When it comes to our furry friends, we all want what’s best for them. But did you know that shaving your dog can be beneficial for his/her health and well-being? That’s right – regular grooming can help keep your pup feeling and looking his/her best. In this article, I’ll discuss the benefits of shaving your dog, so you can make an informed decision about how to care for your four-legged family member.

Should You Shave Your Dog?

Many dog owners struggle with whether or not they should shave their dogs. It’s a big decision because well, shaving your dog can completely change the look of your dog and can be traumatic to owners and dogs.

As you’re trying to decide if shaving your dog is a good idea, consider the following benefits of shaving your dog.

Benefits of Shaving Your Dog

Shaving your dog isn’t just good for your floors, since it keeps fur off them – it’s good for a dog’s health and well-being, too. The following are some of the best benefits of shaving your dog.

Decreases the Risk of Skin Problems

Double coats often cause issues for a dog’s skin. Double-coated dogs, especially in the summer months, have a difficult time getting air to their skin. The air is what helps make it easier to get the skin what it needs from topical treatments for skin conditions, such as Aquaphor, CBD oil, etc.

Keeps a Dog’s Coat Healthy

Single-coat dogs have a much easier time keeping their fur healthy. A dog’s skin produces oils that are essential for a dog’s coat. When a dog’s fur is brushed, the oils from the skin get distributed all over the dog’s body. Dogs with thick coats don’t get the same benefits because it can be hard to move the oils through the outer coat.

Prevents Matted Fur

Matted fur happens when loose hair entangles with other hair on the undercoat. As the matted area grows, it can start to affect the outer coat. For some matted hair, the only option is to cut it off. When shaving a dog, all the matted hair gets removed and new hair has a chance to grow that is healthier, stronger, and less likely to become matted.

Improve Appearance

Shaving your dog is one of the best ways to turn a bad-looking fur coat into a nice-looking one. New hair is radiant when it’s cared for the right way. If you’ve made some mistakes in grooming your pup, shaving your dog can help you start over.

Remove Bacteria, Parasites, and Debris from Fur

Those of you with dogs that have long hair or thick coat types know all about how virtually everything gets stuck in the coat. Shaving dogs is the best way to remove all of the bad stuff hiding in fur.

Better for Diagnoses

It can be really hard to tell what is going on with your dog’s skin if there’s hair in the way. It’s even harder when a dog has a matted coat. Removing all of the hair can make it much easier to see hidden problems. Veterinarians often ask if they can shave a dog’s coat for this reason.

Improve the Smell of Your Home

Dog smell comes from your dog’s hair. No matter if it’s long hair or short hair, it carries odors. Removing your pet’s hair will make it easier to keep your pup smelling fresh and clean. Just think how easy it is to take a dog wipe to your dog’s body instead of washing all that fur.

Remove Ingrown Hairs

If your pup is suffering from ingrown hairs, you can treat it topically but that can be nearly impossible with a pet’s coat in the way. Shaving your dog will not only help remove the ingrown hairs but help you get to them easier to take them out and treat the area.

Make Your Pup More Comfortable

The summer is miserable for thick dog coats because of the hot weather. Double-coated breeds have it even worse. Removing a lot of that hair will make the summer months much more bearable for your pup and you know what we say at Dog Ownership Guide – Happy Dog ~ Happy Owner.

Best Ways to Shave Your Dog

The best way to shave your dog is to use a professional groomer. It’s easy and you’ll have no mess to deal with afterward. If a groomer isn’t in your budget, shaving your dog is simple to do, as long as you have the right tools and set up the area well for quick cleanup.

The best way I’ve found to shave my dogs is using a tarp. I lay the tarp out, put one of my dogs in the middle, and go to town with the shaver. When I’m done, I make sure all loose hair is off my dog and take him/her off the tarp. All I have to do is fold the tarp up in a way the hair remains inside of it and take it out to a nearby wooded area to let it all out.

With my small dogs, I’ve put them in the sink or bathtub, shaved them, and then used a vacuum to pick up the hair. For any remaining hair (not too much), I wash it down the sink while I disinfect it.

For shaving grooming tools, I recommend the following:

These dog clippers come equipped with stainless steel metal blades, perfect for thick coats. It boasts a powerful 6,800 RPM motor to reduce the chances of pulling hair, so you can groom your furry friend faster.

Noise-sensitive pooches? These clippers are designed to be quiet, with a noise level of less than 55 dB. Plus, the battery is capable of up to 240 minutes of continuous use after a two-hour charge. And with a cordless design, you can bring it with you on all your outdoor adventures.

We love how they are waterproof, so you can safely rinse them off under the tap. A special cleaning brush is included to make sure you get all the pet hair out of the blades.

Overall, this is the perfect grooming solution for thick coats. It’s easy to use, quiet, and long-lasting.

The Benefits of Shaving Your Dog

Now you know the benefits of shaving your dog. Whether you decide to do it or not, it’s good that you’re considering it. It means you’re a great pet owner. Weigh the benefits and disadvantages of shaving your dog and then make a decision based on it. Just remember: the hair will grow back so if you end up regretting it, you’ll only have to deal with it for a short period of time.

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