If you are concerned about shaving your dog because it is hot, here are some important facts you need to know first. Caring for your dogs coat is a crucial part of keeping your dog healthy. Majority of veterinarians and groomers will advise you not to shave your dogs coat and the reasons are specific to each type of coat dogs have. Below explains they different types of coats and ways they should be looked after to keep your dog cool.
Short and smooth coats
Labrador, Rottweiler, Australian cattle dog, Fox terrier and Grey hounds are just a few dog breeds with short or smooth coats. Short or smooth coats are easy to maintain and keep your dog cool all year round as it’s a high shedding coat. A high shedding coat is when your dog will naturally loose its hair based on its coat cycle.
Medium Coats
Golden Retriever, Border collie, German Shepard, Australian Shepard and so many more are the breeds with medium coats. Medium coats can come in single coats or double coats. The coats will require regular brushing to keep healthy and light, especially after winter to help remove your dogs under coat. Double sided pin and bristle brushes can be fantastic to remove the shedding hair from your dogs coat. Shaving medium length coats is not common unless it advised by a groomer or a veterinarian as it will disrupt your dogs shedding cycle. Shedding cycles are extremely important to dogs to naturally keep them cool in summer and warm in winter.
Long Coats
Maltese, Yorkshire terrier, and Afghan hound are a few of the many breeds that have long coats. Long coats are high maintenance and may effect the health of your dog if not maintained. Long hair coats require brushing at least 3 times per week to prevent knots and matting. Double sided pin and bristle brushes can also be great for removing shedding hair on long coated breeds.
If long haired dog coats are not frequently brushed correctly they will mat. Matted coats will restricts airflow to your dogs skin and can cause heat stress. It is good practice for dogs with long coat to see groomers frequently for tidy trims and a througher brush. This is recommended on top of brushing multiple times per week at home. It is not ideal to shave a dog with a long coat for cooling reasons, unless recommended by a groomer or veterinarian due to health conditions.
Curly Coats
Poodles and poodle X breeds are the most common curly coat breeds. Poodles have a curly coat which requires frequent brushing to prevent matting. Other curly coated breeds also require frequent grooming. It is common to see in summer most curly coated dogs breeds will have their coats shaven slightly shorter in the summer months. This allows good airflow through their coats to their skin. However be mindful that with a shorter coat you can put your dog at risk of getting insect bites, sun burns and long term skin cancer.
Double Coats
Huskies, Malamute, German Shepard, and Elkhounds are some of the many breeds with double coats. These dogs are predominately located in cooler climates but that is not always the case. Breeds with double coats require frequent grooming as there coats are very fluffy and full. They will shed continuously. You can brush your double coated dog at home with the correct grooming tools. Deshedding brush, vacuums attachments and normal Double sided pin and bristle brushes will help remove your dogs under coat. It can be beneficial for your dog to get professionally groomed on occasion.
If your dog has a double coat you should NEVER shave their coat as it will disrupt your dogs natural cooling process. As well as causing severe matting. It can take up to 2 years before it properly grows back or on some cases it never grows back the same.
Unless advised by a veterinarian or groomer it is better to stay away from shaving your dogs coat if they are hot. There are other actions you can take to help cool your dog in the warmer months.