Can I Shave My Dog… Yay or Nay?

Do you have a shaggy dog whose fur is always catching the light as it floats around the house? If you answered yes, you may be tempted to ask ‘can I shave my dog?’ But wait, before you embark on a doggy make-over there are some considerations.

Firstly, if your pup is a double-coated dog (more on this below) shaving off their fur could do more harm than help. Secondly, if you’re reading this article as a prospective pet owner because you want to avoid fly-away fur, consider your prospects.

You’ll find that some dogs don’t have fur, they have hair instead, which means they hardly shed. And those with double-coats or any coats for that matter should be free to wear their fur all year-round.

Here’s more on which dogs have hair not fur and why not to shave your dog.

Dogs that have hair

If you’ve landed on this article because you were hoping to get away from flying fur, consider hypoallergenic breeds. These dogs may still cause allergies but are the least likely to do so.

Simply put, they don’t shed. Instead, much like you or I, their hair just grows and grows. Check out the Poodle, or the Maltese.

Dogs that are partly poodle are also partly hypoallergenic. To spot which ones these are, just look for the ‘oodle’ you’ll usually find somewhere in their name. Like the Spoodle for example, and other hybrid dogs.

Now, back to double-coated dogs and why you shouldn’t shave off their coats.

Can I shave my dog, whether double coated or not?

On a hot day you may be tempted to shave your double-coated dog’s fur off. However, there are several reasons this won’t get the desired results. (And several other ways to keep pets cool and safe in summer).

Before we look at what these reasons are, know that some examples of double-coated dogs are:

• Border Collie
• Corgi
• German Shepherd
• Golden Retriever
• Huskie
• Labrador Retriever
• Pomeranian

If you’re unsure whether your dog has a double coat because they’re not on this list, do a quick Google search. Knowing what type of fur your pooch has is like a gateway to all sorts of wonderful dos and don’ts to help keep them silky soft.

What is a double-coated dog?

Many dogs have evolved to weather harsh outdoor conditions. To achieve this, they’ve developed (or perhaps kept) a dual layer of fur. Underneath you’ll find the soft downy fur that keeps them snug and warm.

On top they have slightly coarser fur that helps keep them safe from the elements and keeps them dry. Many of these dogs are known to have ‘waterproof fur.’ Pretty neat trick!

5 reasons not to shave your dog

However, the answer to the ‘can I shave my dog‘ is still no whether your dog has short fur, two layers of fur or hair. Find out why below.

Without further ado, here are five reasons not to shave your dog, regardless of their coat type:

#1. Natural metabolism

You may already know that cats and dogs don’t sweat the same way as humans. This could even be why you want to shave off their fur. But don’t sweat it. The truth is our furry friends do perspire, just not through their fur. Instead they have sweat glands in places like their paw pads and nose. In other words, where they don’t have fur.

Then they also have other ingenious ways of regulating temperature.

Metabolism is a big one.

If you shave off their fur, it can alter a pet’s metabolism and adversely affect their ability to keep warm in the cold or cool in the heat. Your dog’s undercoat does this naturally, kind of like wool on a sheep or feathers on a duck.

#2. Sun damage

Shaving off your dog’s fur can make them prone to sun damage, sunburn and even skin cancer. They’ve evolved their dual coat over thousands of years and aren’t prepped to suddenly do without it overnight.

If you’re going to go ahead and do the shave anyway, avoid taking your dog out for walks around midday and on hot days. And consider doggy sunscreen.

#3. More shedding

If you’re shaving off your dog’s fur to sidestep shedding, you could be in for a nasty surprise! Shedding usually happens in cycles according to your dog’s breed and to changes in the weather or the season.

But once your dog’s fur is shaved it can grow back and begin to shed unpredictably. In other words, your dog’s shedding cycle could be triggered to stay in perpetual ‘ON’ mode.

#4. Damage to the fur

Anybody who’s ever shaved off their eyebrows will know they don’t exactly grow back the way they started out. (Don’t ask why… OK, maybe inspiration from the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’s look went too far).

Anyways! If you shave off your dog’s fur this exact same conundrum can happen to them. The condition of the topcoat can grow back in a worse-off condition. Since the bottom and topcoat each have a special function in regulating your dog’s metabolism, temperature etc., best not to mess with them.

If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.

#5. Skin damage

Just like people, dogs’ skin can also be sensitive. Especially when not protected by the shaggy layer of plush fur. Shaving off a dog’s fur will cause exposed skin that can easily become vulnerable and irritated.

Then there’s also the itch of hair regrowth that can be untenable. Dogs scratching and licking at itches often end up with patchy fur and skin wounds, resulting in cycles of new unwanted skin problems. All of which could have been avoided by simply brushing instead of shaving.

So, the answer to ‘can I shave my dog’ is pretty much no. At least, it’s better not to, and now you know why!

Can I shave my dog to get rid of fleas?

The simple answer is ‘NO’. Shaving your dog can make it easier to see them… which could make it easier to treat them. But it certainly won’t rid your dog of fleas.

There are several ways to get rid of fleas and ticks but they don’t include shaving your dog. Most of them can easily be worked into your routine grooming schedule and won’t necessarily have the same unwanted side effects as shaving your dog.

Read our article about flea treatment in NZ and you’ll quickly answer your ‘can I shave my dog to get rid of fleas’ question.

Other ways to avoid fluff balls floating around the house

Whether your dog has one or two layers of fur there are several ways to minimise shedding. Since you don’t want to shave your dog, most methods include pampering and grooming. That means there’s the added bonus of bonding with your dog as you help rid them and you of flyaway fluff.

Here are some suggestions

• Removing fur from your clothes. Read our top tips on how to remove pet fur from clothing and furniture.
• Flea treatment. Find out about puppy healthcare milestones for flea treatment scheduling and more.
• Routine pet care. Scour our roundup of routine pet care for your puppy and kitten.
• Pet insurance. Because if your dog is moulting more than usual they might need a helping hand from a vet. More on this below…

Pet insurance for a close shave

Now we’ve answered ‘can I shave my dog’ what about another question. What to do when your dog gets into a close shave?

Whether your dog gets a skin itch or an allergy, or something more serious, dog insurance is a great way to give them the medical care they need with peace of mind.

Not only is the first month (or more) of your dog insurance plan FREE with PD Insurance, but you can rest assured you aren’t alone in paying for unexpected vet visits, medication, surgery and more.