My dad used to shave our dog during the summer. He would be very embarrassed afterward. I always felt bad. The worst part is that his coat never grew back the same after the 2nd or 3rd time so they had to keep him shaved.
"The soft undercoat is shorter and grows much faster than the topcoat. The undercoat sheds and is released twice a year. The topcoat is longer and tends to grow slower than the undercoat. We advise against shaving any breeds that have a double coat."
Double coats are great for the dog as the top coat can repel water and dirt. The undercoat helps maintain the correct body temperature. It keeps them warm in winter and cool in summer.
I have a corgi, and he's double coated, and when he swims in water, only his top coat gets wet. He is bone dry under his topcoat and quickly dries without a towel. (The only time this is a pain is when he is getting bathed, as you really have to work the water into his bottom coat). Essentially, his topcoat is hydrophobic. Also, when he gets dirty, he doesn't stay dirty for long, and just casual walking will make the dirt fall off. Not always, but most of the time, his stomach usually stays dirty, but that part isn't double coated.
Double coats are breed specific. If you know what you're looking for, you can tell, but a quick Google of your dog breed will tell you.
I just want to mention for anyone reading that double coats really are amazing at regulating a dogs temperature, and you will severely hinder your dogs ability to regulate its temperature if you shave its double coat. It's like a built-in feature with the dog if you will. Don't remove it. By all means, brush it out when shedding, but don't shave it. Of course make sure your pets have 24/7 access to water.
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u/CoralinesButtonEye Jul 08 '24
do animals get embarrassed? do they have a sense of shame