Summertime here in Bozeman!
How to keep your pup cool - and learning the SAFE ways to do so.
Some pup owners are under the impression that shaving your dog can help them cool down in the summer, much like a human can cut their long, thick hair to help them stay cool. In most cases, this is not true and is actually more detrimental for your dog. PLEASE READ THROUGH THIS! AKC information on shaving coats at the bottom of this post.
So what can you do to keep your pup
cool safely? Here are some options!
Deshedding Treatments
Here at Bozeman Dog Company, we offer deshedding treatments, which include a deshedding shampoo and conditioner in the tub, a long blowdry to help blow all of the loose, dead hair out, and lots and lots of brushing! This will help keep your pup cool by getting all of the dead hair that’s just sitting in their coat out, and allowing their summer coat to healthily come into cool them naturally.
Cooling vests
Cooling vest come in many sizes and varieties and are a great way for your dog to cool down in these hot summer months. They are designed to keep the core body temperature lower, preventing heat exhaustion.
ALWAYS have water available
Let your dog drink as much water as possible, and if you have a working freezer, you can make cold treats like frozen chew toys or ice pops for dogs.
Shaded areas
Along with plenty of cool water, the most important thing to do to keep a dog cool is to stay indoors or in the shade. If you were out and about in the summer, things like cooling and spray bottles can help keep your pup, safe and cool in the summer sun!
Be educated on signs of heatstroke! 
In spite of your best efforts, dogs can still develop heat stroke. Be sure to be educated on the signs of this in order to help them as soon as possible and immediately take them to a cooler area or the vet. Some, but not all, signs of heat stroke include: extreme thirst, weakness/fatigue, vomiting, and difficulty breathing.
Just because your dog has a thick coat, does not mean it is causing them to feel hotter! It is actually quite the opposite. Your dogs coat is meant to cool them off in the summer, and keep them warm in the winter. Do not shave their way of regulating their temperature!
Below is what the American Kennel Club says on shaving double-coated dogs.
AKC and Dr. Jerry Kein, on shaving double coated dogs:
“Double-coated dogs have a soft, inner coat of hair close to their skin that serves as an insulating layer, helping keep them warm in cold weather and cool in hot weather. In summer, a dog will shed a good bit of this under- layer, but what remains will help capture air between the two coat layers, allowing the dog to keep the heat at bay and regulate their body temperature. The outer coat (or guard hair) consists of longer hair that gives a dog their color. Dogs do not shed the outer coat as much.
Examples of double-coated dogs are Golden Retrievers, Border Collies, German Shepherd Dogs, Labrador Retrievers, Siberian Huskies, and English Springer Spaniels. As they shed their undercoats in warm weather, the outer coat remains to protect them from sunburn and insect bites.”
“Your dog’s coat actually acts as an insulator,” explains Dr. Jerry Klein, Chief Veterinary Officer for the AKC. “Shaving that coat to reduce shedding or supposedly to keep the dog cool also eliminates that insulating layer of fur, makes the dog susceptible to heat stroke, and can result in improper hair growth and the possibility of follicle damage. A dog’s fur coat protects him from sunburn and decreases his risk of developing skin cancer.”
Shaving a double coat can also do long-term damage. When it’s shaved down to the skin, the undercoat hair will grow back faster, and sometimes will crowd out the slower-growing guard hairs. This can change the texture and color of a dog’s coat and make it appear patchy and unattractive" (AKC.org, 2024).
