Your Husky is panting.  Your Golden Retriever is firmly planted in the shade.  Your Black Lab just dug a hole to nap in.  These are common signs of summer for many pet owners with double coated dogs.  You may be wondering if the best solution for the heath and comfort of your pet is to shave it down.  Before you decide, let's look at how dogs and humans regulate their body temperature.

Sweating (Evaporation Cooling)

People sweat - no secret there.  That breeze that feels so wonderful when it's scorching hot outside cools us off by evaporating sweat and fluids off our skin.  Because people produce sweat over most of their bodies, it's no wonder that we wear shorts and t-shirts to expose as much skin as possible to speed up that evaporation process.

Dogs only sweat from the pads of their feet and their ear canals.  To cool off, they pant and let their tongues hang out so that moisture on their tongues can evaporate more quickly.  A shorter coat will not speed up this process.

Shaving the coat does allow for more contact with the heat of the sun - the result can be a painful sunburn and possibly skin cancer.  It also makes it easier for bugs to work their itchy magic on your dog.

So, what does shaving the coat actually do?



The Hair Grows Back, Right?

Yes and no.  The fur on your double coated dog is made up of long guard hairs and soft, dense undercoat.  When shaved, the undercoat will likely return but the longer guard hairs may not, resulting in a patchy, fuzzy looking dog... and it will still shed.

So Why Do I See Poodles and Other Dogs in Short Hair Cuts?

It's not fair, but your Samoyed or Pomeranian does not have the same hair as a Shih Tzu or Poodle, which can be kept in a short 'do.'  Then again, the type of coat that your German Shepherd or Akita has is what made you fall in love with the breed in the first place, right?

Options

There are some things we can do to make the hotter months more comfortable for your dog without resorting to the shave down. 

• How about a compromise?  We can trim the belly super short so when Scooby lies down in the shade, his tummy can come into contact with the cool ground.  It's pretty unlikely that this area will see much sunlight, so his risk of sun burn is greatly reduced.   
• We can also use a combination of dematting tools and shampoos to remove as much of the shedding coat as possible.   
• Lastly, come see us every 6 weeks or less.  A clean coat will float about his body and allow heat to dissipate.  We automatically give you a $5.00 discount when you bring your dogs to us every 6 weeks or less.  We even have pre-scheduling program - set up your next 5 appointments with us in advance on your next visit.  (We'll give you a card with the dates on them so you don't forget!)  The best thing?  Setting up those appointments in advance (and keeping them as scheduled) means that the fifth appointment is free.

 

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The Andis Deshedding Tool

When you are fresh to the field - you are like a dry sponge. 'Aha! Moments' come fast and easily. As a seasoned pro, they become harder to come by - you must seek them out with dedication and apply them to your work.

 

But there are still plenty of golden nuggets to unearth.

 

There is a great saying that goes, 'The more you learn, the more you earn." I have always believed that the more educated you are in your craft, the more self-confidence you will have. That turns work into a joy no matter what you do. You have the power and the choice: keep learning and keep your passion for your career alive...

 

...or let it get stale and face burn out.

 

 

... click here to read more  

 

 

 

You will need:  

 

Toys
Treats
Veggies
Fruit