Animal cruelty: Is it wrong for a groomer is shave a dog bold during the winter?

Question

I have a chow chow and wanted his hair cut, the groomer decided to shave it bold. While there is snow on the ground the dog needs its fur to keep warm. Is it considered animal cruelty knowing that the dog needs its fur?

Answer 1

If you know it needs it's fur, why were you having it cut? Chows have special coats and if you cut them at all it decreases warmth and waterproofing anyway, so a little or a lot, it doesn't matter.
Are you gonna turn yourself in?

Answer 2

Cruelty?? No.

If your Chow was matted, then there was no other choice but to shave the dog down. I shave down several dogs over the winter because the owners are either too lazy, or just don't understand that dogs need to be combed out.

Once a dog gets matted, airflow cannot get to the skin. If a dog goes out and gets wet (rain/snow), it can take up to 3 days for the skin to totally dry underneath all the hair and mats. This leaves the dog cold and damp. (not to mention can cause skin problems) So, in cases like that, it is the owner who is the one being cruel..leaving the dog matted. And the groomer is doing what is best for the dog.

If your dog was not matted, and you are 100% sure of that, then there was just some kind of miscommunication between you and the groomer. Your dogs hair will eventually grow back, just put a sweater on him for now. Chows really shouldn't have their hair cut in the first place, other than a light trim..unless,. of course, they are matted

Oh, and by the way,...you are lucky you found a groomer that would take a Chow...lots of them won't do them.

Answer 3

Since a dog groomer earns a living from their trade, I could not imagine a groomer shaving a dog without a very good reason. If you asked the groomer to cut his hair and the groomer gave your dog it's regular cut, then I'd chalk it up to miscommunication. Groomers aren't mind readers and they go by customer request unless they see something that would make them recommend something different. I do think you need to tell the groomer you were displeased with the cut being so short and ask him or her why they cut it so short considering it is winter time.
The answer may be that it was very matted. Still, the groomer should have spoken with you if giving the dog a shorter than usual cut for that reason. That is how I see it. I would not call it animal cruelty per se, but perhaps poor judgement or miscommunication. I would call it cruelty to leave a dog shaved down very very short as you are describing it, out in the back yard or outside in cold weather for more than a short potty or play break until the hair grows back more. I'd also be sure to brush the dog EVERY DAY. Ask a groomer you trust, what brush size and type to use on the dog and let them show you how to brush the dog to avoid matting in the future.

Answer 4

first of all you are not suposed to shave a chow chow, they need their fur for keeping them warm and to keep them cool. I am a groomer and if I get a dog that comes to me, and the owner wants him shaved just because, I don't do it. I do not shave a dog unless the coat is in bad shape, but then I will only spot shave it to make it look better. You never shave a dog that has a full coat, or has a double like your dog the chow. I hope you didn't pay for the groom, and I hope you reported the groomer to the Better Business Bureau. That groomer should have called you to tell you the reason why she was shaving the dog. I always let my clients know what needs to be done before they leave the shop and then they will let me know if they want it done or not. But if the dog needs to be shaved and has lots of mats then what I do I will let the client know what is going on with their coat and what will have to be done, but I will not shave the dog to the skin, especially in the winter. Y ou need to report that groomer for what she has done to your dog. Don't go back to that groomer because clearly she does not know about these types of breeds and the reason why they need their coats. I think that yes it is cruel to shave a dog bald in the winter how I don't care how bad they look, you should just try to keep up on the brushing but you never shave a chow bald just because they look bad.
I breed golden retrievers and I get clients that come in and want me to shave their golden down and they have their coats for the same reason as a chow does, so I told the client that I will not shave the dog just because they want it short and that it will be better in the summer, which it does not do them any better. If a dog has the fur then leave it because if you shave it, the dog wll get sick and then won't be able to fight off any infections it might get. I tell people that if you get a dog with long hair then keep it that way and if you want a dog with short hair and you have a dog with long hair then you should not have a dog at all. Then those people need to get a short haired dog instead. I hope everything went ok and I hope you don't use that groomer again.

Answer 5

well being that chows are double coated dogs there is the great possibility that your pup was matted to the skin and if this is the case thenit would have been moch more cruel to have left its hair on as matts hold bacteria, moisture, dirt & parasites which can lead to infections, skin lesions, irritations, mange, and numerous other skin problems & health risks. Also by leaving matts the moisture held in can breed bacteria & can actually lead to mold living on the skin & under the matts in turn ending up in infection & disease. My Aunt owned & ran a grooming shop for 20 years & there was a sign out front that said "MattedDogs WILL be shaved" its the ONLY way to effectively clean & care for the coat once its reached such a deplorable condition.

Answer 6

If the dog had a lot of matts in its coat, she may have had no other choice. Most groomers cut the dog the way the owner tells them to. If you are worried about him getting cold, buy him a sweater and don't leave him outside. No, it is not considered cruelty.

Answer 7

Would depend on the condition of the dog. If it was matted to a degree that cleansing it would not help avoid the matts, then the groomer had no choice but he should have consulted with you knowing the climate in which you live.

I'm in California so it wouldn't have been such a dramatic issue here.

Answer 8

No, the truth is that this is not animals cruel because the dog is not being abused!
but the groomer did do wrong doing something that you didn't ask for!
Next time don't go there, it can be that she/ he doesn't care about the client and is just in the business of money!
Your dog is going to be cold, but try not to take him outside, also don't recommend the groomer to anyone, and tell her that you are not going back!

Answer 9

I don't suppose that it would be considered cruelty in a court. But then you know how that goes. I would be pretty annoyed and make the groomer give me a total refund that's for sure! Obviously your dog will be staying inside and not living outside. But all dogs should live in the house anyway.

Answer 10

Cruelty?? For a dogs hair to be too short??? Are you kidding? Most dogs live indoors these days. Should she be charged and jailed for it? NOT cruelty, although stupid to not do it as you wanted, were you clear about what it is you wanted? Many owners leave very vague directions and then get angry when it wasn't as they wanted.

If you didn't like the cut and she didn't do it the way you wanted, just don't go back.