Monday, March 31, 2008

Stop Shaving Your Dogs!!!!

Ok, this is gonna be a bit of a rant.  They won't all be like this, I promise.

People, please stop shaving your dogs unnecessarily.  And groomers, stop doing it just because you don't want to turn away business - it's unethical.  Unless it's done out of ignorance, in which case that's just, ....well ......ignorant.  If you don't know better, you should not be calling yourself a professional groomer.

Here's what I want people to know:  dogs with beautiful, thick coats like Golden Retrievers, Huskies, Collies, etc., have them for a reason.  Aside from being naturally beautiful, these coats insulate and protect the dogs against HEAT and COLD.

On a hot summer day, regardless of your dog's breed or coat type, you should keep him in the shade as much as possible while outside, with access to plenty of drinking (or even better - swimming!) water.

So give your head a shake and stop shaving your Golden Retriever's coat every summer and putting him at risk of getting severe sunburn and heat stroke.  It's stupid and dangerous, and you should be ashamed.

If you don't like the tangles, dirt, smell or excess hair that comes along with dogs like these, I have a suggestion:  get a wonderfully hairless Chinese Crested.  Or one of the zillion hypo-allergenic, non-shedding breeds, like Schnauzers, Westies, Cairns, Poodles, Wheaten Terriers....the list goes on.

To reiterate my point;  if you are not prepared to properly care for a thick or long-haired coat type, please consider getting a different breed of dog.  There are so many choices:  make an informed one.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Riley got hideous hotspots 2 summers ago from swimming and not drying properly. I find it impossible to keep her dry enough at the cottage, so we cut her down close before we go.