With the heat in San Antonio skyrocketing, you're probably wondering what you can do to help your pets cool off. Should you shave your dog? Will the hair grow back? Does it have to look so silly? Here's the skinny on shaving, Happy Dog style.
Nana has a very thick coat, so she prefers a close clip. She was shaved to 1/4", to maximize coolness without risking sunburn.
First things first: double coats. If your dog sheds, it probably has a double coat. These are the coats that are most at risk of damage from shaving. These are also the most at risk in the summer heat. Double coats are constructed of two distinct types of hair; longer, shiny guard hairs, and shorter, wooly undercoat hairs. A well maintained double coat provides excellent insulation in cold weather and protects the dog's sensitive skin from the elements.
Guard hairs are reflective, so they act as a sunblock to keep direct heat and UV radiation off the skin. Yes, dogs do get sunburn! Dogs' skin is thinner than humans, and tends to be more sensitive. So rule number one is, never shave your dog all the way to the skin! They need at least a little hair to serve as a barrier.
Undercoat hairs are soft, slightly curly, and absorbent. This enables them to trap body heat and insulate against the cold outside. This is the part of the coat that makes your dog hot in the summer. Removing the bulk of the undercoat allows air to flow freely through the coat and over the skin, helping the dog stay cool. For this reason, a thorough de-shedding treatment is always my first recommendation for hot dogs.
De-shedding: Is undercoat removal enough? For many dogs, a good de-shed is all they need to stay cool. Dogs with medium-length, relatively thin coats (e.g. Border Collies, Golden Retrievers, Spaniels, Setters) tend to do best with this method.
Dogs with very thick coats, however, (Chows, Shelties, Spitz breeds, Pekingese) may still suffer even with undercoat removal.
Sometimes simply shaving the underside helps a great deal; many dogs like to lie on cool hard floors and a belly clip helps them maximize the cooling effect.
For those needing an all-over clip, I prefer to leave at least 1/4 inch to protect the dog from sunburn. Even when doing a full clip, it is still very important to remove the loose undercoat. If dead hairs aren't carded out they can clog the hair follicles and cause the coat to grow back improperly. Be aware that after shaving, your dog's coat may take as long as two years to return to its original color and texture. Regular carding and a high quality diet can help speed the re-growth process.
Guard hairs are reflective, so they act as a sunblock to keep direct heat and UV radiation off the skin. Yes, dogs do get sunburn! Dogs' skin is thinner than humans, and tends to be more sensitive. So rule number one is, never shave your dog all the way to the skin! They need at least a little hair to serve as a barrier.
Undercoat hairs are soft, slightly curly, and absorbent. This enables them to trap body heat and insulate against the cold outside. This is the part of the coat that makes your dog hot in the summer. Removing the bulk of the undercoat allows air to flow freely through the coat and over the skin, helping the dog stay cool. For this reason, a thorough de-shedding treatment is always my first recommendation for hot dogs.
De-shedding: Is undercoat removal enough? For many dogs, a good de-shed is all they need to stay cool. Dogs with medium-length, relatively thin coats (e.g. Border Collies, Golden Retrievers, Spaniels, Setters) tend to do best with this method.
Dogs with very thick coats, however, (Chows, Shelties, Spitz breeds, Pekingese) may still suffer even with undercoat removal.
Sometimes simply shaving the underside helps a great deal; many dogs like to lie on cool hard floors and a belly clip helps them maximize the cooling effect.
For those needing an all-over clip, I prefer to leave at least 1/4 inch to protect the dog from sunburn. Even when doing a full clip, it is still very important to remove the loose undercoat. If dead hairs aren't carded out they can clog the hair follicles and cause the coat to grow back improperly. Be aware that after shaving, your dog's coat may take as long as two years to return to its original color and texture. Regular carding and a high quality diet can help speed the re-growth process.
 Reboot in an Asian style, showing the characteristic round face, shaved body, and full legs. |  Roscoe sports a short clip with blended legs and a small mane. |
But does it have to look silly? Nope! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but there are plenty of styles and lengths to suit any owner. You don't have to shave a dog very close to keep them cool. Significant benefit can be achieved with lengths up to 3/4 of an inch--still plenty of hair to be soft and pretty. There are many style options, including a contour trim, natural looking blended clips, lion-style manes, or even a full lion clip!
So what about single coats? Long coated, low shedding dogs (such as Shih Tzus, Poodles, Bichons, and Maltese) can suffer from heat too. Unlike double coated breeds, single coats grow back very quickly and don't alter their texture after shaving. This means you can clip them however you like without fear of ruining the coat. So have fun, and stay cool!
So what about single coats? Long coated, low shedding dogs (such as Shih Tzus, Poodles, Bichons, and Maltese) can suffer from heat too. Unlike double coated breeds, single coats grow back very quickly and don't alter their texture after shaving. This means you can clip them however you like without fear of ruining the coat. So have fun, and stay cool!
Cats feel velvety soft when shaved, and very rarely have problems with coat re-growth. Pirate loves her summer-friendly style!
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