Why shave a long haired dog?

Question

Please help me to understand this, this is something that really confuses me with people.
Why do people get dogs that are long haired and then they shave them?
Why don't they just get a short haired dog in the first place?
Please shed some light on this for me because I really don't understand.

I do understand that some breeds are shaved and trimmed for showing which is fine.

I do understand the puppy cut and keeping them in a shorter coat. There isn't a problem with that because I know it is a lot easier to care for.

What I don't understand is when people shave them nearly BALD/almost no hair on the dog at all??
Sorry I guess I should have clarified...

I also understand that if someone brings in a matted dog into a groomer there is nothing the groomer can do except either cut the mats out or shave it pretty short.

Answer 1

Guilty!

When it comes to Shih Tzu pups, the American Shih Tzu Club allows that the dog be either in a full coat or kept at a "puppy cut". Here in Florida, if you aren't actively showing your dog, the puppy cut is much more practical. Although the full coat is beautiful, it is the temperament and size that really attract the owners to these dogs. I keep two of my dogs in the puppy cut and my other two younger ones are full coat.

That being said, I can understand in other breeds that have long coats, (Goldens, Huskys, etc) that you wouldn't want to shave them.

Answer 2

Why half the people who own dogs choose the breed they do is beyond me! Trimming a long-haired dog like a Yorkshire Terrier so that it's fur isn't on the ground is understandable, as it is with other breeds who have really long hair, having a poodle trimmed is necessary though in my opinion only a show dog needs shaving! For some breeds shaving them actually takes away the protection the coat is designed to give the dog!!!!!!
To me whatever excuse they use shaving a dog is LAZINESS! If you haven't got the time to give a breed the attention it requires the answer is simple choose a different breed!
I know that when I get a GSD I'm going to have to groom it EVERY day whether it's a short or long coated dog! That to me is the price I pay for having the breed I love!

Answer 3

No, you should NEVER shave a keeshond. The only people that say it is ok to shave such a dog are the ones who don't know the first thing about the breed or grooming in general. You will ruin the coat. It may never grow back, and if it does, it may not grow back and look the same. Looks aside, the dog will be prone to sunburn, bug bites, and other skin problems due to lack of fur. Shaving a dog like this down will also make the dog more likely to overheat. The coat is meant to protect the dog from the sun. If the coat isn't there to deflect the rays of the sun, then the dog overheats, and gets sunburned. You need to make sure you thoroughly brush and comb your keeshond's coat on a regular basis, to remove dead undercoat so it doesn't build up. This will also help with the shedding.

Answer 4

there are basically 2 types of dog hair - that which sheds and that which doesnt.

the non-shedding dog has hair like people - it grows and grows and grows.. this hair must be brushed 2-3 times daily to prevent matting which can be extremely painful.. many people shave the dogs simply because the brushing gets out of hand for them. Also when they go out they tend to get it very dirty, filled with grass and burrs etc.. so for the people its easier maintance wise...
The reason the people get these dogs rather than a SHORT HAIRED dog is usally 1 of 3 things.
1. they have allergies, non-shedding dogs are also called "hypo allergenic" because they are not as bad for people with allergies
2. They dont like to deal with "shedding" - basically snobbery
3. They prefer the personality of these dogs - eg, Shih Tzu is pretty laid back (being low intelligence) they dont require alot of mental stimulation like say, a border collie would.

type 2 dog - the SHEDDING dog - these would include your Collies, Golden Retreivers etc...
these dogs should not be shaved however some people do it because they think it helps cool their dog, when infact the hair actually does keep the dog cool - many reputable groomers will tell owners not to shave a long haired dog simply for this reason.
some people do it just for looks or so they have less hair to deal with...
really these dogs should only be trimmed on their legs, tummy, and bum, just to keep the hair tidy, but not fully shaved.

Also in some cases a dog with fleas or lice or a skin condition will be shaved so the owner can check the skin better...

Answer 5

Some long haired dogs just aren't kept right and I guess the owners are lazy. The fur gets matted and you can't brush it out you have to shave it off. And I guess it isn't fair to say that owners are just lazy, but if the long haired dog is an outside dog it could get really messy and matted. Also too, it could be for flea control or if the long haired dog gets over heated in hotter weather. There are a bunch of reasons, and I guess to if the dog is shedding a lot! But you are right it doesn't really make sense to me either. If you are getting a long haired dog, you should keep up with it.

Answer 6

I find that a lot of people are simply unprepared for the hair. They saw a cute puppy and bought it, not considering that the coat needs frequent maintenance. Or they see adults of the breed (perhaps on TV) and don't consider the amount of work it takes to maintain tha beautiful look they fell in love with.

I've also seen cases where the owner DOES know (theoretically) about the amount of work necessary, and actually does it at first, but as time goes by the job becomes tedious and they opt for the easier short clip.

We also have cases where the dog is shaved for medical reasons, such as allergies or a tendency to hot spots. This makes it much easier to manage the dog's comfort. In my area, lots of Golden Retrievers are prone to hot spots, so we shave them in the summer so that they can swim and carry on without this problem. Dogs with skin problems are much easier to treat when the hair is gone and more air can get to the skin.

Then we sometimes get dogs that, because of age or disability, have a difficult time with being brushed. In these cases it is kinder to shave them down.

Sometimes things just get out of control, and the owner was maintaing the coat but they got behind and now it's a matted mess. Or one partner was away (or they left it with a friend or in a kennel) and they return to a matted dog. Or the dog gets loose and gets into a mess or a burr bush. (We once groomed a samoyed, he was a huge job costing the owner $150 because he was such a mess. The owner went away a couple of days later and the dog got loose while he was gone and got into a pile of burrs. The humane society picked him up and shaved him completely down).

As a rule I will NOT brush out very matted dogs, it is painful for the dog and I believe it is cruel to make the dog suffer for the owner's laziness. If the owner does not want me to shave their dog, they must either bring it in more often or keep it brushed at home, but I'm not going to torment the animal for the owner's vanity.

Answer 7

Some people would want a particular breed because of the type of disposition that breed are known for. But, they may find the coat easier to keep if they are shaved.

I would also imagine that a lot of people get a long haired breed because they think it looks cute and then find that the coat gets horrible if it's not constantly brushed, so they shave them.

I don't think there is anything really wrong with shaving a long haired dog unless you live somewhere very cold. But I do think people should do their research before they get a dog anyway.

Answer 8

Since you understand that a badly matted dog should be shaved just for health reasons why are you so upset?

There may be other health reason - such as hot-spots or other allergies that require shaving. Or maybe you live in a hot steamy part of the country and clipping the dog makes him more comfortable.

But trying to understand why people do things is like trying to sweep back the incoming tide with a broom. Impossible.

However, you're perfectly free to politely ask those people who shave their dogs bald for no apparent reason. As long as you're polite -

Even at that - you should expect someone to call you a rude, busybody and to mind your own business, but at least you politely asked...

Answer 9

I don't think that shaving a long haired dog is as awful as the previous answerers do. Some dogs enjoy getting as dirty as possible. Daily brushing of some long coated dogs isn't as feasible as we would like it to be. Also, some dogs shed a ton when their fur gets long. As long as the dog isn't outside all day (b/c they can get sunburn), and the grooming is done properly (not just shaved without being careful), I see no problem with shaving a longer haired dog. I have a Schnauzer/Dachshund mix whose hair gets very knotty when it gets long. He hates to be brushed, and no matter what I do, the hair just gets messy and weird when it gets long. I shave him about 3 times a year, and there are no health problems that occur.

Why settle for a short haired dog that you might not like as much when you can get a long haired dog and keep it's fur trimmed nicely?

Answer 10

I live in a place that has very drastic climates. It can be 30 degrees in the winter and 90 plus degrees in the summer. Having a long haired dog in the winter is nice because you don't have to worry about them being cold or having to buy them a sweater, which some dogs dislike to wear. But I can't help that the weather where I live gets so hot. I shave my dog because it prevents them from overheating.

And anyway, if only people in cold climates year round were to buy long haired dogs the breed would die out eventually.