Every summer the same posts go around. There are two main themes…. “Do not clip/shave/trim double-coats – they keep the dog cool in the heat” and “Don’t clip/shave/trim double-coats – it ruins them”…
Some facts……
- A dog that is panting at rest is struggling to control its body temperature
- Hair is not living. Clipping/shaving does not damage the hair follicles. This could happen if the reduction in hair was so extreme as to lead to sunburn
- Dogs with heavy/double coats evolved or originated (were bred) in cool/cold climates
- A dog’s coat would insulate it (protect it) from the external heat IF it wasn’t continually producing heat internally that it has to continually get rid of heat it was producing
- A dog’s coat does not “trap cooler air”; that air is heated to body temperature within minutes
- Reducing the coat length reduces insulation, which means a dog loses heat faster
- Topcoat (also called outer coat, guard hairs, or primary hairs) and Undercoat (also called underlayer, down coat, wool, or secondary hairs) regrow at different rates, often giving the impression that the coat has been “damaged” by clipping/shaving
- It’s unwise to reduce the hair length too short in any breed unless they are only kept inside during the day and only go out at night. Hair provides UV and mechanical protection
- More and more owners and groomers are clipping/shaving in summer and are finding it transforms their dogs; they pant less, and they are more active and happier
We have already had several discussions on this topic this summer. We analysed the comments on one of our posts.
Positive Comments (n=194; 79%): Comments supporting clipping/shaving double-coated dogs, sharing personal success stories (improved comfort, less panting, happier dogs, coat grows back fine/normal).
Negative Comments (n=51; 21%): Comments against clipping (e.g., “it damages the coat”, “don’t clip double coats”, regrowth problems, myths about insulation, etc.).
So this summer, look out for something different on this topic, so we can help convince more people that reducing coat length in all dogs, whilst leaving some protection, is good for them physically and mentally, with very, very low risk of regrowth issues. In most cases, where the latter does occur, this is due to underlying health issues.
Some examples here (which you can find in previous article and social posts).
AT (GSD): “Best thing ever; much happier vs. suffering heat stress; grows back perfectly by winter.”
MF (long-haired GSD): “Stopped constant panting, running around like 10 years younger, much happier; never grew back any different.”
SB-A (GSDs): “Sooo much more comfy; now clips others too.”
RK (Norwich Terriers): “Clipped year-round for comfort; coats grow back just fine.”
GI (JRT thick coat): “Much happier in summer.”
SB (vet): “Shave dogs daily for surgery; hair grows back normally.”
TM (GSD): “A lot happier, stopped overheating; coat grew back like before.”
KG (Spoodle): “Happier when clipped; grows back just fine.”
AW (Golden): “Much happier/cooler; hair always grew back fine.”
DR (GSD + Lab cross): “Much happier, less panting; grew back fabulous coats.”
GK (GSD): “Much happier, better regulation; coat grew back fine, no problem.”
LB (GD) “I have a Goldendoodle with a dense Poodle coat, and keep him short year round. … he is panting a lot [when longer].”
EP “I’m a clipper helps out in the heat and mine also has terrible skin rashes and without clipping will continually scratch. Grows back just fine.”
EA “I clip my long haired cat every summer, She absolutely appreciates it.”
