Dog Community

shorter cut in the summer?

Posted : 5/6/2006 10:37:22 AM

If I have my dog cut short, will it keep him cool in the summer? He's getting groomed tomorrow and I'm wondering if I cut him shorter if it will keep him cooler.

thedoc617

Posted : 5/6/2006 11:36:05 AM

What breed is he? If he's a double coated breed I'd say no way. Their undercoats insulate them from both hot/cold weather.

audkal

Posted : 5/6/2006 11:58:48 AM

I used to get my dog Spot (an English Springer Spaniel) cut real short for the summer and I think he felt a lot better with all the hair off. My dad said Spot seemed like he had a "different personality" when the hair was off, lol. Now I cut it myself because it costs a lot less.

Shelley75

Posted : 5/7/2006 9:22:14 AM

He's a cocker spaniel. Is he a double coated breed?

eskieservant

Posted : 5/10/2006 3:16:29 PM

Not sure if your dog has a double coat - but if he does suggest you DON'T! get a short hair cut - the undercoat will not grow in properly and you will be sorry you did it. Also helps to insulate dog from heat. I have an Eskimo - most definitely double coated.

mudpuppy

Posted : 5/26/2006 8:42:15 AM

I flat-out don't believe that double coats insulate from the heat. Most heat comes from inside the dog, and the thick double coat prevents it from being radiated out. Shaved dogs or dogs with natural short fine hair cool down so much quicker in the summer.

m. bass

Posted : 5/26/2006 1:32:40 PM

i have a shih tzu/yorkie mix...her hair is an odd texture...almost like people hair...does anyone know how i can tell if shes double coated or not??

Debbi

Posted : 5/26/2006 1:45:16 PM

ORIGINAL: numa

i have a shih tzu/yorkie mix...her hair is an odd texture...almost like people hair...does anyone know how i can tell if shes double coated or not??

Lift up his hair and look for a soft undercoat with coarser hair on top. Tzus are double but Yorkies are single. Is his hair coarse on top?

snufflebear

Posted : 5/27/2006 9:18:31 PM

A cocker spaniel is not a double coated breed and are perfectly fine to clip down short for the summer. Those double coated breeds, like Keeshonden, American Eskimos, Samoyed etc you NEVER want to shave down. Dogs do not sweat through their skin like we do. They sweat through their mouth and their pads of the feet. Shaving a double coated dog down takes away that insulation that regulates their temperature fluctuations and thus they are more prone to going into shock and haviing negative results. Also when the hair grows back it is never the same as the original coat was. It usually grows back in patches due to the faster growth rate of the guard hairs before the topcoat.

willowchow

Posted : 5/27/2006 11:29:32 PM

Willow is an example of a double coated breed.

Also when the hair grows back it is never the same as the original coat was. It usually grows back in patches due to the faster growth rate of the guard hairs before the topcoat.

True, Willow's belly is all patchy from when they shaved her for an ultrasound and that was almost three years ago.

Happy Tails

Posted : 5/29/2006 4:12:17 PM

If I have my dog cut short, will it keep him cool in the summer?

Here in Katy, Texas not much will keep a dog cool in the summer, but it helps. Long haired dogs especially suffer in the heat, and a good cut and frequent baths to keep hair untangled help.

kennys_mom

Posted : 5/31/2006 10:19:45 PM

we give kenny a shave in the summer. he does normally get a cocker cut, but its really hot and dry here in west texas, and i believe it helps him.

probe1957

Posted : 6/1/2006 10:52:34 AM

I have Odie's hair cut in the summer, to about an inch long all over. Not only is he easier to groom, but he also looks more "manly." [

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kennel_keeper

Posted : 6/1/2006 8:49:52 PM

ORIGINAL: mudpuppy

I flat-out don't believe that double coats insulate from the heat. Most heat comes from inside the dog, and the thick double coat prevents it from being radiated out. Shaved dogs or dogs with natural short fine hair cool down so much quicker in the summer.

Would have to agree with this. Most heavy coat breeds typically originated from colder climates where the summers weren't necessarily hot. It makes much more sense that these breeds used the coat for warmth as opposed to cooling.

AineCockers

Posted : 6/6/2006 5:44:03 PM

A Cocker is a Double-Coated breed