Shaving German Shepherds
Summer is just around the corner, and with those rising temperatures comes an age-old question—should you shave your Australian Shepherd to help them beat the heat?
It’s a question that tends to get dog owners pretty riled up on both sides of the debate.
I vividly remember one July afternoon a few years back.
My Aussie Buddy was just laying there, panting up, and looking absolutely miserable.
In that moment, I seriously considered grabbing the clippers and giving him a “summer cut” to provide some relief.
But before making any rash decisions, I decided to do some findings into whether shaving double-coated dogs like Aussies is actually advisable.
Here’s what I discovered from the experts—the short answer is no, you shouldn’t shave your Australian Shepherd in the summer. However, you may trim the hair down just a little bit, but do not shave all the way down to their skin.
Let me explain the reasoning behind that in more detail.
An Aussie’s Double Coat is an Air Conditioner
One of the big misconceptions is that shaving will help keep your furry friend cool when temperatures soar.
But that dense double coat Aussies rock actually acts as excellent insulation against both hot and cold extremes.
Their outer guard hairs form a protective layer that reflects heat from the sun’s rays.
Underneath that topcoat lies the downy soft undercoat that creates pockets of air circulation right next to the skin.
It’s this ingenious double layering that helps regulate their body temperature so efficiently.
By shaving off that coarse top layer of fur, you’re removing the natural sunshade and heat-reflecting properties.
And the undercoat is no longer being insulated, allowing the scorching summer heat to beat directly onto your pup’s skin. Not ideal.
Shaving your Aussie can cause more Problems than it solves
Aside from overheating risks, shaving an Aussie’s fur down to the skin can lead to other unpleasant issues:
- Increased risk of sunburn and skin cancer from UV exposure
- No protection against bug bites, plant irritants, etc.
- Coat may grow back unevenly, patchy, or improperly textured
- Can interfere with normal shedding cycles
- Some dogs experience anxiety, stress, or shame after shaving
Their double coats evolved over centuries to be a self-cooling system. By shaving it off, even with good intentions, you’re really messing with nature’s design. Not something to take lightly!
So what can you do to keep them Comfortable?
Don’t worry, there are still plenty of cooling strategies to try before reaching for the clippers:
- Ensure they have constant access to fresh, cool water when outside
- Use cooling mats, pads, or elevated beds for relief when inside
- Restrict intense exercise to early morning and evening hours
- Take them swimming at a dog beach or pool
- Get them used to wearing a cooling vest on hot days
- Make sure they have shaded areas to hang out
- Use the AC, fans, dehumidifiers to keep your home comfortable
- Consider a warm weather grooming trim to thin out the undercoat
With some basic preventative measures like these, most Aussies can stay nice and comfy all summer long without the need for shaving.
When Shaving an Aussie is Okay
While not recommended for routine summer shaves, there are a few scenarios where trimming an Aussie’s coat may be appropriate:
- If matted or extremely neglected, shaving may be necessary to start fresh
- After surgery or serious injury where the area needs to stay clipped
- For elderly or severely ill dogs no longer able to regulate body temp
- For dogs with certain metabolic or skin conditions
In these types of exceptional cases, the benefits of shaving can outweigh the risks when done under a vet’s guidance. But for ordinary, healthy Aussies, their fantastic coats are best left alone.
At the end of the day, whether to shave comes down to your individual dog and climate.
However, most experts agree that for the majority of Australian Shepherds, leaving their lush, double coats fully intact is the best way to keep them comfortable all summer long.
Just be sure to make some simple adjustments—provide plenty of water, shady spots, and air conditioning access on those scorching days.
With a little preparation, your Aussie buddy can stay cool as a cucumber while flaunting that beautiful furry coat nature gave them.
So next time you’re sweating it out and eyeing those clippers, pause for a moment.
Their coats may seem counterproductive, but they’re finely tuned insulation that shouldn’t be messed with unless absolutely necessary.
With some small tweaks, your Aussie will be more than ready to go another summer while looking perfectly good.