Now that we’re getting closer to the summer, a lot of people might begin to wonder if their Goldendoodles should be shaved, this is typically due to them thinking that their Goldendoodles’ long beautiful hair looks notably hot in the warm summer months. But will shaving a Goldendoodle even decrease the heat? For humans shaving our hair will usually cool us off, but with dogs’, this kind of logic doesn’t apply.
Should I shave my Goldendoodle when it gets’ hotter? No, you shouldn’t shave a Goldendoodle completely to their skin. Shaving a Goldendoodle will only make it feel hotter as it will destroy the coats’ insulation value, while also exposing the dog to issues such as sunburns and sore spots.
Let’s dig a little deeper into this quite important subject.
Should I Shave My Goldendoodle?
When we’re getting closer to July and August, It isn’t uncommon to notice Doodles wondering around being almost shaved completely to the skin, and if you read the rest of this article, you will know why the owners of those dogs are doing a lot more harm than good.
In a quick summary, the only time it’s ever really needed to shave a Goldendoodle is when a vet has to do it for medical purposes.
Some times your pups’ coat might become quite matted or tangled if you’re not combing him out frequently, and if that condition becomes more than you can handle, you may end up having no other alternative besides booking an appointment with a groomer and have them do a full shave.
But not thinking about those most extreme scenarios, you should generally always trust that the biology of your dogs knows how much hair is needed and where they should grow it.
Starting to mess around with how long the hair should be and where the hair grows, might only mean you screw up a basic biological function that serves to keep your dog safe and comfortable.
- READ MORE: HOW OFTEN SHOULD GOLDENDOODLES BE GROOMED?
Why Is Shaving Goldendoodles Popular?
But why is it so common to see shaved Doodles, if so many problems originate from doing it?
The number one reason for that is most likely that shaving the dog is a perfectly fine solution for a lot of other breeds.
As an example, The Poodle is a breed that you will find is generally shaved often and seeing as Goldendoodles originates from Poodles, for some people it equates that they should also shave a Goldendoodle equally as often.
But unless your Goldendoodle for some odd reason is like 90% Poodle within its DNA make-up, the coat of a Doodle is rarely ever as thick as you will find in a purebred Poodle.
So that could be why we can see other dog owners that have shaved their dogs’ hair almost completely to the surface.
Double-coated Dogs
Unlike certain dog breeds that has hair, a Goldendoodle instead has two layers of fur.
This kind of fur isn’t the same as the hair other breeds have. One example of that is that a double-coated dog will have fur that only grows to a predetermined length.
The bottom layer in the coat is called an undercoat and is usually shorter and softer, where the longer hairs of the outer coat are rougher and they are located over the undercoat basically like a blanket.
The outer coat is also the layer that has the important oils that a dog uses to repel water while the shorter undercoat is there to keep their skin dry.
When talking about temperatures, the undercoat, and the outer coat cooperates to always insulate the dog against both the heat and cold. So by shaving and removing the outer layer, it means the heat will have free passage to come in.
This is the same thing as leaving the lid open on a cooler and then still expecting that it’s possible to keep your drinks and food nice and cold.
Protection From Sunburn
And this double-coat isn’t only able to insulate the Goldendoodle but it’s also great protection against the sun.
A dogs’ outer coat is a naturally powerful UV blocker, that can protect your dogs’ delicate and tender skin from getting a very painful sunburn. Seeing as sunburns can lead to very critical issues for your dog, including such things as heatstroke that can be fatal to dogs, it’s very wise to keep this coat as perfect as possible.
That was another example of how our attempts to relieve one issue only leads to exposing our dogs to even more severe issues.
Avoid Sore Spots
Another great thing that a perfect coat can protect your dog against, is that it’s also a great friction-reducer in the most sensitive areas.
As an example of this, the coat under and around the legs is normally longer and softer than other places which help to serve as a friction relief whenever your dog is running and jumping around for hours or if he’s beside you on a long run.
Possible Problems With The Undercoat
But shaving a Goldendoodle won’t only be problematic in the summer.
The dogs’ outer coat will eventually grow out and eventually become lush and thick when heading into the cold winter months.
The problem, in that case, is that the undercoat will get all messed up when you’ve shaved the outer coat.
So instead of being a normal and healthy fluffy coat, the undercoat might become all matted and tangled. And in that case, not only will the insulation properties have been ruined in the summer, but now it’s also ruined for the winter.
Good job, the dog will most likely end up being both too hot for the summer and also too cold in the winter.
How To Keep Your Goldendoodle Cool In The Summer
So, to really make sure that your doodle is able to stay cool during the summer, shaving him is probably the worst possible option.
The Simple reason for that is that Goldendoodles aren’t able to dissipate the heat through their skin as humans can.
Instead of doing it like us, dogs regulate their body temperatures by panting.
And panting isn’t really the most efficient method, which is why heat is so dangerous for a dog.
So when a Doodle owner then assume that they can shave their Goldendoodle and it will help the dog endure hotter temperatures, the issue is that it will only get worse.
So, what should you do to most effeciently keep your Goldendoodle cool?
There are numerous ways for you to help your dog keep nice and cool in the summer, and let’s have a look at a few of my preferred tips.
Place some water in the shade
If you do this, remember that shade moves continuously, so you have to move the water bowl with the shade to prevent the water in the bowl from getting overheated.
Get a pool for your backyard
Goldendoodles absolutely love being in the water, so having a pool in your backyard should be a complete success!
Avoid feeding your dog just before or after going outside
Doodles are susceptive to some gastrointestinal issues, so if they eat around the time they are outside in the heat it can quickly increase the risk of some of these issues for your dog.
Avoiding Heat Strokes
Heat strokes can be absolutely fatal to every living being so you should do anything in your power to avoid it happening with your pup.
Hillspet.com has this nice article looking at heat strokes in dogs, so if you’re interested in knowing more about the subject, you should take a look at it.
Conclusion
So while you might see people that shaves their Goldendoodles as they believe they are actually helping it, remember that they really aren’t.
A shaved Goldendoodle is a lot more likely to contract any issues with heat during the summer than a dog that has just been groomed correctly without ever overdoing it.
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