Does anyone have there dog SHAVED in the spring/ summer?

[WoodlandWoman]

And yet, you're not embarrassed by what you do to poodles!

 

[fushalilly]

Quote:
Hey i didnt do the clipping, i did the washing! I was 15, too young for the scissors I guess

 

[Stumpy]

I have a chow mix that I cut down very close every spring, and she loves it. It is such a relief for her. I am simply not physically able to keep her thick coat brushed, and by April she is very hot. We have terrible tick problems here. She is one of five strays we've taken in over the years, but the other dogs have coats that don't require this, IMHO.

I have been grooming my poodles myself for about 20 years, so I have all of the equipment and don't have to have it done.

 

[Robin'sBrood]

I have a Pom who could pass for a Cheese Puff - the ball kind - right now.

I don't have her shaved but I do have her cut down short for the summer. However I do shave my Pugapoo down for the summer but he has poodle-like hair that never stops growing!

 

[NancyDz]

Shaved, no but my aussie/wire haired doxie mix does get a clip to shorten her hair. I do that because there are so many foxtails and stickers around here and her hair is like velcro for those. She is an easily stressed dog and very sensitive especially getting her paws and face groomed. That clip saves her many stressful hours of grooming during sticker season.

I understand the benefits of a dog's fur but I think it varies a lot depending on other factors like the dog's current environment which in many cases is not the environment the breed came from. Sure zoo's dont clip polar bears
when they put them in Southern California but they sure make sure there is a very cold pool and an air conditioned room that mimics their normal environment. Dog's arent always given that luxury and a husky or malamute's fur is not for the desert but I can bet there are many owners having that breed in 120 degree heat.
Do I think they should be shaved then? No because they'd get sunburn , but their coat can be thinned and they can cut the fur on the stomach shorter to allow them to cool faster .

JMO though....


Nancy

 

[greyhorsewoman]

Just a repeat ... the op isn't referring to dogs that REQUIRE clipping ... like poodles, bichons, cockers, schnauzers, and terriers. When these coats are left to grow out too far and get unduly matted, shaving is sometimes the only option.

Unfortunately, folks buy dogs that they often 'think' that they are want and are willing to care for the coat, to find out later that they aren't up to task. Since these dogs are often still loving members of the family, clipping the coat is a good 'second' plan to just ignoring the dog's coat.

If care is taken to see that a newly shaved dog isn't exposed to risk of sunburn and the pet owner isn't concerned about a possible change in coat texture (which happens sometimes, not always ~~ spaying does that too but we don't recommend you NOT spay), it really has a place in grooming options.

 

[Zahboo]

We have a pomeranian that we shave because she's poorly bred and has little to no undercoat, so she looks like crap with long hair and plus she likes to be a mud hog.

 

[fushalilly]

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Pugapoo.... ive never heard of that breed.... I was flipping through channles and watched a bit of AKC dog show and didnt notice a pugapoo. Maybe its a UKC breed...

 

[fushalilly]

Quote:
I guess you didnt read the articles.... No matter what breed it is, the dogs fur acts as an air conditioner for them... cooling them off...

 

[Zahboo]

Oh, we don't shave Amelia Grace down to the skin. That's UGLY. We go a cut that leaves about 1" of hair.

Oh and we leave her hair long on her head.