Home › Summer grooming
Summer grooming myths
Two questions before the clippers
First: does this coat shed seasonally in tufts (a double coat - huskies, retrievers, shepherds, collies and many mixes), or does it grow continuously like hair (poodles, doodles, bichons, many terriers)? Second: what problem am I solving? If the answer is "he looks hot," remember that veterinary literature lists a thick coat as a predisposing factor for heatstroke partly because of what's underneath it - dead, packed undercoat and mats that block air from reaching the skin. Removing that loose, dead material is what helps, and a brush removes it without exposing skin. Clipping a continuously growing single coat is a routine style choice; clipping a double coat is a bigger decision, because it changes how the coat protects the skin and how it grows back. That call belongs to someone who can examine your dog.
What to do this week, no clippers needed
- Brush out the undercoat. The dead, loose undercoat is the part that traps heat. An undercoat rake or slicker session a few times a week pulls out what the dog is trying to shed and lets air reach the skin.
- Deal with mats. Mats compact the coat into a felt layer air can't move through. A clean, mat-free coat ventilates far better.
- Trim, don't shave. Tidying the belly, groin, rear and between the paw pads helps cooling and hygiene without stripping the coat. Many groomers offer a "sanitary trim" that leaves the coat intact.
- Protect pink skin from sun. Dogs can get sunburned, especially light-skinned, thin-coated dogs on noses and ears. Australia's Agriculture Victoria advises pet-appropriate sun protection on exposed pink skin - ask your vet which product, if any, suits your dog.
Grooming helps, but it isn't heat management
Even a perfectly groomed coat doesn't change the basics: hot afternoons are for shade and AC, water stays full, walks move to the cool hours, and the pavement test still applies. Grooming is the supporting cast - hydration, timing and common sense carry the show.