To Shave or Not to Shave

Summer is finally within sight, which means hotter weather and panting pups.

Each summer I have to deal with a doggy dilemma - my friends always tell me to shave my long haired German shepherd mix, who has hair that feels more like a Golden Retriever. I've heard both sides of the spectrum as to whether or not you should shave your dog in the summer months, but have settled on shaving being a poor decision.

Some people will say that the long hair is making your dog miserable, they can't sweat, and you therefore need to give them a trim to keep them cool. This is rarely the case. Although it sounds paradoxical at first, it can be harmful to take off the winter coat in summer months. Shaving them down means taking away their sun protection and leaving them exposed to the elements, which can cause sunburn, skin cancer, or even cause them to have a stroke. Skin is skin, whether it’s on a dog or a human.

A dog’s coat is also its insulation. Fur keeps the cold out in the winter and keeps the heat out in the summer, just like insulation in a house. The least severe problem with shaving can be the fur not growing back properly, which isn’t usually life-altering unless you have a show dog.

Besides mentioning sun protection and insulation, Yahoo Anwers member “BCs Do It With Intensity,” makes these points, “…Naked dogs equal easy targets for ticks, flies, mosquitoes, wasps, hornets, etc.” This member also says, “A shaved coat may not always grow back in the way it should, and could conceivably take years to grow back properly. In some cases, it never grows back (acquired alopecia). Every time a double-coated dog is shaved, the new coat can come in thicker than the time before. They shed for a reason, that's one of the ways they regulate their body temperature.”

After surveying a group of 17 people, I found that a majority knew about the health risks in shaving a dog; however, this would only make sense because those surveyed are well-informed dog owners. To my surprise, only three said they shave their dogs or think it’s okay to shave dogs for style. Eight people said that dogs should never be shaved, and six said they thought it was okay to shave for the comfort of the dog.

Although I’m pro-fur, there is one exception in my book - the Shih Tzu. I’m going to out myself right here as a hater of Shih Tzus and other extremely pampered dogs. The dogs themselves and the way owners treat them repulses me. That being said and having no relevance, most Shih Tzus I have encountered (which is a lot because I work at a pet hotel) either have a filthy long coat that has never been washed or they have been shaved in some awkward way that makes them look like an Ewok from Star Wars. Being that Shih Tzus aren’t usually the best jogging buddies and are usually safe from the sun’s rays inside in the air conditioning, I would vote for shaving an oily, grimy coat even though they would look like shaved rats.

“Shih Tzu Lover,” a Yahoo Answers user, says, “We don't shave our Shih Tzu for summer. I, personally, think a shaved Tzu looks terrible but if it benefited my dog I'd do it.”

Key words there are “if it benefited my dog.” Dog owners need to research what is actually beneficial versus what they believe is beneficial.

I receive a lot of harassment for leaving my dog’s coat on in the summer – usually from people who have no idea about the health aspects. I’ve been too concerned about what effects shaving would have on my dog and whether or not her coat would grow back normally for winter.

On the more vain side, I would probably shed a tear if my dog came out looking hideous as if it were my own hair that got chopped off.

Also, if you do decide to shave your dog and are going to be out in the sun with your four-legged friend try a PABA-free sunscreen on your dog’s skin.