With the arrival of summer and rising temperatures, many owners are concerned about the heat and how it will affect their dogs, so they choose to cut or trim their dogs’ coats. But watch out! Because even when done with the best of intentions, in some cases it can be a big mistake to trim a dog’s hair, especially if you shave it completely.
In this article we explain which breeds of dogs should not be shaved and why. Enjoy reading
Can you shave all dogs?
The answer to this question is no, because for some dogs a haircut can do more harm than good. Dog hair is very different from the hair that grows on humans.
One of the main differences is in the density of their hair, because while humans grow one hair for each hair follicle, dogs also grow many, and can also create layers.
The characteristics of a dog’s coat are determined by its genetic information and therefore depend on its breed or, in the case of non-breed dogs, on the crossbreeding of different breeds from which it is descended.
Dog breeds that should not have their coats clipped
All dog breeds, including mixed medium- and double-coated breeds or mixed breeds, as well as Nordic, primitive and short-haired dogs, should never have their coats cut or clipped. Listed here are some examples of breeds and their crossbreeds that have similarities in coat type that we should not cut the coat but only trim and shape the coat with scissors using a technique called trimming:
Podengo
Dachshund
Water dog
Belgian Shepherd
Border collie
Golden retriever
Labrador
German shepherd
Siberian husky
Alaskan malamute
Mastiff
Pomeranian Lulu
Chow-chow
Other breeds of dog, particularly those with long, fine hair and little or no undercoat, may require that the coat be brushed frequently shallowly, is trimmed to maintain its hygiene. This is the case with dogs such as:
Maltese Bichon
Lhasa apso
Shih tzu
Yorkshire terrier
With these breeds or mixed breed dogs with similar coats, it is important to realize that a trim is not the same as a complete cut. The cut should be superficial to disinfect the coat and improve the comfort of the animal, and while it may be more comfortable or aesthetic, the dog should never be fully clipped because, as we mentioned, being exposed to very strong sunlight would be dangerous.
A good barber or groomer knows what each animal needs based on its coat type, and should never give or recommend a haircut for a dog that doesn’t want a trim.
Types of dog grooming
Here we will list the different and most popular types of dog grooming:
Hygienic grooming: usually on the genitals and also on the paws
Baby grooming: aimed at giving him the appearance he had as a puppy
Aesthetic grooming: used only to preserve the dog’s appearance.
Machine cutting: allows you to adjust the size of the wire to be cut
Scissor cutting: more used for superficial cuts or to finish the various types of grooming
Breed clipping: similar in aesthetics, but with the goal of leaving the dog with the standard characteristics of its breed.
Trimming: the goal is to trim the hair with scissors to improve the dog’s characteristics.
Stripping: means waxing and aims to remove hair directly from the root with appropriate tools to stimulate hair growth in the area.
