Why You Should Not Shave Your Double-Coated Golden Retriever
Many kindhearted people see their beautiful Golden Retriever dog and think that their poor furbaby is suffering in the heat. If you live in the south, as we do in Central Texas, the heat can be unbearable at times for all, human and pets alike. These kindhearted people think that shaving their Golden Retriever will make them cooler, but it’s simply not true.
Some people elect to shave their double coated dogs to cut down on shedding. Frankly, this is not a good reason to put your pet at risk and associated discomfort in our and most expert’s opinion and if shedding is a show stopper, double coated dogs may not be the right fit for you.
There is a common misconception that shaving your dog makes them more hypoallergenic; this is also not true. The vast majority of human allergies to dogs is to dog “dander”, not hair and shaved dogs still drop dander. Pet dander is actually skin particles, similar to dandruff that sluff off all dogs over time; shaved or not. While some dog breeds are a little more hypoallergenic than others, none are without dander and as a result, there is no truly hypoallergenic dog and the length of their hair has no play here.
Double-coated and single-coated fur are two different things and a Golden Retriever is a double-coated dog. Single-coated dogs include: Poodles, Labradoodles, Maltese, Bichon Frise, and others; these dogs are often groomed/shaved and there are no problems in doing so. For a fairly complete list of double coated dogs, refer to the link at the end of this article. The list is long and some may surprise you. Short hair does not necessarily mean single coated.
But wait.. doesn’t long hair mean they suffer in the heat?
Not as much as one might think.
Dogs don’t sweat through their skin like humans do; they sweat through their feet (paw pads) and their nose and mouth via panting. Which brings us back to why you shouldn’t shave your double-coated dog; the double-coat is water resistant, protective and insulates your dog not only from cold, but from heat as well. This type of fur is designed to help regulate body temperature. Think of the insulation in your house, it not only helps keep hot or cold air out, but it helps keep the temperature inside the house maintained as well; there is less temperature variations with really good insulation.
So, what is a double-coat? It is a coat with a combination of long, often stiff guard hairs for the topcoat and a fluffy dense haired undercoat. It is that thick, dense, shorter undercoat that is very important in protecting your dog from temperature changes, much like a thermostat. The undercoat also protects your dog from sunburn, because the direct sun rays can’t get to your dog’s skin; which is thinner than human skin. Dogs can get skin cancer just like humans, so the undercoat is the dog’s personal sunscreen/loose layered long-sleeved shirt. The topcoat helps prevent water from getting on the undercoat, in addition, it helps prevent the dog’s skin from getting wet nor cold. We know how much (most) Golden’s like the water. The double-coat is a beautiful design to help dogs who love water and cold.
OK so why not shave?
You should not shave a double-coated dog. These reasons include:
- Your dog’s coat may take a long time to recover (if ever) if you shave him/her, because the protective guard hairs grow at a much slower rate than the fluffy base
- Your dog has greater risk of sunburn, which can lead to greater risks of skin cancer
- There is a greater risk of heat stroke since shaving removes the dog’s “thermostat”
- Shaving can cause the dense undercoat to grow back denser which amounts to wearing a goose down coat all year long with no temperature regulation.
- Most veterinarians and reputable groomers recommend against shaving a double-coated dog.
Are there reason I SHOULD shave?
There are valid/necessary reasons for shaving a double-coated dog, these include:
- For surgical or medical situations where shaving is strongly recommended (and usually performed) by a licensed veterinarian
- The dog becomes terribly matted due to neglect and can’t be brushed/combed out
- Your dog acquires some skin diseases like hot spots or other dermatitis and shaving is strongly recommended by a licensed veterinarian.
(Once the coat starts to grow back in, keep your dog brushed or combed to prevent matting.)
What can I do about the shedding?
ALL Golden Retriever shed, in fact your Golden Retriever will probably have what are called “blow outs” twice a year as a dog’s natural way to adjust to the seasons. This means a lot more fur around (on you and the floors/furniture). Plan to make brushing a part of the routine in owning a Golden Retriever; daily brushing is best but plan on doing it at least once per week. Note: We advise avoiding “de-shedder”tools like “The Furminator”. De-shedding combs with sharp, dense blades can and usually do rip out and tear up the undercoat. Normal brushing should remove loose hair but should not cut nor pull hair out at the root. Along with the regular brushing, it is advised to bathe your Golden at least once a month, this too will help remove loose dog fur and make your baby feel and smell better too! Having a good routine of brushing and bathing your Golden will keep your dog’s coat healthier so that your dog is able to keep it’s built in thermostat of regulating his/her body temperature. If keeping up this sort of routine is too much for you, you might want to reconsider owning a double-coated dog.