When summer heats up in Centurion, it is natural to look at your thick-coated German Shepherd, Husky or Golden Retriever and wonder whether a shave would make them more comfortable. It is an understandable thought, but the answer from veterinary and grooming experts is usually no.
A double coat is built to protect your dog from heat as well as cold, and dogs don’t cool down through their skin the way we do. Shaving can leave the coat patchy, expose the skin to the sun and, in some dogs, take a year or more to grow back. There are a few real exceptions, which we cover below, along with what genuinely helps.
What does a double coat actually do?
A double coat has two layers. The American Kennel Club (AKC) describes a coarse outer topcoat of guard hairs, which repels dirt and water, protects the skin and gives the dog much of its colour, and a soft, dense undercoat beneath it. The undercoat insulates in cold weather and, in warm weather, traps cooler air near the skin.
Breeds with double coats include German Shepherds, Siberian Huskies, Golden and Labrador Retrievers and Border Collies, as well as very dense “arctic” coats such as Pomeranians, Samoyeds and Alaskan Malamutes.
The guard hairs shed less often, while the undercoat sheds more, especially during seasonal coat changes, a process sometimes called “blowing coat”. VCA Animal Hospitals says double-coated dogs often have two heavy sheds a year, in late spring and late autumn, when the undercoat comes out in clumps.
Does shaving keep a dog cooler?
Not really. The AKC explains that dogs rely on panting for most of their temperature control, along with widening blood vessels, especially in the ears and face. Their merocrine sweat glands are found only in the paw pads, and the AKC says shaving has no big impact on cooling a dog down.
The coat itself is part of how a dog copes with heat. AKC Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Jerry Klein explains that a dog’s coat acts as an insulator, and that removing it can leave dogs susceptible to heat stroke. The ASPCA agrees that a pet’s coat provides heat relief, and warns that taking away this natural cooling system can lead to discomfort and overheating.
Teri Becker DiMarino, president of the California Professional Pet Groomers Association, is quoted in the AKC’s guide to double-coated dogs: “Shaving doesn’t do anything to cool dogs off because a dog’s cooling system is different than ours.”
What can go wrong when a double coat is shaved?
Shaving removes both layers at once, and they don’t grow back at the same rate. These are the main problems the sources describe:
- Patchy or changed regrowth. The AKC says the undercoat grows back faster and can crowd out the slower-growing guard hairs, which can change the coat’s texture and colour and leave it looking uneven.
- Very slow regrowth. Some dogs develop post-clipping alopecia, where hair is slow to return after being clipped close to the skin. VCA describes it as rare and more common in plush-coated breeds such as Huskies and Pomeranians. A University of Minnesota Libraries veterinary dermatology handbook says hair normally regrows within three to four months, but complete regrowth can take 12 to 24 months in some dogs.
- Sunburn. Dr Klein notes that a dog’s coat protects against sunburn and lowers the risk of skin cancer. The PDSA also warns that a dog’s skin can be more sensitive to the sun after a trim.
- Other skin problems. The AKC says shaving can leave a dog more prone to skin problems including dry skin, ingrown hairs and parasites such as fleas and ticks.
- It doesn’t stop shedding. According to the AKC, shaving doesn’t eliminate shedding, but it does damage the topcoat and the undercoat that insulates your dog.
If your dog likes to lie in the sun in the garden, a shaved coat leaves that skin without its natural protection.
What helps a double-coated dog in the heat instead?
The aim is to remove the dead undercoat so air can move through the coat, not to remove the coat itself. As the ASPCA puts it, clean, brushed fur allows for better air circulation.
- Brush regularly. The AKC suggests brushing with a slicker brush and following up with a comb at least once a week, and says heavier-coated breeds may need more frequent grooming during shedding periods.
- Use tools that reach the undercoat. A grooming rake or a good steel comb helps remove loose undercoat, and a slicker brush works on dense areas.
- Keep the coat clean. The AKC lists regular bathing, brushing and combing as ways to remove loose undercoat and improve airflow, and suggests cool baths in hot weather. It also warns that, in a humid climate, an undercoat that isn’t brushed weekly can become packed and keep moisture against the skin.
- Tidy, don’t shave. The AKC suggests trimming excess fur from the paws, and says groomers suggest keeping very long hair on the legs and belly trimmed. That is very different from clipping the body coat to the skin, which the ASPCA says you should never do.
- Manage the heat. Give your dog shade and cool water, keep walks and exercise to the coolest parts of the day, and never leave your dog alone in a car, even briefly.
For brushing routines by coat type, see our guide on how often you should groom your dog.
When is shaving or clipping the right call?
There are times when clipping a double coat short is the kinder choice. Becker DiMarino says there are generally only two reasons to shave a dog: surgery, or, as a last resort, severe matting that a groomer cannot safely brush out.
Matting is a welfare problem, not just a cosmetic one. The ASPCA explains that even mild mats can irritate the skin and progress to infected sores, that fleas and ticks can hide deep inside them, and that a mat can grow around a leg and cut off the blood supply. It adds that a severely matted pet may need sedation and a full-body clip, so if your dog is badly matted, ask your vet for advice.
Clipping may also be needed:
- When your vet advises it, for example before surgery or for another medical reason.
- When tangles and thick hair build-up are so bad that the skin underneath can’t dry out, which is the exception a groomer quoted by the AKC makes.
- When a dog can’t tolerate regular brushing. VCA says these dogs may need periodic shaving, typically done with sedation at your vet.
Please don’t try to cut mats out with scissors at home. The ASPCA warns that a pet who moves suddenly can be seriously cut.
When to see a vet
A groomer can point out a coat or skin problem, but groomers do not diagnose, and grooming is never a substitute for veterinary care. Contact your vet straight away if your dog shows signs of heatstroke, which the PDSA lists as:
- Panting heavily
- Dribbling
- Wobbling and having trouble standing up
- Bright red gums
Book a vet visit as well if:
- The coat still hasn’t grown back three to four months after shaving. The University of Minnesota handbook describes failure to regrow in that time as abnormal, and says hormonal conditions such as hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid) need to be ruled out in middle-aged and older dogs.
- The skin under a mat looks red, irritated or has sores.
- A mat has formed around a leg, because it can restrict the blood supply.
How Mutt Cuts can help
We have groomed dogs of all breeds for more than 20 years at our parlour in Wierdapark, Centurion. If your dog is shedding heavily, our “Wash, brush and dry” service focuses on bathing and brushing rather than cutting, and you can read more on our page for heavy shedders. If the coat is matted or you are unsure what it needs, choose “Not sure, please advise” when you book and tell us about the coat. You can also find answers to common questions on our FAQ page.