Summer brings specific grooming challenges — and some deeply held myths. Here's what actually helps dogs in the heat and what to tell clients who ask about summer cuts.
Every summer, groomers field the same request dozens of times: "Can you shave him down? He must be so hot." The answer is almost always more complicated than the client expects. Here's the science and the practical guidance for summer grooming.
The most important summer grooming fact every owner of a double-coated dog needs to hear: shaving your dog in summer does not keep them cooler. In many cases, it makes them less comfortable and more vulnerable.
Double coats — the kind Huskies, German Shepherds, Goldens, Chows, and similar breeds have — consist of a dense, soft undercoat and a coarser outer coat. This system regulates temperature in both directions. The undercoat traps cool air close to the skin. The outer coat reflects sunlight and shields the skin from UV radiation. Remove it, and you've eliminated the dog's natural cooling system.
Shaved double-coated dogs are also significantly more vulnerable to sunburn. The skin under a dense coat is not acclimated to direct sun exposure.
What actually helps: professional deshedding treatments that remove loose undercoat significantly improve airflow to the skin while maintaining the protective outer coat. This is the correct summer service for double-coated breeds — not a shave.
Single-coated breeds with continuously growing hair — poodles, doodles, bichons, shih tzus, and similar dogs — genuinely benefit from a shorter trim in summer. These coats grow continuously and don't have the insulating undercoat structure. A shorter cut reduces heat retention and keeps the dog more comfortable.
Asphalt and concrete surfaces can exceed 150°F on hot summer days — hot enough to cause burns on paw pads in seconds. Keep the hair between the pads trimmed short in summer to reduce heat collection and make it easier for owners to inspect pads for burns. Recommend owners test pavement temperature with the back of their hand before walking dogs.
Summer brings increased moisture and heat — ideal conditions for ear infections and skin yeast overgrowth. Dogs that swim regularly need ears dried and checked frequently. Dogs with skin folds need those folds kept clean and dry. Work these checks into your summer grooms and educate owners about signs of infection: scratching at ears, head shaking, dark discharge, or a distinctive yeasty smell.
For mobile groomers, summer scheduling requires awareness of heat conditions. Your van can reach dangerous temperatures quickly. Maintain climate control, limit time dogs spend waiting unattended in the van, and consider scheduling your most heat-vulnerable clients (brachycephalic breeds, seniors, very dark-coated dogs) in the morning when temperatures are lower.
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