Shaving your dog in summer: wise or not?

Short answer: For a dog with a double coat, shaving in summer is usually counterproductive. The undercoat insulates against cold and heat, and the guard hairs block UV and insects. Thorough de-shedding works better. For curly and long-haired coats, shortening is allowed, with a minimum of 5 mm to keep the skin protected.

Every spring, the same question returns: do you help your dog by shaving him bald when it gets to 30 degrees? For some dogs, the answer is no. Below, you'll find what works and what doesn't for each coat type, plus alternatives that truly provide cooling.

Last updated: August 19, 2026 · Author: Team Clipr, the team behind Clipr.nl that daily supplies dog clippers, clipper blades, and coat care to home groomers and grooming salons in the Netherlands.

In short

• Do not shave a double coat: the undercoat keeps heat out, just as it keeps cold out.
• Dogs cool down by panting and through their paw pads, not through their skin; a shorter coat therefore provides little cooling.
• After shaving, the undercoat grows back faster than the guard hairs, which structurally changes the coat.
• De-shedding, shade, cool walking hours, and water work better than clippers.
• If shaving is medically necessary, maintain a minimum of 5 mm and watch for sunburn on lightly pigmented skin.

How does a double coat actually work?

A double coat consists of two layers. The undercoat is soft, short, and dense, and traps a layer of still air against the skin. This air layer insulates: in winter, it keeps body heat in, and in summer, it keeps external heat out. Above it are the guard hairs: longer, stiffer hairs that repel water and protect the skin from UV, abrasion, and insect bites.

Breeds with a double coat include the husky, malamute, German shepherd, border collie, golden retriever, Bernese mountain dog, and Keeshond. They shed heavily twice a year: the thick winter undercoat comes out in spring and makes way for a thinner summer coat. This process does exactly what shaving should do, without the disadvantages.

Why doesn't a dog cool down through its coat?

Humans sweat all over their bodies. Dogs have hardly any sweat glands in their skin; they release heat by panting, where moisture evaporates through the tongue and airways, and to a limited extent through the paw pads. The skin plays no significant role in this.

A short coat therefore provides much less cooling than people expect. You remove the insulating layer, causing the sun to hit the skin directly and the dog to absorb even more heat.

What happens if you shave a double coat anyway?

Three things, in this order.

1. The air layer disappears. The insulation between the skin and the outside air is gone, so the dog heats up faster in the sun.
2. The coat structure changes. Undercoat grows faster than guard hairs. After a shave, the soft wool returns first and grows through the guard hairs. The coat becomes woollier, duller, and mats more easily.
3. The coat sometimes doesn't grow back. In some dogs, the coat does not grow back, or grows back very little, in certain areas after shaving: clipper alopecia or post-clipping alopecia. It often recovers within a few months to a year, but sometimes it remains permanent.

Which coat type can you shorten in the summer?

Curly coats and doodles do not have seasonal shedding: their hair continues to grow, just like a poodle's. Shortening it is perfectly fine and even practical, as a long curly coat mats more quickly. Which machine and cutting length suit which coat is listed in the overview of the correct dog clippers per coat type.

What do you do instead of shaving?

You cool a double coat by removing the dead undercoat, not by removing the guard hairs. Once the wool is out, air can move through the coat again.

1. De-shed with an undercoat rake or thinning comb. Work in sections, from neck to tail, and never pull through mats. Expect multiple short sessions instead of one long one.
2. Blow with a force dryer. A force dryer blows the loose undercoat out of the coat with a strong airflow. During shedding season, you can remove more wool in twenty minutes with this than with half an hour of brushing, without pulling on the skin.
3. Wash and dry thoroughly. A clean, dry coat breathes better than a coat full of grease and sand.
4. Shade and cooling. Cooling mat, wet towel to lie on, a shallow pool in the garden.
5. Walk during cool hours. Before 9 AM and after 8 PM; check with the back of your hand if the asphalt is not too hot.
6. Drink and cool down. Always fresh water, and a wet washcloth in the groin and armpits, where blood vessels run close to the skin.

Undercoat rakes, thinning combs, and brushes can be found under accessories.

When is shaving in summer wise?

There are situations where shortening is the best option, even for a double coat:

• A medical reason. Skin inflammation, a wound, a surgical area, or a treatment that requires access to the skin.
• Severe matting. If the coat is matted down to the skin and can no longer be combed out, short shaving is the only humane solution. Working through matting causes pain.
• Mobility problems or incontinence. Older dogs who can no longer keep themselves clean benefit from a short hindquarters.
• Proven heat intolerance. On the advice of the veterinarian, for example, with heart problems or severe obesity.

Then do not shave bald. Maintain a minimum of 5 mm so that a protective layer remains over the skin; for most breeds, 9 to 13 mm with a comb attachment is a safer compromise. How to perform this calmly can be read in the step-by-step guide to shaving your dog.

Watch out for sunburn

A shaved dog can get sunburned, especially with light skin or a white coat and on the back, ears, and bridge of the nose. Keep him out of direct sun between 12 PM and 4 PM for the first few weeks. Do not use human sunscreen containing zinc oxide: it is toxic if the dog licks it off.

Common mistakes in warm weather

• Shaving the dog bald "just in case" before it gets warm.
• Skipping de-shedding and immediately grabbing the clippers.
• Shaving over a matted coat, which pulls the skin and causes damage.
• Thinking that a shaved dog sheds less; the hair just becomes shorter.
• Leaving a freshly shaved dog in the garden all day in the sun.

Are you unsure what your dog needs?

First, look at the coat type, not the thermometer. For a double coat, a good de-shedding session and a force dryer make all the difference. For a curly or long-haired coat, the correct cutting length determines comfort. Go through the selection guide for tailored advice, or first read the complete guide to shaving and grooming your dog yourself.

Frequently asked questions

Does shaving help against heat in dogs?

Usually not. Dogs cool down by panting and through their paw pads, not through their skin, so a shorter coat provides little cooling. With a double coat, you actually lose the insulating air layer and protection against UV. Thorough de-shedding has much more effect than shaving.

Can you shave a dog with a double coat?

Only for a medical reason, severe matting, or on the advice of the veterinarian. Normally not: the undercoat grows back faster than the guard hairs, making the coat woollier and more prone to matting. In some dogs, the coat does not grow back in certain areas, known as clipper alopecia.

How short can you shave a dog in the summer?

Maintain a minimum of 5 mm, so that a protective layer remains over the skin against sun and insects. For most dogs, 9 to 13 mm with a comb attachment is more comfortable and safer. Shaving bald down to the skin should only be done if a veterinarian requests it for a treatment.

What do you do against heat if shaving is not an option?

Thoroughly de-shed the coat with an undercoat rake or force dryer, so that air can move through it again. Walk before 9 AM and after 8 PM, provide shade, a cooling mat, and fresh water, and cool with a wet washcloth in the groin and armpits. Never leave the dog alone in a car.