04/18/2025
It’s that Time of year when I’m getting many request From dog owners wanting their double coated dogs shaved down or trimmed “short” for summer or due to shedding.
For the sake of education and keeping your double coated breeds safe this summer, here are some facts about double coated breeds.
Some common breeds you Do Not shave, unless a vet has deemed it medically necessary or the dog is so severely matted that there is no other avenue- Newfoundlands, Samoyeds , Labrador retrievers, Australian shepherds, Pomeranians, Golden retrievers, German shepherds, Siberian huskies, Great Pyrenees, chows, border collie, Bernese mountain dogs, And so many more!
- These breeds are NOT supposed to get SHAVED! Please do your research if you own a double coated breed and you want them shaved down for “summer”. Years of selective breeding contributed to these breeds being double coated and their coats serve a purpose in all weather types.
-When you shave a double coated breed it is not good for their coat health or overall health. Contrary to belief shaving doesn’t keep the dog cooler, instead it strips the dog's ability to regulate body temperature, putting the dog at a much greater risk of heat stroke. Heat stroke can happen in less than 20 minutes in hot weather even with shade and water. Think of your dog's coat as insulation, this keeps your pet cool or warm as needed.
- Shaving a double coated dog increases the dogs risk of sunburn , and in conjunction increases their risk of skin Cancers.
-Shaving a dog doesn’t help with shedding- they still shed and now that the hair is shaved it turns into small pointy needle like hairs that gets into and sticks to EVERYTHING.
- Over time shaving changes both the guard hair and top coat texture causing the coat to become brittle and grow back inconsistently or not at all.
-Your dog's coat has several functions and it acts as a protective barrier, keeping the sun rays, dirt, debris, and moisture away from your dog's skin and undercoat. Removing this barrier can lead to cancers ,skin allergies, sunburn, alopecia, and more.
-Shaving your dog's coat can stop or delay the shedding process and cause skin irritation and a number of additional health issues.
So how do you keep your double coated dogs healthy, cool in hot weather , and not shedding like mad? Regular coat maintenance either by a professional groomer or at home using professional grooming products. A bath, deshed shampoo and conditioner, brush out, and thorough force drying will do all of the above. Because an impacted undercoat is as equally dangerous as a shaved coat.
Keep in mind that there are groomers that will shave your dog's down, but these groomers are of the mindset that you'll just pay someone else to do it. When they should be advocating for the health and well-being of your dog. It goes with the popular grooming industry saying of " safety and health, over vanity, always."
Highly experienced behavioral pet groomers ❤️
