Many clients have come into my shop at the beginning of the summer, asking to have their naturally coated dog shaved. Naturally coated dogs are: Golden Retrievers, Collies, Shepard’s etc. These clients believe that shaving their dog will keep it cooler during the hot summer months. This is not true. There are many reasons why a naturally coated dog should not be shaved. One: it ruins the coat. A naturally coated dog has two different types of hair. The longer coarser hair is called the Guard hairs. This hair sheds much less frequently. The Guard hairs have a natural oil coating that protects the dog’s skin from water. The Guard hairs are also deep rooted into mussels under the skins surface. This allows the dog to raise the hair on its back when warning another dog or human that it is not happy and might show aggression. The second type of hair is called the undercoat. This is what sheds on your dog. The undercoat is usually much softer and finer than the guard hairs. The undercoat acts as an insulator during the colder months of the year. The undercoat sheds and re-grows much faster than the Guard hairs. If you shave your naturally coated dog the undercoat will grow much faster than the Guard hairs. This causes a fuzzy barrier that the Guard hairs must try to penetrate. This leads to increased matting of the coat. Not only is matting ugly to look at, it is extremely uncomfortable for your dog because it pulls on the skin and traps moisture, which will cause any number of skin problems. Reason Number Two: Your dog’s coat works as insulation. Your dog’s coat acts much in the same way as the insulation in your home. It can keep your home warmer in the winter months by preventing the warm air from escaping and keeping the cool air out, and it can keep you home cooler in the summer months by keeping the cool air in and the hot air out. Shaving your naturally coated dog removes a natural way your dog keeps cool in the hot weather. Sunlight is a heat source. Your dog needs its coat for a barrier between the sun and its skin. This helps against sunburn and overheating. If your dog has no coat the sun is in direct contact with your dogs skin. In the same way that the insulation in your home has air pockets to trap the cool or warm air, so does your dog’s coat. These air pockets trap cooler or warmer air, keeping your dog comfortable in all types of weather. However, if there is too much of a build up of undercoat your dog will not have enough air pockets to trap the cool air and ward off the hot air in the summer. In the early spring it is always a good idea to remove the extra undercoat. A good brushing with a proper brush and technique will reduce the shedding and make your dog much more comfortable in the hot months to come. If you feel that you cannot handle such a task, contact a professional for tips or a grooming appointment. Not shaving your naturally coated dog is much safer and healthier. For more information on your pets coat or grooming tips contact Sarah @ Top Knot Professional Grooming, Ajax – 905-683-0066 or email: topknotpg@zoomshare.com