| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Alee |
Posted - Apr 15 2007 : 2:43:32 PM
My dog Sky has long black hair. Usually in the summer I shave her down because of the heat. Does anyone else do this with their dogs? I know some dog’s undercoat helps keep the cool in the heat but I don’t think Sky’s works that way.
Sometimes I leave a ruff around her neck and a puff on her tail to make her look like a lion for a day or so. It’s funny to watch her run around when she looks like that but I usually just shave her completely down.
Alee
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| 19 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Norskema |
Posted - Apr 21 2007 : 7:13:16 PM
We clip our Newfoundland down every spring. Unlike our first Newfie, he does not like being groomed so in the spring when he should be dropping his coat, he is pretty much a mess. He loves being 'naked' and feeling our hands rub his skin. I like it because it allows me to see what is going on under all that hair and for him, as an oily coated dog, lets me get him clean down to the skin at least once a year. Just for fun, I leave a tuft on the end of his tail but the rest of him gets a clipping. Plus, his hair comes back quite nicely so I guess we've been lucky that way.
Every way of a man seems right to himself but the Lord is the tester of hearts. Proverbs 21:2 |
| Alee |
Posted - Apr 18 2007 : 2:16:37 PM
Jonni- Your poor Husky! I know Huskies should never be shaved for anything that is not medically needed. I have a friend whose husky had to have surgery and they were so upset because his whole side had to be shaved. His poor fur just isn't the same, but it should recover in a few years as the long guard hairs that are damaged are naturally shed.
Sky loves the kiddy wading pools and luckily her hair grows back in fine. I always leave a guard on my clippers so she is left with about an inch or inch and a half of fur all over. I rarely take the guard off because I don't want her fur to be so short that she gets sunburned.
Ciao
Alee
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| primjillie |
Posted - Apr 18 2007 : 07:27:09 AM
I have a cocker spaniel and a mini schnauzer and I have them both clipped pretty short/shaved all year round. We live in a fairly mild climate (Sacramento, CA) and they are strictly indoor dogs. It gets very hot in the summer and they are both a lot more comfortable with short coats. I've never noticed a difference in their coats, but then again, I don't let it get long, so it doesn't matter to me if there was a difference. They also both shed, so this is easier. I take them to the groomer about every 3 months for baths, grooming and nail clip. I wouldn't try it myself and taking them in that frequently makes them very comfortable with the vet/groomer (same place). |
| KYgurlsrbest |
Posted - Apr 18 2007 : 06:03:26 AM
I'm going to go with Doglady on this one (in regard to certain breeds not being shaved)...our older Siberian Husky, Lily, went to the groomer and at age 11 because it was too difficult for her to get in our tub anymore; they shaved her coat, because the groomer misread the order sheet, and it was summer so I guess she was on a roll with those clippers. My poor girl stood up there for hours, old legs trembling, and it ruined her coat, not to mention her spirit. She never ever again looked the same, nor did her coat have the protective oils that she needed. Husky's, while multi-coated, which can be frustrating when they blow their coat, have great fur--with proper brushing and raking, they really only need to be bathed one to two times a year. Their coats just don't hold smells (barring any run ins with skunks, or road kill!!!!)
I don't think I've ever cried more! Needless to say, we didn't pay for our trip to the groomer. Poor Lil is gone now, but I've never forgotten it.
"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt." Margaret Atwood
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| doglady |
Posted - Apr 18 2007 : 05:54:20 AM
I'm a Master Groomer (can groom over 130 dif. breeds) and I can honestly say that some breeds should not be shaved down due to the protection that their coats give them from the heat. Some breeds tend to get sunburned and their coats actually protect them. Other breeds, such as the Old English Sheepdog, are usually shaved down during the same time as the sheep in the spring and fall. Then there are some dogs that are actually embarrassed to be seen after a shave down. My rule of thumb is that if the dog's hair is so matted - then shave it off and start over because it's cruel to try to brush it out. For dog's that aren't usually clipped, removing all of the undercoat will keep your puppy very cool while protecting his skin at the same time. A good groomer can keep a long haired dog looking very much like a puppy length haircut for most of it's life and not require a complete shave down and $45-$65 is an avg. price just about everywhere. Most dog's today are pretty pampered and having lots of cool water, ice cubes, or a small wadding pool with a "small" amount of water will do the trick to keep your baby cool. Hope this helps.
Tina
The dogs own the house but the people pay the mortgage!
www.kennelcreations.com |
| Annab |
Posted - Apr 18 2007 : 03:44:45 AM
After my first Belgian rolled in someting putridly dead, and the stink continued to linger even after a washing, I began clipping the stink out with scissors, and was then convinced that electric clippers were the better way to go.
Abby liked massages, so as long as the clippers didn't get hot, she was alwyas fine by it. She was an unusually good dog and the vets/groomer would always tell us so. Guess the good behavior began at home! |
| Alee |
Posted - Apr 17 2007 : 12:34:59 PM
I had never thought of just shaving her underbelly! What a clever idea! Two years ago that would have been perfect since we lived at a townhouse that had cement floors. Unfortunately my new place doesn’t have _any_ tile at all, so I will probably still do the full body shave.
Alee
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| JenniferJuniper |
Posted - Apr 17 2007 : 10:40:25 AM
I have two Shelties. One has an increadibly thick coat, think of a wooly mammoth crossed with Chewbaca from Star Wars. Due to the undercoat I have never fully shaved them; however, in the warm months I go get just their bellies shaved. They love lying belly-down on the cool tile afterwards! I also give them a thorough brushing every week when it is warm, which helps to remove the loose hairs. |
| UrbanChick |
Posted - Apr 17 2007 : 10:30:40 AM
I don't have the patience to cut, groom or shave my dog. We do on occasion wash him when he is in between groomer visits. We just budget money for his grooming every month. I drive him in town to an upscale groomer that I've done business with for years but she still charges me $45-60 per grooming depending on how bad his coat is. We've tried other groomers that were cheaper but he always came back looking funny so we just stick to the higher price and have a prettier dog, vanity I know but he is always happy go to the better groomer. I think she spoils him when he is there. We had to wait to be on her standing appointment list and the only way my dog got on so fast was because I worked for a vet down the street and we had to put down one of her clients and I snuck in and took his monthly grooming spot. No sooner did the owner leave I called over to her shop and said we had to put down Puddles so she could send out a condolence card and then I asked if Milton could have his spot. Kinda crass of me but he is now being groomed on a regular basis and I no longer have to wait for an appointment to open up for him.
"Courage dosen't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying: I will try again tomorrow." |
| Annab |
Posted - Apr 17 2007 : 03:48:02 AM
I began shaving my Belgian after moving to the country. I swear, for a sheep herding dog, she was part lab, as she LOVED to swim in the creek and fetch everything! To keep the stink minimal and enable a quick dry/brush time, I began shaving her too. I left her bushy tail alone and left a "landing strip" on her back about 8" wide. Sure looked funny but really helped.
Our new pup will take some time getting used to clippers. She can't stand still long enough and wants to play with everything. So this Summer, we'll allow for dry time and invest in a kiddy pool!
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| Tracey |
Posted - Apr 16 2007 : 05:44:26 AM
Oh, dogs can definitely be embarrassed by a bad haircut!
I never shaved my goldens. They blew their undercoat in the summer so no need to worry about it. My sister's newfie never had heat issues, either.
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| 2 Red Barns |
Posted - Apr 16 2007 : 04:50:43 AM
Yes...I had a Newfoundland, Walter, I shaved him down every summer...he hated the time it took to do it, but loved the cool breeze. Then he would jump in his kiddie pool we filled for him!!! LOL. Jamie |
| willowtreecreek |
Posted - Apr 15 2007 : 6:58:07 PM
Kensi is always embarassed the first day after we shave her. She usually hides under the bushes by the house for about 24 hours but the next day she is bounding around like a puppy and acts much happier.
I have shaved kensi myself and have taken her to have it done. I prefer to take her. It is much easier.
For those of you who have been advised NOT to shave, I am wondering why? This seems odd to me.
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www.willowtreecreek.com |
| Alee |
Posted - Apr 15 2007 : 6:20:53 PM
Okay so I am laughing a little bit- but only because I know _exactly_ what you mean. I always think that Sky is giving me the “how dare you” eyes while I am shaving her- but I am pretty sure that is just me projecting my feelings on to her.
The funny thing is that she actually looks kind of puppyish again when she is shaved. I bet your dogs would love the big clipping once they adjusted to being all hairless :) !
Alee
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| Bee Haven Maven |
Posted - Apr 15 2007 : 6:16:07 PM
We have a Bernese Mountain dog and a Newfoundland.....really long, full hairy dogs!! What we have done since we were advised not to shave them is...every summer we shave their bellies so that when they lay on the tile floor they are able to feel the cool of the floor....they do seem to appreciate that. But I have toyed with the idea of giving them a really good clipping! I am always afraid of hurting their (don't laugh at me) self esteem. You know we dog lovers always attribute those human feelings to our canine friends...but I am not so sure we aren't right.
Keep Smiling.....Bev
Bee Haven Acres
http://beehavenacres.blogspot.com/ |
| Alee |
Posted - Apr 15 2007 : 6:07:24 PM
My fiancé has been bugging me lately to shave her down but I think it is still too cold. If I still need to turn on the heat inside- then I don't want to shave her! But she has already started panting and on the nice sunny days I can tell she is getting hot.
Do you ladies pay to have your dogs shaved? I have never paid to have her shaved- I just bought some $20 clippers and do it myself.
Ciao
Alee
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| Kim |
Posted - Apr 15 2007 : 5:42:42 PM
I never did with my golden, we just had her trimmed very short, but friends of ours always did with no bad side effects.
Blessed Be!
farmgirl@heart
"Go confidently in the directions of your dreams; live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler." - Henry David Thoreau
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| willowtreecreek |
Posted - Apr 15 2007 : 4:50:37 PM
We used to have English Sheepdogs and shaved them every summer and never had problems with their hair growing back funny. I have a golden retreiver and I shave her every summer. We are in an area with a lot of ticks too so shaving helps us to see if they get any ticks. The mastiffs don't need to be shaved.
Alee I have given Kensi (the golden) the lion cut before! It is so cute!
Jewelry, art, baskets, etc.
www.willowartist.etsy.com
www.willowtreecreek.com |
| UrbanChick |
Posted - Apr 15 2007 : 4:07:36 PM
I have a Shetland Sheepdog (Sheltie) the breeder suggested I not shave him down so I don't. Our groomer also said that if we shave him his coat may come back looking a little funny. So it's been 6 years and no shave down. But he's an inside dog and he gets groomed every month anyway, so hair has never been a problem. I know others that shave their dogs down and they seem much happier in the summer. My dog rarely goes out unless its for his walk and even then he refuses to go out in the heat. We have to wait till night time or early morning when its cool. He's a little spoiled. He refuses to step onto wet grass as well to do his business. I think we have babied him a little too much.
"Courage dosen't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying: I will try again tomorrow." |
