A Word from your Groomer... Stacy

Shaving Down Double Coated Breeds*

Many clients come in and ask me to shave down their American Eskimo Dog, 
Siberian Husky, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, etc. These are breeds that should not be shaved! --They feel it’s better to stop or slow down the shedding and keep the dog cool.
WRONG! !--- 

A dogs coat provides insulation from the heat & sun!

Dogs do not perspire like humans do. They only perspire from the pads of their feet
and from their mouths. An American Eskimo Dog, Golden, Lab, Chow, Newfoundland, etc. will be cooler with grooming as they should be... the Coat ON! Matted coats or coats with packed in dead undercoat will restrict airflow to your pets skin. Therefore making him uncomfortable.

If I shave all the hair off, it does NOT reduce or stop shedding! It will make shorter hair and still shed all over the house anyway!

What happens when you shave your double coated dogs, is actually interrupting the natural shedding process. You are cutting into the top coat & cutting into the undercoat also possibly causing damage to it. Running the risk of areas that may NEVER grow back on your dog! 

I have seen dogs come to me that have been shaved in the past elsewhere... some have bald spots and areas that have never grown back, some have had heat strokes due to no 'Insulation' and have resulted in death, some have had no problem, but the hair takes over a year to grow back and to get back to a normal texture. By interrupting the natural shedding cycle, you can actually be producing MORE shedding. The opposite of what you want!

The answer?------ Keep your double coated breeds thoroughly groomed brushed & combed out. They will be comfortable even in the hot sun of South Carolina. **No dog should be left out in the heat of the day here anyway. But if they are.. shaving is NOT the answer! 

Shade, plenty of FRESH water, possibly a large fan to run outdoors outside of the fenced area to create a breeze, a small- non slip bottomed pool with just a few of inches of water in it, and great care of grooming IS the ANSWER! Almost all of the clients that come in to request having their dogs shaved, because their dog is hot & uncomfortable actually have overweight dogs!

Be honest. is your dog overweight, out of physical condition, have a health problem or a heart problem? When you walk or play with your dog, do they pant & get tired?
Do they get daily runs or just out to potty and then relax most of the day in the house? 
If your dog is overweight, out of physical condition or has a health problem, that is why he is 
panting & tired after exercise! 

Consider keeping the well groomed fur on your pet & shedding off the excess pounds instead!
Shaving Double Coated breeds that should not be shaved may be double  the price of our “Basic or Complete Grooms”.

written by Stacy Morgan/  StaFra Showteam/  Stacy's Groom-N-Spa