Will a Shaved Dog Be Cooler in Hot Weather?
Our grooming expert says pet dogs dont need shaving, so heres what you should do instead to keep your pupper spiffy, regardless of temperature. It's totally natural to think a shaved dog will remain calm, cool, and collected when the temperature rises. After all, they have all that fur (well, except for the Mexican hairless dog!) which has to be uncomfortable. While all dogs need regular grooming, they rarely-yep, you read that correctly-require shaving. Susan Divine Sholar, president of the American Profession Pet Groomers Association, says dogs don't necessarily ever 'need' to be shaved. "Their coats serve a purpose for the environment and activities they live in," she says. "Most groomers are happy to help you understand what's necessary in maintaining your pet and how often the pet should see the groomer." Not really. Think less about shaving and more about frequent brushing to remove loose hair and a consistent trimming routine. Here's an important point: Scholar says some breeds might need clipper work or scissoring according to their breed standard. "This is generally the undetermined coat length breeds," she says. "By undetermined, we're referring to breeds that genetically have coats that continuously grow." By understanding the type of coat your dog has, you'll know which dog breeds shouldn't be shaved. Christies Direct notes there are six dog coat types:  Scholar says the best way to know if shaving your dog is necessary is to ask a breeder for a couple of lessons on proper maintenance. Here again is when a professional groomer will be your best resource. For example, if you have a Yorkie, she'll likely have a long, silky, 'hair-like' coat that, just like human hair, grows continuously. A groomer might recommend a variety of trim options to help keep her cool, including a clip that leaves about an inch of fur across most of her body. On the other hand, short-haired breeds, like beagles, should never be shaved, Scholar says. "The coat protects their skin and prevents sunburn-yes, dogs can get sunburned just as we can," she adds. "The only time I ever shaved a short-coated dog was at the request of a veterinarian, which is rare." Double-coated dogs-the ones that 'blow coat' about twice a year, which has you cleaning up dog fur for weeks! Sometimes you might find pictures online of a shaved husky dog, like a Siberian husky or an Alaskan Klee Kai, or a shaved Bernese mountain dog, but that only causes unsolvable problems in the coat's texture and growth. Double coats serve a specific purpose, especially for dogs that live in colder climates. "The soft undercoat protects a dog when the weather is cold," Scholar says. "The outer coat protects the dog's undercoat from rain and snow during cold seasons." In warmer weather, the undercoat sheds (a lot!) but the outer coat, with its guard hairs, allows for air circulation and protects a pupper's skin from the heat as well as potential sun damage. That's right: all that fur is actually a highly-sophisticated thermal control mechanism! So if you're wondering "can I shave my dog?" leave it to the professionals who have the training and breed coat understanding to know how to handle specific situations when it might be necessary. "A dog may need to be shaved if it's matted-I'm not referring to 'a few' mats, I'm referring to a semi- to heavily-matted dog," Scholar says. "Groomers generally see dogs in this condition when they're rescue dogs just adopted and the new owner is going through all the steps of getting them healthy and in good condition." Another reason for shaving, she adds, is when people don't brush their dogs regularly or aren't brushing the fur from the skin out. This might create a mess 'o mats, too. As well as we know our pup pals, Scholar says owners could inadvertently cause more harm than good by shaving at home because they might injure the dog with clippers.