To those that think it's not safe to shave a longhaired dog...?

I know that this has been a great debate by many people and everyone is entitled to their own opinions. However, after working in the veterinary field for 13+ years, I can attest to the fact that I have NEVER seen a longhaired dog, shaved by a PROFESSIONAL groomer, have skin problems, sunburn or mosquito bites. Perhaps some of you may have experienced some of these terrible things. How terrible for you and your pet! I'm sure that it depends on how closely the dog has been shaved and the climate in which you live. I am including a site with this question asked of a veterinarian. I live in Alabama and it is so hot and humid here that many of our furry clients are thrilled with their short do's! I hope to get some positive feedback but do expect, and understand, the negative. http://www.vetinfo4dogs.com/dhair.html#S...

To those that think it's not safe to shave a longhaired dog...?
People shave poodles all the time, and they're a long haired dog. I also think its kinder to shave a long haired dog if an owner doesn't take the time to brush them to keep their skin free of mats and infection.
Reply:Longhaired and double-coated are not the same, dc dogs are the ones most groomers believe shouldn't be shaved (thin/trim is ok). This is how we make our living, why would it be said if it weren't true? If you want to shave your dc dog, go for it and I'll even do it, but you need to accept the risk. Report It

Reply:ummm...where is the question???
Reply:I have 3 long-coated Dachshunds that were shaved, over the summer. They have been much happier, with the heat. No sunburn, no problems. They werern't shaved bald, the hair on their back and bellies were the only areas shaved, and it was only shaved short.





Of course, with any shaving, even at dog shows, the clippers can sometimes leave a burn. I've seen some Poodles in the ring, with an area of their neck red because the dog was burned during shaving. Even professionals sometimes just get too close to the skin.
Reply:i don't completely shave my dog but do cut the fur way down in the summer and let it grow back out for winter.....i live in Maine and i use k9 advantix on my dog....Pomeranian....it keeps the fleas ticks and mosquito's off her.....i also bath her once a week with or without her short do....and i have never never had any such problems with her.......i would think it she did have a problem that went un-noticed because of her long hair it would be easy-er to see when her hair was short but i agree with you
Reply:I agree with you.. I jsut had my dog groomed today actually, WE get him shaved at least 2 times a year and he seems much happier!! We have never had any issues that were due to his grooming.
Reply:I can see your point as far as to where you live. The article does not dispute the fact the that he is just assuming that having the hair trimmed is better. He does not say that it is a good thing to do. He only is assuming that it is. I have no problem if people want to do this but they should not be surprised if the fur doesn't grow back in correctly either.


I think still that have my breeds shaved is not a good idea at all. People do not want to pay for a groomer to do it correctly and instead do it them selves and make a horrible mess of their dogs.


Even though it may be the right thing to do to some dogs I'm not a advocate of shaving a Golden down for summer. I have never seen good results from this so I'm sticking with my original rule of thumb. That's not to shave your Golden!
Reply:I've been saying this all along! I keep getting the dreaded "thumbs down" for admitting that I shave my 2 shih tzus and my long haired chihuahuas every year from May through September. The one shih tzu is 17. Hasn't harmed her one bit in all these years. All the dogs have their hair grown back out by Christmas and seem to enjoy being "naked" in the heat!
Reply:i was told that if you have a long hair dog and you want that dog to get use to the weather were you are at.. you do not shave the hair.. that way the dog gets use to the heat in its own coat.. i have a chow. and live in Texas.. she never been shaved and she like going out side in hot weather.. i have to watch for heat stroke but most dog you have to any way.. she is black so the heat get too her a little more.


but i was happy to go to the site you gave and read about it
Reply:I show pomeranians and have heard from people that shave their dogs down that the texture of the coat when it grows back is sometimes different. It grows back softer. Soft coat is a fault in Pomeranians. They are supposed to have texture to their coat.


Also cutting down a orange sable, red sable, or any sable pomeranian that is a correct sable cuts off their sabling. The sabling doesn't go deep into the coat.


You can't trim a sable.


Also in areas where it gets cold the dog uses it's coat as insulation against the cold. So if the coat is not grown in then the dog will be cold outside.


And when it is hot outside the coat protects from the heat.


It also protects from sunburn.


I think that a haircut is fine though. To keep the dog clean looking.


This is my question, why buy a long haired dog when you are going to shave off all the coat or not keep the coat long?


Why not buy a short coated dog in the first place then you don't have to worry about cutting a dogs hair?


I am just curious.
Reply:My lil Shiz Tzu %26amp; Cocker mix love to get groomed.. well let's say they love the results. Never had any problems with them getting shaved all the way down for summer. I did try a new groomer this last time and my Cocker mix did have some red areas on her stomach but they went away fairly quick. I felt that the groomer got alittle too close. Nothing to be alarmed at.. she still did a much better job at grooming than I ever did!
Reply:It doesn't matter who shaves the dog, double-coated (not longhaired) breeds can and often do have problems. Many of those problems are preventable, by taking precautions against the sun and insects. However, nothing can be done about the possible coat changes...color, texture, sparseness/baldness. The odds of coat problems increase with each shave down, but I've seen it happen with a single cut. Also, you need to keep in mind the coat not only protects, but insulates...keeping them warmer and cooler.





ETA: I should add, the scratching and shaking that often happens, can result in a hematoma. They don't get cut as often as longhaired breeds, so they're not used to it...which is why it bothers them. Also, shaving a dog doesn't make it shed any less, it just makes for shorter shedding hair...which is worse. It's not as soft and clumpy, it's harsh and scatters. It can also stick in your skin like splinters...very annoying. You may work at a vet's office, but have no grooming experience.
Reply:Ultimately, to shave or not to shave is every owner's personal decision. I think it's a mistake to shave double-coated breeds based on my personal knowledge and experience as one who shaves dogs for a veterinarian.





Even if shaved by a PROFESSIONAL, if the hair is shaved too short, the dog WILL burn. It's not a matter of how good the groomer or hair cut is but rather a simple matter of how short the coat is and how sensitive the dog's skin is to sunburn.





I am not a fan of shaving double-coated breeds unless they already have skin issues (in which shaving the undercoat very short and exposing the skin to air is very beneficial to helping them heal). That undercoat acts as an insulating layer. That means that, just like a thermos it insulates against both cold AND heat. Plus, a dog that sheds will shed the exact SAME amount of hair if you shave it. Except now that you've cut the hair shorter, all that hair is much shorter (which means it is harder to pick off/out of fabric) plus it has painful, prickly sharp points on it (I shave dogs professionally, afterwards I need to go home and shower because the cut hairs have managed to work their way into my underwear...and it is much worse when I shave double coated breeds than if I shave a breed without an undercoat). My final reason for disliking the shaving of double-coated breeds is that it will eventually ruin their coat. While this may be a minor textural thing and not an issue for some pet owners, other pet owners DO want their long haired dog to have beautiful long hair during the not hot seasons and will be upset by this.
Reply:yes