Every year when summer arrives and the days grow longer and hotter, you can’t help but notice many people out walking their newly-shaved dogs. You might think dog shaving is a great idea and can help keep your dog cool. After all, you wouldn’t want to go around wearing a fur coat during the summer. However, it is not a good idea to shave your dog for the summer.
There may be times when I have no choice but to shave a dog, although I do not like doing so on any occasion. The truth is, the guard hair — top coat — actually works as a ventilation system. In the winter, the undercoat grows thick to insulate the dog. In warmer months, it should be thoroughly brushed out, leaving the guard hair to work as a cooling system, allowing air to flow through the coat.
Even a single-coated dog’s skin can be damaged by shaving too short. I call it shave shock, some call it clipper alopecia. There is a muscle inside the hair follicle that can be damaged by hot clipper blades and shaving too close. Sharon and myself both have clipper vacs, which allows us to use a longer blade or better a clipper comb, the vac will suck the hair into the clipper leaving a smoother more even cut.
Even with this equipment, some dogs’ skin and coats can be damaged. It also does not reduce shedding, it’s just creates shorter hair that sheds. The only thing that reduces shedding is a thorough de-shed and at-home brushing.
At the end of the day, they are your pets and I will give you what you want, unless it means causing damage to the dog. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. I will always do what’s best for my four legged friends.
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