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It would be impossible to count the number of times each summer a professional groomer is asked to shave a client’s dog to make it cooler. Here in rural Montana, where the summers are hot, I’ve had requests to shave just about every breed imaginable. It’s a common misconception that all dogs would automatically be cooler if they had less hair.
First of all, it is important to consider what type of hair the dog has. Basically, all dogs can be divided into two groups. First we have those that need to be trimmed regularly like Poodles, Shih Tzus, Cocker Spaniels, Lhasa Apso, Terriers etc. Dogs in this group have hair that would grow longer and longer until trimmed. These breeds can be shaved with ease. Indeed, removing excess fur by shaving it off in hot weather will make it more comfortable and cooler and will not damage the dog’s coat. However, this is not the case for the second group.
This group of dogs consists of all other breeds, long-haired or short-haired, whose hair only grows to one length and then stays that length. These dogs typically shed a lot more than dogs in the first group. These include retrievers, Pomeranians, Great Pyrenees, Chow Chows, Pugs, German Shepherds, Huskies, and the list goes on and on. Their fur acts as an insulator against the elements and should never be shaved. In the summer, do you finally take the insulation out of your house to make it cooler? Absolutely not, and the same goes for these dogs.
The coat of dogs in the second group consists of two different hair types, a soft, downy undercoat and harder, thicker hairs called guard hairs. These two types of hair are actually designed to tangle and tangle to form a hard shell or coat around the animal to help regulate its temperature in extreme weather. Without regular brushing and grooming, this often happens, leading the owner to the wrong conclusion that the coat needs to be shaved off to make the dog cooler. However, shaving these dogs’ hair takes away their insulation from the heat, which actually makes these dogs hotter and more uncomfortable. Shaving also makes them more prone to sunburn.
It’s important to understand that if you make the decision to shave these types of dogs anyway, their hair will never be the same again. Shaving changes the coat forever. Not only does hair grow back extremely slowly, but it also grows back much softer and sparser. The color of the fur will also be different as the hair is at least two shades lighter than before.
One of the worst things about shaving a dog with this type of hair is that the dog can develop what we call clipper alopecia. Put simply, it just means that the hair won’t grow back. This is caused by a change in the guard hairs when they are cut. Clipper alopecia usually first develops in a patch on the dog’s back, which is just in front of the tail. After shaving, only a thin layer of hair grows back there, typically reaching a maximum length of about half an inch. Dogs that develop this condition have coats that appear moth-eaten. That’s not a pretty sight!
Okay, so what happens when you have a dog that’s matted on the skin and seems too hot in this balmy weather? Consult a well-trained groomer to determine the best course of action. With the many miracle grooming products on the market, these coats can often be salvaged with a few intense grooming sessions and some effort in daily grooming by the owner. This optimizes the dog’s coat to properly perform its insulating duties. Occasionally the coat is really beyond repair and actually needs to be shaved to start over. Your groomer can help you with this decision and give you advice on how to avoid this situation in the future.
It’s important to note that with a mixed breed dog, it can be difficult to determine which group the dog falls into. Most groomers can assess a dog’s coat upon inspection to tell you what group the dog falls into, what course of action to take, any risks involved, etc.
As a former professional groomer, I firmly believe that it is the groomer’s responsibility to fully explain these things to clients wishing to have their dogs shaved. It is important to share knowledge with clients in order to make the best possible pet grooming decision.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Shannon Heggem
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