Question about shaving dog's hair for summer time

[Marie]

Hey, I was wondering what all of you might know about shaving a dog's hair for summer. Is it safe to do that? I don't know if it throws their temperature control off or not. I have four dogs, and only two of them seem to really hold onto their winter fur really bad. I've tried brushing them out like usual, but I just can't get it off. It's so thick, and I know they must be miserable when they're outside in the sun. Any suggestions would be great! I've never done it before, and don't know if I should or not. They are mixed breeds, one is a collie/dobie mix, and the other is a complete mystery mix with a really thick winter undercoat still.

[Marie]

Im not going to SHAVE my dog at all. I should have said "cut" or "shear short". I meant that I was going to possibly cut their hair short to get rid of their winter coats. People do it all the time at the groomers, but I have never actually had to do that. When they can't seem to get rid of that thick undercoat, cutting the hair is necessary I think. I had just never given any of my dogs a summer cut, and wondered what everyone thought about it. I've had dogs for 30 years, and I've never had a dog that held onto his undercoat as badly as one of my dogs does now. Thanks for the input.

[Quinn Kelly]

No if you shave a dogs hair it gives them a skin rash form the heat. The fur protects them from the suns rays!

Quinn Kelly

[Marie]

I'm not shaving my dogs!!! I'm cutting their hair!!

[Kotabella]

I have a collie/spitz and we shave her every summer! She loves it and you can tell the difference in her attitude. She seems to be happy when she gets shaved. If she is not shaved she will sleep on the hardwood floor to try and keep cool but after we get her shaved she will sleep in bed between my husband and I so I know that she can feel the difference.

[Marie]

Thank you! One of my dogs is also a collie mix, and she really holds onto her undercoat. Cutting her hair short for the summer is just a smart thing to do. And again, I'm NOT SHAVING THEIR HAIR OFF!!! I'm cutting it! Everyone thinks I'm shaving them down to bare skin. That's ludicrous!

[Barbara]

I used to be a dog groomer. It's summer time in Arizona (above 100 degrees already). You could have their coats thinned out, but that coat is protection from the sun the same as it protects from the cold. People here think that their dogs have to be shaved down, but I let them know if they do that, keep the dog out of the sun as they can sun burn that same as a person.

[Marie]

The only reason I'm going to cut their hair short is that the winter undercoat is loose and coming off already, but because it's so thick, it's almost impossible to brush it all off. I literally can brush for an hour or two every day, and it just keeps coming off. That's the only reason for me to want to cut their hair shorter, just so that fuzzy, thick winter coat can be brushed off easier.

[Debbie]

Marie,
Being a foster mom and in front of a vet a lot...
What I was told by my vet is the skin type will help you make the best decision. If the skin is PINK it's a NO GO ON THE SHAVE.
If the skin is White, it's okay. BUT, sun damage is proned to cancer. So, I would recommend a short hair cut with all the skin covered.

Hugs,

Debbie

[quel]

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Best regards

[Suzie Laughlin]

We shave Harley down, but not completely, our vet told us to leave some fur on him so he doesn't get sun burned. He is definately much more comfortable when we do.

[nancy hunt]

It will not throw their temperature off. If your dog has long hair, it is important to shave them!(I do, every summer!) Whatever the breed, girls tend to be embarrassed around two days!) Just tell her how pretty she is, if your attention doesn't change, they tend to think they "look good!"As lonfg as their is no routine change.... they are fine! Nancy