To shave or not to shave...

Good reasons not to shave a dog's coat...

https://albertnorthvetclinic.wordpress.com/2013/05/30/shaving-your-dogs-coat-should-you-or-shouldnt-you/

A few local cockerpoos, cocker spaniels and one Old English sheepdog have been shaved back this summer. Yorkshire terriers are of course always trimmed back somehow, unless they are show dogs. There are quite a few huskies (I think Siberian but I'm no husky expert!), and I can't imagine that their owners would want to sacrifice that lovely coat by cutting it off.

I've only ever had short-haired dogs (although Kuchar has a thicker coarser coat than the dobies, and seems to suffer more in the hot weather) so I really shouldn't comment at all!

I would never have shaved my collies! Their undercoats did get thick & they did shed, but a good brush out sorted that!

I'd never shave a dog without a health reason and would never clip a double-coated dog.

We keep my mums Pomeranians shaved through summer as especially Rocco doesn't cope so well in the heat. They LOVE it! It's like they're different dogs. They run, play and are far more active than with all their hair.
We've tried only having them strip most of the undercoat but it's not the same; it works on Axel though.

The problem, I think, isn't so much with how they feel, but with the effect the sun/heat has on them when they're shaved.

The groomers i trailed in did a stripping service for those who didn't want them shaved. It was good but it did hurt the dogs.

Caryll wrote:The problem, I think, isn't so much with how they feel, but with the effect the sun/heat has on them when they're shaved.

I think the pros outweigh the cons. In a warm country you just can't always have aircon on to keep a dog with a big coat. I think it is more cruel to let them stay so warm. Most dogs with big coats are not used to that climate. You can buy reflective tshirts for them to stop them from burning.

Yes, I see your point.

It's all down to whether or not the owner is responsible, I suppose. I guess the groomer should also be able to point out the pros & cons.

I certainly wouldn't get a dog like a GSD or Collie shaved. Yes, they have thick coats with a good undercoat, but they are bred for the western European climate so they shouldn't need it.

No i would never shave them, nor would any self respecting groomer. They would only ever hand strip them but the likes of poodles who are bred to be warm in water not land should be shaved.

I like to see a bit of hair on a poodle, though - not clipped down to the skin like they are for the show ring (with that huge 'lion' mane & silly pom poms!).

I must admit, I do like to see a show clipped poodle, although it's got very exaggerated nowadays and I don't like the addition of the pompoms over the hips.

I am led to believe that the show clip originated from keeping the joints of the dog warm whilst it was retrieving in water, and shaving the rest of the hair off prevented the dog from getting water-logged.

Standard poodles in particular are fabulous looking dogs, and even look good in the more easily maintained "lamb" clip. I'd love to have a standard poodle, but I know my limits!

I agree, Lydda.

My aunt had a standard poodle when I was very young. He was a beautiful dog, but much chunkier than today's dogs, very robust!

A white standard poodle is occasionally walked in "Kuchar's" field. He is lamb cut but looks fabulous, and moves like an Arab horse i.e. like a dream.

I'd love to get to know him but unfortunately the owner is shy of other dogs.

That's a shame! Dempsey used to play with a black standard when he was a puppy, but I doubt he'd like him much now!