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Dear Gus . . .
Think Twice About A Summer Haircut
 Dear Gus:
My best friend Harry just got a summer cut. His mom and
Dad had the groomer shave down his thick coat. I think
he looks funny, but he says it's to keep him cool in
summer. Should I get a summer cut too?
Daisy
Dear Daisy:
Most dogs have a double coat. Out of each hair follicle
grows one topcoat hair and several undercoat hairs. In
the spring, dogs shed out their dense undercoat, leaving
lots of airspace between the topcoat hairs. This acts as
air-conditioning for the dog. When you shave off the
coat in springtime, you remove the summer
air-conditioning system.
Dogs stay cool by panting, lying somewhere cool and
sweating through the sweat glands on their toes. Other
than that, their coat is the only protection they have
from sunburn, heat stroke and cuts and abrasions.
My friends Lisa and Sonja, both groomers, tell me that a
better alternative to shaving, it a de-shedding
treatment. This involves removing as much of the
undercoat as possible, by either brushing with a
shedding tool or blowing the hair out.
My mom carries a number of special grooming tools at See
Spot Shop that will help your mom or dad keep your
undercoat to a minimum. Stop by and ask her about them.
If you tell her I sent you you'll even save 10% and I'll
get a commission.
Gus
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