, as it can “compromise both thermal protection and the skin barrier.”
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🧬 4. Coat Damage and Improper Regrowth
Once the protective guard hairs are removed:
• The undercoat often grows back faster and denser, leading to a tangled, matted, wooly coat
• The slower-growing guard hairs may never return to their original texture or length
• This unbalanced regrowth traps heat and moisture, leading to hot spots, fungal infections, and chronic skin issues
📚 Source: “Canine Coat Growth Patterns and Disorders” – American College of Veterinary Dermatology notes that clipper-induced coat damage is often irreversible in Nordic and double-coated breeds.
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✅ What You Should Do Instead
✔️ Regular brushing (especially during shedding seasons)
✔️ De-shedding tools and treatments
✔️ Bathing with high-velocity drying to remove dead undercoat
✔️ Work with a groomer who knows coat structure and breed needs
