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Should Double Coated Dogs Be Shaved? What Groomers Tell Owners
Few requests start more debates in a salon than shaving a husky or a golden in summer. Here is how groomers handle it.
Every summer, owners of huskies, golden retrievers, German shepherds, Pomeranians and other double coated breeds ask for a shave to keep their dog cool. Many groomers gently push back, and some refuse except in specific cases. It helps to understand why, and to have a clear way to explain it.
What a double coat is
A double coat has two layers: a dense, soft undercoat close to the skin and longer guard hairs on top. The undercoat sheds heavily, often in seasonal blowouts. The guard hairs shed water and dirt and shade the skin from the sun.
Why many groomers advise against shaving
- Sun protection. Shaving removes the guard hairs that shade the skin, which can leave it exposed.
- Regrowth problems. In some dogs the coat grows back patchy, with a different texture, or slower than expected. This is sometimes called post clipping alopecia, and it is not fully predictable.
- Temperature. A brushed out, deshedded double coat lets air move near the skin. Many groomers find that a thorough deshed does more for comfort than a shave.
When a shave down is the right call
There are good reasons to shave a double coated dog: severe matting that cannot be brushed out humanely, a veterinarian's request for a medical or surgical shave, skin conditions, or an elderly dog that cannot tolerate long brushing. In those cases, comfort comes before coat. Many salons ask owners to sign a release explaining that the coat may not grow back the same.
How to talk owners through it
- Ask what they want to achieve. Usually it is less shedding or a cooler dog.
- Explain the alternative: a full deshed with a high velocity dryer and undercoat tools, plus a sanitary trim and tidy feet.
- Be clear about the risk of shaving in plain language.
- If the owner still wants a shave and it is safe, get it in writing and keep a note on the dog's record.
Pricing a deshed fairly
A proper deshed on a big double coated dog can take longer than a haircut on a small one. If your salon prices it as a basic bath, you are working for less per hour on those dogs. That is a fair point to raise with management, and the guide to how grooming prices are set covers the factors salons use. To see what deshedding grooms are paying you, log them in the commission calculator.
This article is general information. Owners with questions about a specific dog's skin or coat should talk to their veterinarian.