Why I don't shave double coats, even in a Carolina summer

Every May, my phone lights up with the same question. It's getting hot, the golden is shedding on everything, and somebody says, "Should I just shave him?"

Usually, no. I know that's not the answer people want.

What a double coat actually does

Goldens, huskies, shepherds, corgis and plenty of mixes have two layers. The undercoat is soft and dense. The outer coat is longer and coarser. Together they hold a pocket of air against the skin, which helps your dog regulate temperature in heat as well as cold. They also protect the skin from sun and from scratches when your dog runs through brush.

Shave it to the skin and that protection is gone. Sunburn on a dog's back in July is a real thing. The coat can also grow back patchy or fuzzy, and sometimes it takes months.

What I do instead

I start with a proper bath, then a long blow-dry that gets air all the way down to the skin. After that comes a de-shed, where I pull out the loose undercoat that's trapping heat. Most owners are surprised by how much comes out. You'll see a bag of fluff, and the dog usually walks away looking lighter and acting it.

Between visits, a few minutes of brushing a couple of times a week helps more than you'd think. In our humid Triangle summers, shade and fresh water do more than a haircut ever could. Walk early in the morning, before the pavement heats up.

When shaving does make sense

Sometimes it's the kind thing to do. If a coat is matted tight against the skin, the mats pull every time your dog moves, and there's no safe way to brush them out. Then shaving is the only choice, and I'll show you why before I start.

Fluffy cats are the same. Their coats do a job too, so I only shave when mats leave me no other option.

If you're worried about heat, skin, or anything that looks off, call your vet. That's their department, not mine.