How to Shave a Dog for Summer

Although you might think you are doing your dog a favor by shaving his coat in time for summer, unless you plan on keeping poor Fido inside all summer long, this might not be your best idea. Once you remove your dog's coat, he has nothing to protect his skin from the sun's UV rays, which could lead to sunburn unless you plan to use plenty of sunblock. Fido's coat is designed to be thick enough to protect his skin from the elements; shaving him leaves his body fully exposed, something most vets will tell you is a bad idea. 

The last thing your dog wants is sunburn and if he could speak, he would tell that shaving him does not help keep him cool. In fact, doing so could have the opposite effect as his coat is also designed to insulate his body from both heat and cold. Before you shave Fido, be sure you have a very good reason for doing so. 

• Be sure you use a sharp blade in your clippers. A dull blade can snag hair and painfully rip it out of your dog's skin causing significant damage.
• Try using the hand not holding the clippers to pull his skin tight, this will make shaving him a little easier and safer.
  
• Keep the clippers at least one inch away from his eyes to avoid injury.
  
• Never use a hair dryer on your shaved pup, it could burn his skin severely.
  
• Either bathe your dog or brush through his coat before shaving to remove anything that might snag the clippers. 
  

If this is the first time you are shaving Fido, he may be a little nervous around the clippers. Be sure to give him plenty of time to get used to them before you start shaving him. The more time you take at first, the easier it will be for him to get used to being shaved, which will make the whole job go far smoother.