Should you shave a double coated breed?

Understanding the science of a double coat:

Unlike curly, flat, or smooth coats, the hair of a double-coated breed is naturally designed to keep the dog’s internal temperature regulated and insulated. This works much like the insulation in your house. It keeps things cool and comfortable inside when the outside air is hot, and warm and cozy inside when the outside air is freezing. In a double coat, the hair follicle is connected to a muscle and nerve that lifts and drops the hairs as needed to cool and warm your dog as needed. Each individual hair follicle produces one long and coarse guard hair and 7-27 secondary hairs. The guard hair is called the "top coat". The top coat is very sensitive to touch and temperatures. The secondary hairs are what are considered the undercoat. The undercoat is soft and thick hair. Most undercoats will shed out the dead hair and grow healthy new hair 2-7 times a year. This process is known as "blowing out". You may notice this as thick chunks of hair coming off of the dog.

Why would someone want to shave a double coat?

Some pet owners assume that by shaving the coat of their double coated dog they are either eliminating the shedding process or helping the dog stay cool during the summer months. However, the reality is that shaving the coat does neither of these things. In fact, it causes more harm to the dog's health that it does any good. Below, you can read about the detrimental impacts shaving creates;

What happens if a double coat is shaved?

When a double coat is shaved, the sensitive guard hairs are damaged. When they are damaged, they cannot properly detect touch and temperatures. This creates a sort of "confusion" for your dog's skin, and prevents it from properly recognizing when and how to react to outside temperatures. This resulting response is a coat that begins to constantly shed. And that is the last thing any owner wants, it an endless and excessive amount of hair falling all over the place.

Shaving a double coat also exposes the dog's skin to harmful UV rays, wind, and bacteria. A common syndrome that arises from this is called "clipping alopecia". When this happens, the hair fails to regrow at a healthy rate, often creating permanent baldness, discoloration, coarseness, and skin irritation.

What is the best option for reducing shedding in a double coat?

All dogs shed. It's a fact of life. It's an important aspect of a healthy life for your dog. However, some breeds simply shed more than other breeds. So, be prepared for lots of hair if you decide to get a double coated breed. If you have a double coated breed, your best option is going to be frequent and consistent grooming by a professional groomer. Your groomer will bathe the dog to help remove the dirt and oils that traps the dead undercoat, then blow it out with a high velocity dryer. "Blowing out" the undercoat is the most affective form of staying ahead of the shedding cycles, keeping your home "fur free", and ensuring your dog stays healthy and happy.