If you have landed on this page it is because you are the proud owner of a double coated dog or you are just curious, either way you are always welcome here.
I am a proud owner of two beautiful Australian Shepherds and a Whippet mix, so I understand the ups and downs of these wonderful coated dogs.
On the plus side:
they're soft,
they get that majestic flowing in the wind look,
they look athletic (usually are),
they don't require brushing every day,
and they have a certain elegance about them.
On the down side:
They shed EVERYWHERE,
and they can get overheated.
On the plus side:
they're soft,
they get that majestic flowing in the wind look,
they look athletic (usually are),
they don't require brushing every day,
and they have a certain elegance about them.
On the down side:
They shed EVERYWHERE,
and they can get overheated.
We're all just trying to be the best dog parent we know how to be, and we're concerned about their well being and their crazy hair everywhere. So sometimes we turn to a de-shedding treatment at the groomer, sometimes they're a success and sometimes they're not. Here's why:
If your dog is molting, meaning they have loads of undercoat coming out at one time, a de-shedding treatment can do wonders to restore the shiny elegant look we all love, and get rid of a lot of that undercoat.
But
If you have a dog that just is shedding a lot, but it isn't coming out in clumps, a de-shedding treatment is not going to be as effective.
Why?
We have tools to be able to make a dramatic impact on dogs who have undercoat clumps coming out. Dogs who have big clumps and large amounts of undercoat coming out (Golden Retrievers, Samoyeds, Huskys, some Labs, American Eskimos) are usually shedding because of the weather, weekly brushing and regular trips to the groomer will help to greatly reduce the amount of shedding.
Other dogs like Border Collies, Pitties, and Labs, don't have thick fur and it falls out individually. If these dogs are shedding a great amount, there is nothing I can put on their coat or do to their coat that will greatly affect their shedding.
Proper nutrition makes healthy skin, which makes a healthy coat.
I didn't believe it at first either, but then it happened to me personally. My Whippet mix out shed both of my Aussies, as a last ditch effort I changed her nutrition and I was astonished by the difference.
If your dog is molting, meaning they have loads of undercoat coming out at one time, a de-shedding treatment can do wonders to restore the shiny elegant look we all love, and get rid of a lot of that undercoat.
But
If you have a dog that just is shedding a lot, but it isn't coming out in clumps, a de-shedding treatment is not going to be as effective.
Why?
We have tools to be able to make a dramatic impact on dogs who have undercoat clumps coming out. Dogs who have big clumps and large amounts of undercoat coming out (Golden Retrievers, Samoyeds, Huskys, some Labs, American Eskimos) are usually shedding because of the weather, weekly brushing and regular trips to the groomer will help to greatly reduce the amount of shedding.
Other dogs like Border Collies, Pitties, and Labs, don't have thick fur and it falls out individually. If these dogs are shedding a great amount, there is nothing I can put on their coat or do to their coat that will greatly affect their shedding.
Proper nutrition makes healthy skin, which makes a healthy coat.
I didn't believe it at first either, but then it happened to me personally. My Whippet mix out shed both of my Aussies, as a last ditch effort I changed her nutrition and I was astonished by the difference.
What about shaving my double coated dog? I'm concerned about them overheating.
That is a totally valid concern that any double coated dog Mamma or Papa would have.
However, in most cases shaving a double coated dog does more harm than good.
A dog's coat is more than just their heater, it protects their sensitive skin, and serves as their air conditioner.
Dogs don't relieve heat by sweating through their skin like we do, their primary way to control their temperature is through panting.
When a double coated dog's coat is brushed and has minimal undercoat, the top silky guard hairs protect the skin from the sun and allow air to flow underneath to the skin.
