Can you fix a shaved double coated dog? A Complete Guide

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Don’t Overdo It

It’s better to do little rather than too much. Hastiness is never rewarded when you are a beginner at dog grooming. Take your time. At first, try to shave the hair evenly. You can always go back if you think the dogs hair is still too long and cut some more.

Can you shave a double-coated dog?

Some pup parents consider shaving their double-coated dog to alleviate problems with coat blow or matting, but that’s rarely a viable solution. There are many ways shaving can cause more problems. Here’s what to know:

  • Double coats provide a layer of protection against the external environment for the dog.
  • Shaving it away removes that protective layer, resulting in insufficient protection from temperature, parasites, sun damage, and wind.
  • Shaving also damages the coat because it doesn’t regrow in the same fashion.
  • To protect the skin, the undercoat grows back quickly but the guard hairs don’t. It takes time for them to reach full growth.
  • The undercoat gets too thick and coarse while it’s waiting for the guard hairs to catch up, and it gathers debris and oils along the way.

    • If you have allergies, shaving your double-coated dog can exacerbate that response, contrary to popular belief. Three out of every 10 people have an allergy to dog dander. Shaving the fur makes it much easier for dander to release into the atmosphere.

    The only good reason for shaving a double-coated dog is if the coat is pelted. Mats can form so close to the skin that the fur cannot be brushed through and airflow to the skin is restricted. Pelted fur leads to yeast infections, hematomas, fecal matting, urine burns, fleas, and irritated skin.

    Double-coated dogs have a soft, inner coat of hair close to their skin that serves as an insulating layer, helping keep them warm in cold weather and cool in hot weather. In summer, a dog will shed a good bit of this under layer, but what remains will help capture air between the two coat layers, allowing the dog to keep the heat at bay and regulate his body temperature. The outer coat (or guard hair) consists of longer hair that gives a dog his color and is not shed as much.

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    Temperatures are soaring, your dog is panting, and there’s dog hair all over the house. You might be thinking that a good, close shave down could help cool your dog off while eliminating some of that furry mess.

    Rather than shaving your dog, there are some steps you can take to keep him comfortable when the weather is hot:

    Dogs cool down a lot differently than we do, and shaving really has no big impact on cooling them down. Dogs rely on panting to control most of their temperature regulation. They also rely on vasodilation (blood vessel expansion) to help them cool off, especially on their ears and face. When the blood vessels expand, they bring the hot blood closer to the surface of the skin.

    2 major risks of shaving your double coated dog

    Pet owners are often confused about the grooming of double coated breeds. Huskies, Golden Retrievers, Samoyeds and German Shepherd dogs are just some of the dogs that have a double coat which consists of thick coat. Their fur can be longer around the neck, buttocks and tail, creating waves on the lateral parts of the limbs.

    Double coated dogs with this type of fur require more frequent brushing and sometimes trimming to remove the undercoat, which is the main reason for shedding. If you decide that shaving your dog is necessary for some reason, and you wish to do it yourself, there are a few things you must keep in mind.