Not all dogs benefit from a summer haircut or shave

It would be impossible to count how many times each summer a professional groomer is asked to shave a client’s dog in an attempt to make it cooler. Here in rural Montana, where summers are scorching hot, I’ve had requests to shave just about every breed imaginable. It is a common misconception that all dogs would automatically be cooler if they had less hair.

First it is important to consider what type of hair the dog has. All dogs can be basically divided into two groups. First we have those that need to be clipped on a regular basis, such as poodles, shih tzus, cocker spaniels, lhasa apsos, terriers, etc. Dogs in this group have hair that will continue to grow longer and longer until it is cut. These breeds can be shaved without problems. Removing excess fur by shaving them in hot weather will make them more comfortable and cool, and will not damage the dog’s coat. However, this is not the case for the second group.

This group of dogs is made up of all other breeds, long-haired or short-haired, whose hair grows to a single length and then remains at that length. These dogs tend to shed much more hair than the dogs in the first group. These include Retrievers, Pomeranians, Great Pyrenees, Chow Chows, Pugs, German Shepherds, Huskies, the list goes on and on. Their coats act as insulators against the elements and should never be shaved. After all, do you remove the insulation from your home in the summer to make it cooler? Absolutely not, and the same goes for these dogs.

The coats of dogs in the second group consist of two different types of hair, a soft, downy undercoat, and harder, thicker hairs called guard hairs. These two types of hairs are designed to tangle and tangle to form a hard shell or peel around the animal to keep its temperature regulated in extreme weather. Without proper brushing and grooming on a regular basis, this often happens, leading the owner to the false conclusion that the coat needs to be shaved to keep the dog cooler. However, shaving these dogs’ hair strips them of their heat insulation, which actually makes these dogs hotter and more uncomfortable. Shaving also makes them more susceptible to sunburn.

It is important to understand that if you make the decision to go ahead and shave these types of dogs anyway, their hair will never be the same again. Shaving will change the coat forever. Not only does hair grow back very slowly, it also grows back much softer and sparser. The coat color will also be different, as the hair will be 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 razor alopecia. In simple terms, it just means that the hair does not grow back. This is due to a change in the guard hairs when they are cut. Clipper’s alopecia usually first develops in a patch on the dog’s back, located just in front of the tail. After shaving, only a thin layer of hair will grow back, usually reaching a maximum length of about half an inch. Dogs that develop this condition have coats that appear moth-eaten. This is not an attractive sight!

Okay, so what if you have a dog that is matted with fur and seems too hot in this mild climate? Seek the advice of a properly trained hairdresser to determine the best course of action. With the many miracle grooming products on the market, these coats can often be put away with a couple of intense grooming sessions and a little effort in daily grooming on the part of the owner. This optimizes the dog’s coat to properly perform its isolation tasks. Every now and then the fur can’t really be repaired and actually needs to be shaved to start over. Your hairdresser can help you with this decision and give you advice on how to avoid this situation in the future.

It is important to note that if you have a mixed breed dog, it can be difficult to determine which group the dog belongs to. Most groomers can evaluate a dog’s coat after an inspection to let you know which group the dog belongs to and what course of action to take, the risks involved, etc.

As a former professional groomer, I strongly believe that it is the groomer’s responsibility to fully explain these things to clients who wish to shave their dogs. It is important to share knowledge with clients to make the best possible decision for the pet that needs to be groomed.

COPYRIGHT 2008 Shannon Heggem