It’s getting greener outside and spring is right around the corner. As the weather warms up, one of the biggest concerns that get brought up to me is whether shaving your pet’s coat would be the best answer to keeping your pet cool throughout the summer. The simple answer is that it depends on your dog breed. Here’s a bit of a guide to see whether shaving will help or hurt your pup this coming summer:
In double-coated dogs, shaving would not be necessary. Although it seems like their big, thick coat would be overheating them, their double coat acts as a sort of insulation, which keeps them cool in the summer months and warm in the winter months. Since their coats aren’t meant to be shaved, once they are, it can lead to a host of other problems such as skin flaking, sunburn, and even their coat growing back abnormal. The best way to keep your double-coated dog cool this summer is to schedule them for regular baths and blow-outs to ensure their undercoat doesn’t stay trapped, and their biology can do its thing. Some examples of this kind of breed are:
- Labrador Retrievers
- Golden Retrievers
- Huskies
- Australian Shepherds
- Great Pyrenees
- Newfoundland
- Bernese Mountain Dog
Single-coated dogs on the other hand benefit greatly from monthly or bi-monthly haircut appointments. A regular grooming schedule ensures that their coat doesn’t become matted, tangled, or otherwise uncomfortable for them, and since they don’t have the undercoat insulation, the shaving of their coat won’t damage it. Some examples of this kind of breed are:
- Jack Russel
- Terrier
- Poodle
- Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier
- Maltese
If you have any further questions or would like to schedule a free consultation to see what would be best for your dog, feel free to reach us at 262-781-5277 extension 3. Please remember to keep your dog hydrated and monitor their sun exposure this summer to ensure their safety and enjoy the warm months ahead!