A word from our in-house groomer, Carrie:Time for summer haircuts!Most dogs benefit from shorter cuts to keep them cooler in the hot days of summer, however this is not true for all breeds of dog. There are two different coat types- Single coated & Double Coated.A Single coat means there is only a top coat that grows all over the body with no different undercoat, examples of breeds with a single coat would be Shih-Tzu's, poodles, bichons, pugs. These breeds can be shaved without damaging the coat. They will be cooler, but be careful of sun exposure; they are prone to sunburn as well.A Double coat means that there is both a top coat made of tougher guard hairs and a bottom or undercoat that is thick and soft.Breeds with double coats such as Pomeranians, Shetland sheep dogs, Collies, Huskies and Samoyeds should never be shaved. Their top coat protects them and keeps them cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Shaving also damages the coat; this increases the risk of the coat never growing back properly.These double coated dogs need to have a process done called de-shedding. The coat becomes impacted and air cannot circulate between the skin and the top coat.This airflow keeps the dog cool and the top coat protects from the sun.Ask your groomer about our de-shedding packages available.
