Should you shave a double-coated dog for the summer?

Question

We have a Newfoundland in the South and aren't sure. He goes through the doggie door to the cool basement whenever he wants during the day when we are working. Then he's indoors with us most of the time. If he's shaved, would it be better or worse for him?

Answer 1

No, they have their coat for a reason. If you shave him you'll make it worse for him.

Answer 2

It relies upon on what form of canine you have. in case you have a double lined canine then no i would not propose you shaving him/her. Double lined canines are canines with a coat like a border collie, golden retriever, Australian shepherd, and German shepherds and countless many greater. those canines have a perfect/shelter coat and a delicate under coat that they blow out as quickly as a 300 and sixty 5 days in the spring time. What i might propose for lots of those canines is to have a good low shed scientific care at a close-by groomer. What this is going to do is help them blow out their coat for the summer season and get holiday of all of the ineffective under coat and thickness so as that they would be cool for the summer season without unfavourable the coat. once you shave a double lined canine it may injury their coat and forestall the coat transforming into returned often. some canines dont have a concern whilst they get shaved the 1st or 2d time yet some do and any groomer would be satisfied to do as you please yet you will possibly desire to comprehend that it may injury the coat and you're taking that danger once you get the canine shaved and there is not any thank you to tell whilst or how undesirable it is going to injury the coat. this is why i might cautioned getting him/her washed and brushed very nicely, with de-laying off kit, by skill of a expert groomer till the canine is disheveled and can no longer be brushed out without inflicting the canine discomfort. i'm hoping this facilitates

Answer 3

NO!!! DON'T SHAVE!!! I have a double coated breed and live in Georgia!! While the coat keeps the dogs warm in the winter, it also keeps them cool in the summer. Try a little experiment. Go out in the sun with your dog. After a few minutes, touch the top of the fur. It will be hot. Then dig your fingers down next to the skin. Much cooler. Also, if you shave, the skin is not used to being exposed and will burn very badly. The place dogs dump most of the heat is in the belly area. That is why they lay on cool surfaces (dirt in the flower bed, the air vent in the floor, etc) so find a cool place he can lay. Maybe a shallow pool with ice outdoors, a fan placed on the ground indoors. One of my dogs sleeps in my shower stall for the cool surface!!

Answer 4

Absolutely not, especially with a double coated dog! The fur traps a layer of air between the skin and itself, which helps to cool the dog in summer and keep him warmer in the winter.

If you shave a double-coated dog, you substantially increase the risk of heat stroke, sunburn, and other heat-related problems. Keep him well groomed so that the double coat can do its work, and make sure that he has plenty of cool water to drink all day long.

Sounds like he already has a good place to get away from the heat of the day when he wants to, so he should do just fine without being shaved.

Answer 5

Worse. Shaving a dog's fur in the summer exposes them to all kinds of problems. Not to mention sunburn. When the fur is no longer there to protect the skin, they can get sunburn. The double coated dogs fur actually insulates them from the heat as well as keeps them warm in the winter. We have a chow & an alaskan malamute. Both of them have double coats. I live in Texas. My dogs just stay in the air conditioning in the summer & spend more time outside in the winter. And both are happy & healthy.

Answer 6

I hava double-coated spitz that I get shaved about two or so times during the summer, and I've never experienced any problems. Just make sure that you go to a reputable breeder who knows how to handle different dogs and won't completely butcher him. Ask around or look on the internet. The vet's office might even know of one.

Answer 7

Oh no no no no no -- sign up under a Yahoo Group for this breed of dog and post the question -- their undercoats are there for a reason and even though it may be hard to believe, it protects them from the heat as well. Plus if you shave them it never grows back the same

Answer 8

I've always been told not to shave double-coated dogs (that's a dog with a short fluffy coat of hair covered by longer coarser 'guard hair,' for those of you who are reading this question and wondering), that their fur acts as insulation. I had American Eskies and they didn't appear to be any more uncomfortable in the heat than short-coated dogs did. Sounds like your dog is doing fine.

Answer 9

when i was doing vet nursing, most owners kept it long. It can get to around 40 degrees celcius here on a hot day. I think with newfoundlands if u shave it it doesnt grow back as nice. Leave the coat how it is.we had one client who had hers clipped and it didnt look all that nice.

Answer 10

I had a Keeshond which has the same kind of coat. Two different groomers told me that their coat protects them from the sun so you want to keep the undercoat on there, but you should definitely keep him clipped and thinned out and take him on a regular basis. He has too much fur and it gets way too hot for them.

Answer 11

I have heard that having thick coated dogs in hotter climates is not a good idea because they can overheat. I'm not sure about the shaving, I'd ask your vet.