DOUBLE COAT DO'S & DONT'S

DOUBLE COAT DOGS DOS & DONT'S

Double Coat Dos and Don’ts

Many dog breeds sport a double coat, but even the most well-studied dog owners might not know how to properly take care of it. A dog’s double coat consists of both a soft undercoat and a long, thick outer coat, each of which performs different functions to protect the dog from the elements. With this in mind, there are some dos and don’ts about double coat care that every dog owner should know.

DO Understand Your Dog’s Double Coat
Double coats are pretty common among herding breeds, retrievers, and terriers, but other breeds may have them as well. Double coats are meant to protect your dog from both the cold and the heat. The undercoat keeps your dog warm in the winter months, but it also keeps cool air close to the skin during the summer months. The outer coat is meant to resist the elements like cold, snow and UV rays. By better understanding what the outer and undercoats are supposed to do, you can be better prepared for double coat maintenance when the temperature starts to change. The thicker and longer a dogs hair the thinner the skin. Double coated dogs have thin paper thin skin and need their coat for protection.

DON’T Go Against Professional Advice
If you have a dog with an exceptionally thick coat, you may think that shaving all that fur during the summer months is the right thing to do. After all, how else is your dog supposed to keep cool? It makes perfect sense to shave your dog when it gets hot outside, right? Actually, it doesn’t. Double coats are not like jackets; you shouldn’t remove them when it gets hot. In fact, doing so could not only ruin the coat when it grows back in, but it could also make your dog uncomfortable! A dog’s undercoat acts as a sort of insulation to regulate body temperature. Changing it by shaving it all off will leave your dog feeling hotter than when he had his coat as your dog will no longer be able to regulate his/her own temperature. Plus, shaving your dog’s double coat puts him at a greater risk of sunburn or heat stroke. This is why vets, groomers, and breeders all agree that shaving off a double coat is almost never a good idea, except for medical reasons. 

There are still some things you can do to help maintain your dog’s double coat and your groomer can advise you of the different options.

DO Practice Regular Bathing and Brushing
One reason you may be tempted to shave your dog is the constant shedding that comes the summer. Why? Because of the longer days. Shedding is due to light and as our dogs live indoors and exposed to lots of lights indoors, this only compounds the issue and our dogs continue to shed after natural  dark. 

There are ways to handle your dog’s shedding hair that doesn’t risk ruining his double coat. The first is regular bathing and shampooing, second is brushing your dog’s double coat and third is to de-shed the coat. Like bathing, brushing and de-shedding can rid your dog’s coat of any loose hair before it sheds everywhere. There are even special double coat brushes that are designed to pull away any loose hair from both the outer and undercoats for a more thorough clean. Groomers will have professional equipment and de-shedding tools. You would be amazed at the amount of coat comes off during a de-shed session of a double coated dog.

DO Have Your Dog Shaved Only If It’s Under Special Circumstances
Shaving your dog’s double coat isn’t recommended to keep him cool during the summer, but there are certain circumstances where it may be necessary. This can include preparation for surgery, removing matted hair, and aiding in canine skin disease treatments.
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