There are two basic types of coats:
- Hair-bearing (Examples include Poodles, Spaniels, Shih Tzu's)
- Fur-bearing or double-coated breeds (Examples include Husky, Pomeranian, Chow, Golden Retriever.
Hair-bearing dogs need to be cut regularly and CAN be shaved but Fur-bearing dogs whose fur typically grows to one length and maintains that length should ideally NOT be shaved.
Many owners believe that shaving a fur-bearing dog for summer will help it cope with the warmer weather. However, this is a very misunderstood coping mechanism. In fact, what happens is that your dog sheds his undercoat in summer, leaving the guard hairs to provide your dog with insulation, and allowing cool air to circulate near his skin. The guard hairs also prevent your dog from getting sunburned and reflect the sun’s rays to protect their delicate skin.
If your dog is double coated shaving your dog’s coat will damage the quality of the coat and when the coat grows back it often grows thinner and thicker in differentiating areas, which never looks great and many dog owners do not realise the consequences on the physical appeal of the coat.
All groomers should warn the owner of the risks of shaving their dog and unqualified groomers may not themselves be aware of the potential risks so opting to go with a qualified groomer is always best to minimise any problems. If you would like to discuss any aspect of this blog, please get in touch or book your session with our team.