Unlike in humans where we have one hair per follicle, dogs usually have around 5 to 20 hairs per follicle, depending on the breed. The hair is constantly being replaced by newer ones, with the older one falling off on its own through different growth stages. Different coat types in dogs depend on the breed, but they can generally be classified into 2 types: single-coated breeds and double-coated breeds.
Single-coated breeds have a single layer of hair on their skin, which can appear smooth, flat, wired, hard, or a combination of these properties. Double-coated breeds, on the other hand, have a soft undercoat and a sturdier and longer outer coat. Additionally, dog coats are divided into two major categories - those with undetermined lengths and those with predetermined lengths.
Breeds with coats that have undetermined lengths, often called hair, will grow continuously unless cut. Breeds with coats that have determined lengths, commonly termed as fur, will grow to a specific length, then stop growing altogether.
From coughing, sneezing, and a runny nose to a fever and aches, having a cold can be an exhausting experience. But while we may find relief in an extra blanket Social Media Links facebook.
Please Call Us Today! Skip Navigation. Toggle navigation. Posted: August 01, In the spring they go through a major shedding period known as blowing their coat when much of that undercoat is released to make way for their lighter summer coat.
Most of the herding breeds have a double coat, as well as the Spitz type breeds and a majority of Terriers. Shaving a double coated dog can permanently damage their fur, and contrary to popular belief it does not help keep them cool in the summer.
Shaving a double coated dog should only be done in extreme cases of matting or with certain skin conditions. I made the mistake of shaving my dog Carter when I was younger. He was an Aussie mix that had a thick black double coat that was beautiful and shiny.
I thought I could help keep him cool by getting rid of all that extra thick fur in the summer. Makes sense right? Would you want to carry around a thick coat like that in the summer? So I went to my local groomer and had him shaved — no questions asked. He was three when I had him shaved.
He was left with a thick, unruly coat that became hard to manage. The hair on his back thighs, stomach, and chest were constantly matted after that shave.
He began taking a lot more breaks during our walks and he started panting heavier than usual. Looking at him I knew I had made a huge mistake; I had made the summer more intolerable for him. So please, take it from me — think twice before shaving your double coated dog. The reason I shaved my dog was to help keep him cool in the summer. Your dogs coat serves as a natural insulation from both hot and cold weather. When the coat does grow back it produces a thicker undercoat with a mix of short guard hairs.
This new coat is thicker and softer then the old coat. Why is this bad? Its softness soaks up the water and attracts burrs and hitchhikers. The thickness of the coat is extremely hot in summer. The top layer of your dogs fur helps protect them against bug bites and the suns harmful rays. And the older a dog is the less likely it is to grow back normally.
The undercoat continues to grow, but for some dogs the guard hairs never do. These dogs are left with a coat that has a patchy, frizzy, dull appearance. Shaving your dog can alter their coat permanently. This is what happened to my dog Carter. His backside, belly, and legs never grew any top hairs back. It became nearly impossible to groom him on my own. The undercoat became so wild, frizzy, and unruly that it felt just like harsh wool.
The undercoat is all that is left when you shave a dog, and as it grows faster than the outer coat, it takes a very long time for the outer coat to catch up, if at all. This means that there is no outer coat to protect the under coat, which becomes brittle and breaks off, and that there is no shiny, glossy hair on your dog.
Will shaving your dog help with allergies? Not at all. The dander on your pets skin and fur is what causes pet allergies , not the fur itself. And that dander is a collection of dead skin cells that sits in the undercoat of double coated dogs. Shaving your dog will allow more of these allergens to become airborne, leading to more chances for direct contact.
Shaving your dog does not decrease shedding. Ein was still shedding eight pounds of hair each and every day after he was shaved. The hairs were just a whole lot shorter! So, if this is the reason that you might like to shave your double coated dog — think again. You will still be vacuuming hair! Double coated breeds require regular grooming. Hair will get everywhere — not just little bits and pieces either, huge tufts at a time will come out.
Maintaining a regular grooming schedule for double coated dogs is necessary. You can get a de-shedding tool like the Furminator which is great for my German Shepherd mix with short hair, but it may not be the best choice for some longer haired breeds since it can pull too much hair at one time , or you can take a trip to the groomer and let them do the heavy work.
Regular brushing does more than just remove extra fur. It helps keep your dogs hair in good condition by removing dirt, preventing tangles, and keeping their skin clean and irritant free.
Shaving a double coated dog does not help cool them down, it will not decrease shedding, it will not prevent allergies, and it permanently damages their coat. But that one shave damaged his coat forever.
His top coat never grew back, and as a result he had to endure long grooming sessions as I tried to keep his unruly wool like fur under control. Lots of us make this assumption about a nice summer shave for our pets. If you have a double coated breed remember that his outer layer of fur is there for a purpose. It serves as your dogs heating and cooling system, developed and designed by mother nature herself.
Please think twice before shaving your dog — in this case nature knows best. Interesting article — chuck full of educational info about shaving your dog! I wish I had read this years ago… I, too, though cutting my little Pomeranians fur would help him stay cooler when I was away in college. Do you have any recommendations?
0コメント