To shave or not to shave...

Should you shave your double coated dog?

This is such a controversial topic in the grooming world with some groomers saying yes and some groomers saying no. I am still on the fence. 

Such breeds like your spitz types dogs that were bred for much cooler climates like the snow etc like huskys, malamutes, Pomeranians etc are a big topic of discussion on several grooming forums and I just want to have my word in without it being shoved down my throat and being labelled a bad groomer because I DO shave these dogs. Here are my reasons...

The undercoat does act like insulation, keeping the dog warm in winter and cooler in summer, but these dogs are "artic" dogs, they were never meant to be comfortable when the temperature reaches over 40 degrees in our hot Australian climate. It is wrong to say that these dogs do not suffer in the heat. 

Ticks as previously stated in my blog last night are a huge problem here. They are hard enough to keep under control on a short coated dog, let alone a dog with 4 inches of thick fur. 

Most people don't realise that these type dogs need regular grooming more then once or twice a year. Because of this reason the undercoat becomes so thick and matted that it is near impossible to brush it all out and not to mention it is uncomfortable for the dog. It feels like a full body wax! I will shave if this is the case. 

The main reason why groomers won't shave your double coated dog is because there is ALWAYS a risk of the coat not growing back. But what most don't understand is that these spitz breeds are prone to such problems like thyroid issues which affect the way the coat grows back. Usually if the coat doesn't grow back it is a sign of a medical issue and not due to being shaved. 

Undercoat grows faster then top coat and I always explain to my customers that it can take up to 8 months before the coat is back to normal and the re growth stage isn't the most attractive. It is also important that the dog receives regular grooming after being shaved to keep the undercoat under control and to prevent matting that will require further shaving. 

Shaving too short can affect the way the hair grows back, also if shaved too short the dog will have no protection from the sun so will be vulnerable to getting sun burn.

So far I have not had any issues that I know of where a dogs coat has not grown back. The dogs I groom are short but not shaved to the skin. 

Here is a picture of a Pomeranian who's coat never grew back properly (this is not my picture, curtesy of google images) 

This dogs coat grew back patchy, but once properly groomed it should grow back normally (image curtesy of google) 

Make sure you always go to an experienced groomer. There are a lot of inexperienced groomers getting around who will just take your money and shave your dog and not make it clear to the owners of the risks that can happen. 

This is Dellilah the malamute, she has problems with ticks and so I made the call that it would be easier to keep under control if she was shaved. 

Lucy the husky was struggling in the heat and was also a bit matted. Her owners also wanted to be able to spot ticks easier so shaving was the best option. 

Now onto the retrievers, collies and shepherds. 

Although these dogs have an undercoat just like the spitz breeds, there are far less concerns with the coat growing back. Usually the only problem is that it will grow back thicker. I groom one of these types of dogs at least every week. I have owned shepherds most of my life and I always shaved them in the summer. I never had any problems in regards to coat re growth. Usually old age has some form of affect on coat regrowth but that's the same with any mammal with fur! 

So, in conclusion, it is completely up to you weather you get your dog shaved or not. I have given you the pros and cons but the decision is ultimately yours. I don't care either way, I will do what is best for the dog- not what is best for my pocket. You can guarantee that I will give you a completely honest opinion to the best of my knowledge as to what I think is best for your dog.