Three Reasons You Shouldn’t Shave Your Pet

Thursday, July 11, 2013 - 12:00pm
Golden retriever wearing red collar











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My Jap Chin gets shaved in summer only. He loves it! He also suffers from an allergy to a mite that only affects 5% of dogs, and the shaving actually helps the condition. Plus, it makes him absolutely adorable! Winter, he goes right back into gorgeous mountain lion coat mode!

Peggy T

Crazy! I have to shave my Cocker Spaniel. He would be a mess even with brushing him everyday. Shaving makes him not only beautiful, but clean and cool. I give him a show cut. When it is hot he stays in the air conditioned house. Comes out longer in the late afternoon by pool. Winter a jacket works just fine. No dog should be left out all day in any weather without access to home. Shave your dog and make him groomed and beautiful!


I disagree....this article doesn't fully address various breeds as not all dogs have multiple layers to their coats. I have a chow/shepherd with a multi-layered coat who I do not shave. My German Shepherd doesn't require it either but my Old English most certainly does to be comfortable during the sweltering heat of South Carolina in the summer. Also, I just have to ask, how is one to clip a mat if not with scissors? My mix gets them all of the time and that's the only option I have to remove the mat as she HATES being brushed! This is a misleading and poorly thought out article!


To remove hair mats, I use a curved envelope opener. It has a sharp blade but cannot touch the skin. I run it through the mat several times, then just pull off the matted fur.


I am so happy to see that so many pet owners (and even a vet) know not to follow this ridiculous advice! Do what makes your pet comfortable!

Corrine from CT

I also disagree with this article. My Golden/doodle, Bichon and Terrier/Lhasa are all happiest when shaved. I do agree that you should not shave them hairless for risk of sunburn.

Dog lover

My vet actually told me to shave my one dog. He gets what is called "Hot Spots" and they are painful and smell horrible. Shaving him keeps them from appearing. He is a large dog, with a heavy undercoat but he stays inside most of the time.


I've never shaved my dog because I love his soft, lush coat, and don't want it to grow back differently, if it would. So I hose him down outdoors with cool water when it's really hot. He's gotten used to it, and smiles more and moves more comfortably afterwards.


I also disagree with this article. I have a bichon and true she doesnt sweat but i notice a difference in attitude when she is groomed, I see this in the way she runs and plays. She does not do it with long hair. I groom her every 6 weeks. And how can you say dont cut the mats? With 3 layers of hair, as soon as i feel a little mat, I cut it off.

Mary Mason

Good for you ! Bichons do need to be groomed often. And, cutting out a mat is fine if you are very careful. It's better to brush them out..... but some people don't get it. They let their dog get so matted and try to save money by getting out the scissors. But they don't know what they are doing and end up cutting into the dogs skin and really hurting them. It's so sad.