Shaving Huskies

[Jamila]

Does anyone have a Husky they shave during the hot summer...if so does it work out okay or what?

[apache2]

You should never shave a huskies coat , i think if you do it grows back thicker, not sure but i never would shave my sibes coat in the summer or ever for that matter, i did hear someone say it keeps them cool in the hot weather ??

[Kuchi]

Double coated breeds should never be shaved. Many people think that they are hot, but it actually protects them from the sun. After shaving a double coated breed, (i.e. collie, husky, sheltie) the hair might grow back, might not, or might not look the same.
I would recommend using a rake or a slicker brush to get rid of any coat that is shedding right now.

[kachemak]

Yes - the double coat insulates from the heat as well as the cold. I'm sure any sibe would appreciate a nice dip in a pool in hot weather rather than a severe No.1 haircut! Many arctic breeds can cope surprisingly well with hot spells as long as they have plenty of water and shade

[oc_spirit]

You should NEVER shave a husky unless absolutely mandatory like at the vets for a surgery. When you shave a husky you end up ruining the oils in the coat which help him protect himself from water when he goes into a pond or a stream or when it rains. Also when you shave (or shear) a husky, a lot of the time the fur doesnt even grow back properly and only comes back in odd patches. I have also heard of the fur thinning after each shave (like our hair thins as we age).

Like it has already been mentionned, the fur actually does protect against the heat as well as the cold. It also protects the skin from getting burnt from the sun or too dried out.

In the heat of the summer, I provide my guys with plenty of shade and cool fresh drinking water. I also put a kiddie pool in their kennel. On the hotter days I keep them inside in my basement. I also only walk them way late at night (usually around midnight or later) when its at least a little bit cooler. My guys have done fine and our summers get up to 40C with intense humidity.

A few other things you could do is take a towel, soak it in water and freeze it, then give it to your dog to chew on. I give my guys frozen raw bones as it is like a popsicle for them, as they chew on it, it lowers their core body temperature much like eating a popsicle or an ice cream cone does for us. If you think your dog is over-heating take a towel and soak it in cold water and have him lie down on it in the shade. Take another towel and soak it in cold water and lay it over top of him. Then take a wash cloth and wet his face with it. Dont just spray him with the hose or throw him in the pool because the sudden cold water could shock his system. You need to gradually lower his temperature back down to normal.

One more little trick to keep him cool is to freeze "broth cubes" Just make a pot of some sort of broth (turkey, beef, chicken...etc) and fill some ice cibe trays of it and freeze. Some dogs will happily crunch on a plain ice cube but others need the broth taste to intice them to so much as look at it. If you dont feel comfortable with the broth then you could always just freeze a doggie treat inside ice cubes so the husky must crunch the ice cbes to get to the treat.

[IceyBlueSibes]

I agree with everyone.

My biggest pet peeve is to see a husky somewhere that has been shaved because "Well it's summer time and---"

My dogs do absolutely fine in the warm weather and people are so surprised to learn that their coat keeps them cool. Denali likes to bask in the sun for about an hour, then come lay in front of the fan inside. Then she goes right back out for some more sunbathing.

Never ever shave a husky unless it is absolutely necessary.

I've actually seen someone who shaved their husky, and the fur grew back twice as long (almost like a collie type fur). It was not as thick and dense as it was before, and she had to constantly shave him after that because he'd get even hotter than before.

[StephanieandTeddy]

Teddy goes to the groomer every three months to get his whole undercoat brushed out.
He is half the size when we get him out of there!

If I put my hand on his back, compared to other shorter coated dogs...he feels much cooler than they do.

[Sayuri]

I agree with everyone else - I have a double-coated breed (the coat is similar to the Sibe's), and I don't have any need or desire to shave them. The dogs lose undercoat naturally when it's hot out, and as long as you provide ample shade, cool water, and protection, your dog should be fine - shaving him wouldn't change any of this - in fact, you'd have to work even harder!

As others have said, the coat actually helps keep the dog cool!

Unfortunately, I've seen a shaved Sibe as well. Not only is it not effective, you have to admit, it doesn't look too great either!

I love OC's ideas for keeping cool - and you can look into "FrostyPaws" as well, which are specially formulated "dog popsicles." They aren't something I would feed with regularity at all, but as a special treat once or twice during the summer, they wouldn't be amiss. Heck, you could join your buddy outside with a popsicle of your own (you might want to get a fruit-flavored kind and leave the FrostyPaws to the dogs though, lol ).

[Jamila]

Ive been brushing my kids. I really didnt wanna shave him and I wont....thanks for letting me know guys

I use bandannas to keep them cool by wetting them down...they like that. Plus he's got holes dug in the shade where he likes to hang out...its cute!

[StephanieandTeddy]

There are also special "cooling vests" you can buy for your dog. Check your search engine and see what comes up!

[Jamila]

cool....im sure im just paranoid....lol.....he did fine last summer.

[Sayuri]

Haha, I think all of us have some little thing about our dogs that makes us worried now and then! (I just spent last night emailing back and forth about canine bowel movements...so you know, it could be worse, lol).

[AVA]

living in the desert of arizona I've seen several huskies and similiar breeds shaved. I don't know if those people were happy with it, I never asked but I also know lots of dogs here swim in pools. The furminator is really a big seller her too. My dogs have short hair so I don't have to worry about it but if I did, I'd opt for the furminator rather than shaving with a hairy breed like that.

[kcalbat]

then wow...you guys are gonna hate me!!!

I have shaved huskies before. Its actually quite common. HOWEVER it doesnt mean I agree with it. I have two request huskies that i do a deshed (after a bath I slather hypoallergenic conditioner on them and use our force dryer to blow out the undercoat. By the time im done it looks like i shaved the dog and threw its hair into the air but i tell you it saves me alot of time with the furminator.Then once the coat is dried I use the furminator.)

SO the last time they came back in they wanted me to shave them down and I showed them a picture of a shaved husky before and after and explained that the hair will probably never be the same and so....they changed their minds really quick!!! Thanks goodness.. huskies are not an ideal dog to shave bc of coat type and temperament!

But in this line of work it is absolutely what the customer wants, regardless how i feel.

Just my input! thanks.

[Jamila]

The furminator is expensive wow! I so wish I had one though. I use a rake type to get hair out. It just takes forever. lol