Summer! The sun is out, the days are longer and all you can notice is the blanket of hair covering your coaches, carpets and scattered along your tiled floors.

Your first thought is the dog needs to be clipped short. Not only for the sake of your house but also to help keep your dog cool for the long summer. But what if I was to tell you that not only will you have the same amount of hair floating around the house ( just shorter) but you are also hindering your dogs ability to cool itself down and in fact make him hotter.

What breeds are we talking about? These breeds include Border collies, Alaskan malamute, huskies, Pomeranians, golden retrievers, Japanese spits and many more.

The function of the coat

Your dog has two type of hair

1.       The guard hairs- This is the top layer of the dogs coat. Its function is to protect your pet from external elements. It protects the skin from being sunburnt and helps reflect the suns raise, reduces bites from insects and mosqitos and reduces the amount of plants and debris penetrating the coat.

2.       The under coat- this is the thick fluffy layer underneath the guard hairs and usually the cause of hair floating like tumble weeds around your house. Its function is to regulate your dogs body temperature. In the winter a thicker undercoat builds up to keep your dog warm by trapping heat to the skin and in summer the thicker layer sheds and a thinner layer replaces it and helps keep cool air close to the skin.

So what happens when we clip this type of coat?

When we clip the coat the first thing we are doing is removing the Guard hairs, taking away the dogs protection from the outside elements. Secondly we are cutting the undercoat layer short which can cause several problems. Firstly because the undercoat is not removed your dog will continue to shed around the house. Secondly clipping the undercoat can disrupt the natural cycle of the undercoat which may cause problems such as Post Clipping Alopecia (balding or patches of coat which no longer grow back). Thickening of the coat, the disruption confuses the coat and when the coat is meant to be dropping, it instead can build up increasing your dogs body temperature.

So what are the alternatives?

·       The best option for your dog is to have a de-shed and a good coat conditioning. This is the removal of loose undercoat. This will reduce the amount of hair in your home while also assisting the coat in temperature regulation and still leaving behind the protective top coat.

·       There is also the air conditioning strip. Clipping the underbelly and underchest can help a thick-coated dog cool off without damaging the coat, the dog can cool off by laying on a cool surface. We can also lightly trim the rear end and chest area to help assist in air floor

·       If clipping your dogs coat is a must for you, a de-shed should still be performed before clipping  to help keep the coat cycle as regular as possible

As a loving pet owner, you take excellent care of your companion dog. You feed it well, take it to the Veterinarian for annual care, and share your heart and home with it. Keeping your pet looking its best is important too. Here are some tips and tricks to help you maintain your dog’s appearance.

• All dogs require regular brushing and combing. This reduces shedding, keeps mats from developing in long coats and helps remove dirt and dander. Choosing the correct brush for your dog is important. Most pet owners purchase a brush from the grocery store that has metal “pins” on one side and bristles on the other. Sadly this popular style brush is fundamentally useless on most pets. A good quality “slicker” type brush is best for coated dogs.
• A quality metal pet comb is a must. After brushing, make sure you can get the comb through the coat from the skin out, all over the dog. Pay attention to the area under the collar, the soft hair behind ears, and any place where there is friction, such as armpits. Dogs such as Dobermans, Beagles, and others do well with a shedding blade, curry comb and/or a bristle brush.
• Ask your groomer to recommend what tools are best for your pet.

• Make a regular routine out of brushing. At least once a week your dog should be brushed from the skin out, head to toe.  Accustom your dog to having its feet handled, its face touched. This will make it easier for your pet when it visits the Veterinarian or groomer. Be firm but gentle, and teach your dog that it is expected to stand still while being brushed. Take this time to examine the animal’s eyes, ears and mouth to make sure everything looks and smells normal and healthy.
• Give your dog a treat and some praise when your done, ending the session on a happy note
• Dog’s nails need to be trimmed regularly. You can learn to do this at home, or take your pet to the Veterinarian or groomer for frequent trims. If left to grow too long, nails can catch on carpets and things and tear, it can also alter the way the foot hits the ground causing bone pain and deformities. Nails can even sometimes grow right into the pad of the dog’s foot causing pain and infection. 
• If you trim nails at home, make sure your nail trimmer is new and sharp. Dull trimmers crush nails before it cuts, causing discomfort.

• A dog’s ear should look and smell clean. Any discharge or odour is a sign of trouble that needs Veterinary attention. If your dog shakes its head a lot, holds its head to one side, or scratches at its ears, it may have a problem that needs attention. 

• Many people leave dogs ungroomed in the winter, thinking that the long coat will keep the pet warm. If the dog’s coat is not kept well brushed, however, it will become matted, causing discomfort.
• Keep in mind that a matted coat does not insulate well. If it becomes wet in the rain, it holds moisture against the skin, actually causing the dog to become chilled more easily. A heavy matted coat can hide parasites and even damage the animal’s skin, causing sores or bruising. Regular grooming at home or by a professional will keep the dogs skin and coat healthy, and help the coat maintain optimum insulating potential.
• Happy grooming
• Bianca