| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| walkinwalkoutcattle |
Posted - Jun 04 2011 : 05:09:38 AM
Do, I've heard the arguments FOR and AGAINST shaving your dog. I understand that in many cases it's NOT good to shave them, because their hair insulates them against the heat.
But I have a Bernese Mountain Dog. He's built for sub zeros. I feel so bad watching him play outside and pant. We'd have him inside full time, but, he has seizures, and when he wakes up, is disoriented and vicious. (He bit my husband and broke his finger the first time it happened while he was inside) We can't have a dog with those issues with our new daughter, either. So, instead of getting him put to sleep, or taking him to a shelter where he may hurt someone else, we just have a fan on the porch for him (shaded porch), and plenty of water.
I wish he could be inside with us, but having a 110+ lb dog in the house wake up from a seizure and not know who you are, who he is, where he is, or what's happening...(And then turns vicious-this usually lasts about 30 minutes or so after the seizure-they're always petite mal)is just plain dangerous. It's so sad, because he is a WONDERFUL, LOVING, SWEET dog at all other times. It's just once every 4 months or so that he has a seizure that hinders our ability to have him inside.
I trimmed him. I think it's helped some, especially with his undercoat and the humidity.
What do you all do?
Farmgirl #2879 :)
Starbucks and sushi to green fried tomatoes and corn pudding-I wouldn't change it for the world.
www.cattleandcupcakes.blogspot.com
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| 16 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| batznthebelfry |
Posted - Jun 09 2011 : 9:53:54 PM
I always shaved my chowchow when the weather got hot & bought baby sun block to put on her skin even though she had black skin she would still burn...I must say thought she now looked like a sharpa she was much happier to have 10 inches+ of heavy fur off of her....Michele'
Chickens rule!
The Old Batz Farm
Hen #2622 |
| amomfly |
Posted - Jun 08 2011 : 06:02:19 AM
When I groomed dogs, i did a "scoop" on some dogs. It is a simple all belly,under arm and inner thight shave. I would also blow out as much undercoat as I could and hand scissor all the legs and tail. This does help.
But I hated to do an all over shave on a lab or golden or collie.Especially for those people that just hate the hair.
By shaving your dogs completly; This really makes the coat grow thicker, then it is always a have to.
I hope this may give some of you a little help understanding why we really shouldn't do a complete shave.
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God Bless
Angie-amomfly
#1038 |
| walkinwalkoutcattle |
Posted - Jun 08 2011 : 04:44:11 AM
That pool idea is SO great! A big light bulb went off like "DUH!" My dog is GREAT for clipping. He's a GREAT dog. I could probably shoot a gun off next to him and he wouldn't flinch. He's used to being groomed (He was trained to be a show dog before his first seizure and rehoming, so he's used to grooming stuff). But that pool idea is perfect!
Farmgirl #2879 :)
Starbucks and sushi to green fried tomatoes and corn pudding-I wouldn't change it for the world.
www.cattleandcupcakes.blogspot.com
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| doglady |
Posted - Jun 07 2011 : 5:44:55 PM
If you must shave you Bernese, leave his hair on the body at least two inches. The breed was bred to have that much hair to protect from cold and heat. You can thin the leg feathers and shorten the length of the tail feathers as well but leave about 2 inches there also. There are comb attachments that you can buy for Oster A-5's that will leave the hair at these lenghts. As for the clipper noise, put cotton balls in his ears first and play clip along his back before actually doing it to get him used to it. Or you can forget all of this work and provide him with a small kiddy pool filled with cool water and make him lie down in it for 5-10 min. during the hottest time of the day. Good Luck. Tina - Retired Master Groomer for 35 years.
Dogs never judge people, they only forgive!
www.kennelcreations.com |
| Annab |
Posted - Jun 07 2011 : 03:47:21 AM
And yes too.
My dog is also an inside animal. More reason to pay attention to how she reacts to the hot weather and not run her to exhaustion no matter how much she begs.
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| Annab |
Posted - Jun 07 2011 : 03:43:31 AM
Yep....during the hottest parts of the day we both take naps.
And the dog is smarter than I am! When we play fetch, she seeks out patches of shade and runs to these.
She has a better time fetching rocks from the creek than running a ball on these super hot days. And that's ok
I am all too aware of the signs of heat stress/stroke. Animals get it too. Also just as vigilant about too much water consumption from water fun.
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| Alee |
Posted - Jun 06 2011 : 05:21:23 AM
Well Sky is now shaved for the summer as well! Our clippers started fighting the guides so she is shaved down to about a quarter inch all over her body! I know that is a really close shave, but she is an indoor dog so I don't have to worry about sunburns. By the end of june she should have about half an inch to three quarters of an inch! :) Our dogs will be so much cooler now!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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| walkinwalkoutcattle |
Posted - Jun 06 2011 : 05:09:54 AM
inge,
how on EARTH do you get your cat to stay still for shearing?! LOL! Cooper (The BMD ended up with about 1 1/2 inch long hair all over. I'm going to to try and keep him clipped pretty short due to the humidity-I remember last year we had to shave off some hair due to a hot spot he'd gotten from the heat.
I also try to do some waterplay with him every other day or so-that way he gets a hosebath and gets wetted down.
Farmgirl #2879 :)
Starbucks and sushi to green fried tomatoes and corn pudding-I wouldn't change it for the world.
www.cattleandcupcakes.blogspot.com
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| oldbittyhen |
Posted - Jun 05 2011 : 09:30:39 AM
Please remeber that pink/white skinned dogs WILL sunburn if they are shaved, it will not matter that you leave their back hair , cause their legs, belly etc will still be exposed. Also, a dogs natural coat insulates them from the heat, cold, insects and stickers/burs.
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
| Annab |
Posted - Jun 05 2011 : 03:53:29 AM
And to date, I HAD to get the clippers out and at least shave Jazmine's legs and belly. For the second day she ran into a patch of stickers. Not berry stickers, but those sticky balls that cling EVERYWHERE!!
After having already brushed out the dog the day before for the very same thing. I wasn't about tp put her through all that hair pulling again. She is a very patient animal. I am not. She tolerates the clippers VERY well. So her under parts are slightly shaved, and she loks kind of puffy on the upper half , and like a shorn sheep on the lower. I don't have any balde guards, so next month when I am a few $$ ahead, I'm gonna purchase a few stainless steel ones and go to town. Free handing a pair of electric clippers sure 'ain't easy!
And the decision to even own a pair of clippers was pretty much made up fpr me when the first Belgian I had rolled in something super dead one day, and the only way to get the smell off was to shave her. |
| Fiddlehead Farm |
Posted - Jun 04 2011 : 8:00:14 PM
I shave my Corgi/Aussie mix Molly. She looks like a bad bathroom rug when I am done, but she is a lot cooler. She also has a double coat that is red on the outside and blonde on the undercoat. She looks so funny with her blonde body and red head and legs.
http://studiodiphotosite.shutterfly.com/
farmgirl sister #922
Happy to be a "Raggedy Ann" in a Barbie World!
I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult.
- E. B. White |
| adnama |
Posted - Jun 04 2011 : 10:06:57 AM
I not only shave the sheltie, but also my main coon cat. both have such thick long fur that the summer is misery for them. It also helps me keep tabs on whats happening under the fur- ticks, bites and such. For both it is a couple of sessions, as they do become nervous but I give them and me a break and then continue on later. Make sure your clippers are clean and quiet. And be sure to oil the blades to help keep them from pulling and they run quieter also. |
| Annab |
Posted - Jun 04 2011 : 09:46:52 AM
I've had Belgians and some years I shave them and leave all the hair just on their backs
and tails
It looks funny. But for us, we have access to a creek, and it helps with the dry time |
| Alee |
Posted - Jun 04 2011 : 06:36:22 AM
I have an Aussie/Husky mix that has 3-6 inch long hair all over and is double coated. She blows out her winter undercoat but is still double coated all year round. She really suffers in the heat too- so I buy clippers at Wal-mart for $20 every 3-5 years (the clipper blades get dull after a while) and shave her. Yes- she is embarrassed for the first couple days but then she gets over it. She goes from black to grey(because the double coat is showing). About the time she is black again she has forgiven me. But she is 1000% cooler and has more energy once she is shaved. I say go for it if he will allow you.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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| wooliespinner |
Posted - Jun 04 2011 : 06:29:25 AM
Megan I have great pyrenese and they become miserable in this heat. I don't shave them cause they freak out and I can't hold them. What I do is take super sharp scissors and cut their hair back to about 2 inches all over. It takes me a few sessions to do each one because my hands get so tired but it truly helps them alot. If I didn't do this they would get so many hot spots because we get really humid summers here. After they are trimmed they usually start to shed out and I comb out the rest. They look like wooly bears after being cut.I can tell they feel so much better after they are trimmed.
I also had a male pyrenese who had seizers too. I ended up putting him on phenal barbitol and they for the most part stopped. But my dog never had a aeizer until he was sedated for surgery thats when they started. He would have several a week. My dog was not aggressive but very confused and would drool very bad. I would always give him a rawhid to try to distract him and get him back on track mentally. It seemed to work for him. Good luck and be careful.
Linda
Raspberry Run Farm
Nubian Dairy Goats |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Jun 04 2011 : 05:40:17 AM
Megan, that's what my SIL did the other day when they were here. I have a Yellow lab and his coat is very thick. He begs to come in when it gets over 65 out. He just sits and pants. So I have some big shears that I use on the goats to trim thier udders. He used them but didn't get very far. So Bubba's back and one side looks like he has been to the vet for surgery. I have got to get sheep shearing shears and try to finish this bad job. Poor dog. Now he comes in to hide because he's embarrassed. But I do believe it helps them to have all that think fur cut off. Just like sheep.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
