Should I shave my Australian Shepherd's fur? Is it bad for his coat?

A dog's coats is designed to capture air and use it as an insulator. In the winter, this keeps the cold out and holds the heat in. During the summer, this system holds the heat at bay and helps your dog regulate his body temperature. Without this insulating layer of hair, he is susceptible to heat stroke. So, shaving is not a good idea.

The problem with shaving your German Shepherd dog is that the hair may not grow back in its original quality. It may become thin, or the quality of the top coat will appear like undercoat. There is no need to shave him to make him feel cooler. He is a beautiful dog.

Yes, you have to be careful in shaving the coat too short because it will not protect him from the sun anymore and the coat is very important for thermal insulation. You can try brushing and just clipping the matts that don' t come off with gentle brushing.

Actually, double coated breeds have natural mechanisms for keeping warm and cool. I would not recommend clipping him as this interferes with their natural temperature management. His best bet would be to be provided a cool area to rest and lots of access to water. If it's too hot, make accomodations for him where you can control the temperature or bring him into the garage.

Evening! Yes, it's absolutely fine to take him to have him sheared. GSDs have a thick undercoat, and they can shed a lot. I have a Chow Chow, another breed with a thick undercoat, and I get her shaved as well to make her cooler and cut down on the shedding in my home. Go for it :-)

No, shaving a retriever will not help her coat development and will contribute to her problems. Underlying issues such as poor intestinal or pancreaticfunction, mites or nutritional deficiencies may still be playing a role. A skin support diet such as royal canin skin care would help as well ad a full physical exam by your vet to rule out medical causes

Shaving him down at that young age is not recommended. A thick coat protects against heat and sun as well as chilly temps. Keep him indoors in a cool area of the house. make sure Rex doesn't get too chilled though. When he is 10-12 weeks of age and has had at least 2 vaccines, he can visit a groomer for a "puppy cut" if necessary.