Is it a wise idea to shave some of my Golden Retrievers coat for the summer?

Question

He is inside the house most of the time but when he is outside he is allfully hot. He loves to be outdoors but the heat is hard on him. I've heard of people shaving them but didn't know if it was advisable.

Answer 1

I shave my Newfie. Just because of the loose hair. The fur is an insulator for both heat and cold. Dogs regulate body temperture by panting, not sweating. I would recommend a professional groomer if you want to get him shaved though. It's hard work and proper tools are expensive.

The hair has always grown back just fine. Dogs shed twice a year.

Answer 2

Keeping the dog well brushed so the air in the fur can act as insulation. Matted hair will make the dog hotter.

A hair cut won't hurt but not shave. Leave enough to cover the skin well so he does not get sun burn or overheated by sun on skin. A very fluffy coat can help a lot to keep the dog cool.

Answer 3

I know some groomer will say yes it's ok to shave them. Personally I don't agree at all. The fur is used to protect their skin from the sun and it also helps to insulate them from the heat. If you really want to do something to cool your Golden down then bring him to a groomers and have their underbelly shaved. That's it! It does help quite a bit to keep them cool and this way you don't shave them down completely. I have never shaved my Golden's. I don't think it's necessary at all.

Kit Kats Idea for a pool is great too. My Godlens have one and they have already been in theirs. WalMart has them for 13 dollars.
Louise Your the best! Most groomers say ya shave the dog. Your a true Golden lover!

Answer 4

I'm a dog groomer. I do not recommend it because most of the time the hair never grows back normally. It will grow back in course and weird. If you plan to continue shaving him over and over till death do you part then no biggy. I shaved my golden for 8 years because I thought he was too hott also. And I regret ever doing that (he died last march) because his beautiful coat disappeared. Dogs have their own cooling mechanism, the best you can do is keep him in a cooler area , provide water & ice. You can try it, I just don't recomend it.

Answer 5

Do you brush him reguarly? I have a irish setter/ chow mix, and I brush hime for 1 hour every other day if I can and that helps him keep cool by pulling out some of the undercoat. Dogs will shed a bit in the summer. I think you might want to get him a buzz if you excersise him like a ton.

Answer 6

Absolutely! They look cute shaved down, and they hair will always grow back. It will cut back on sheding as well.

We shave our goldens 4 times a year.

It is very common, in the vet clinic I work in...our groomer shaves down atleast 10 goldens a month if not more.

Answer 7

I went threw the same thing with a dog I had. He had long hair and loved being outside. I took him to the groomer and he loved getting his hair cut every time after that. The dog really enjoyed it so I would give it a shot.

Answer 8

Please don't shave the dog. The coat is an insulator (helps warm & cool). Plus, it might not grow back right and will make the dog prone to sunburns...and bug bites. If anything, thin it out with thinning shears, keep him in the air, provide a pool, etc.

Answer 9

just take him to a groomer and get his undercoat brushed out that way it wont be so heavy and he will still be comfortably covered, its really not good to shave down a golden's hair it really irritates their sensitive skin.
I have a golden and always get the undercoat brushed out and he is a happy dog, I live in vegas and it gets really hot but he seems comfortable with just the removal of the undercoat.
hope this helps good luck!

Answer 10

You could trim his fur & cut out mats but you should leave at least an inch or so. Long-haired dogs have a layer of insulation in their coat that keeps them warm in the winter as well as cool in the summer.