Chillax Cooling Pad
If you are looking for top quality grooming equipment, then do have a look at the selection we offer. In addition to using the correct grooming equipment, the use of our Chillax Chilling Pad, or Chillax Collar will help the dog to feel cooler in the summer heat. If you have any questions regarding our products, please do not hesitate to ask. www.mcmac.co.za
What is a double coat, which breeds have them, and can you shave them?
by Scotty Valadao. Canine Behaviour Consultant, TTouch Practitioner, Founder Friends of the Dog
www.fods.co.za
by Scotty Valadao. Canine Behaviour Consultant, TTouch Practitioner, Founder Friends of the Dog
www.fods.co.za
Dogs that have double coats, have one undercoat and an outer coat and there are a lot more breeds that have a double coat, than just the Spitz type dogs and dogs from cold climates. The Spitz type dogs are characterized by long, thick and often white fur, with pointed ears and muzzles and the tail is normally busy and often curls over the dogs back such as Huskies, American, Eskimo Dogs, Samoyed and other of the cold weather dogs. The Spitz type dogs are normally beautiful and fluffy looking.
You will find double coats in the Working breeds such as the Bernese Mountain dog, Herding dogs, such as the Border collie, Sporting group, the Golden Retriever is a good example, and even the smaller, and Toy breeds, such as the Pomeranian, Pembroke Corgi and Yorkshire Terrier are breeds that have double coats.
With double coated dogs, the undercoat tends to be soft and dense and provides insulation, and the outer coat is made up on long guard hairs which are coarser in texture and repel moisture and helps to keep the dog cleaner. The denser the undercoat is, the more grooming that will be needed, as dogs with dense undercoats tend to be prone to matting and tangles. This means that some of the double coated dogs will need a lot more grooming and care than dogs where the undercoat is not as dense.
You will find double coats in the Working breeds such as the Bernese Mountain dog, Herding dogs, such as the Border collie, Sporting group, the Golden Retriever is a good example, and even the smaller, and Toy breeds, such as the Pomeranian, Pembroke Corgi and Yorkshire Terrier are breeds that have double coats.
With double coated dogs, the undercoat tends to be soft and dense and provides insulation, and the outer coat is made up on long guard hairs which are coarser in texture and repel moisture and helps to keep the dog cleaner. The denser the undercoat is, the more grooming that will be needed, as dogs with dense undercoats tend to be prone to matting and tangles. This means that some of the double coated dogs will need a lot more grooming and care than dogs where the undercoat is not as dense.
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One would think that by shaving the dog, it would help it to be cooler in summer – wrong! What happens in nature is that in summer, the dog sheds its undercoat, which leaves the guard hairs to provide insulation, and allow cool air to circulate close to the skin, which cools the dog down, and the guard hairs also protect the skin from being sunburned and the dog from overheating.
If you look at many of the double coated dogs, you will find that the skin underneath tends to be pinkish in colour, and just like us human that are very light skinned, more prone to sunburn. If you do shave a dog with a double coat, apart from exposing the dog to sunburn, potential |
By fastening the easy-to-use, tiny device onto your cat’s or dog’s collar, parasites can be kept away for 6-12 months after activation, leaving you and your pet free to enjoy nature - not having ticks and fleas in a double coated dog especially important, as not easy to find them! Due to the latest field study, we can conclude that the device is 94% efficient against ticks without using any dangerous chemicals!
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skin cancer, and overheating, you very often totally mess up the coat and it will never be the same again. What often happens is that the guard hairs tend to be very coarse and more likely to pick up blackjacks, burrs etc, and tend to tangle more than before being shaved. The overall texture of the coat seems to change as well, no longer being soft and smooth, more likely to have a ‘tacky’ texture and as the undercoat grows quicker than the outer coat, the dog is likely to get even hotter – the opposite of what you wanted to achieve.
Summary of reason why you should not shave a dog with a double coat:
How to keep shedding to a minimum
It is essential that dog with double coats are groomed on a regular basis, and we have supplied you with an article at the bottom on how to groom them correctly - A summary of same;.
Here is a list of dogs with double coats, some of which may surprise you!
1. Spitz Type Dogs
Summary of reason why you should not shave a dog with a double coat:
- Shaving prevents the cool air from getting to the skin as the undercoat is still present.
- More prone to sunburn and possible skin cancer
- Does not decrease the amount of shedding
- Damages the coat. If shaving is undertaken, the new hair will grow back, but the undercoat will grow first as the guard hairs are slower to grow. You will find that the texture of the new coat coming through tends to be sticky and picks up seeds, burrs, twigs etc, much easier and stick to the coat, making brushing that much more difficult and unpleasant for the dog.
- Will not help with any allergic reactions in the body
How to keep shedding to a minimum
It is essential that dog with double coats are groomed on a regular basis, and we have supplied you with an article at the bottom on how to groom them correctly - A summary of same;.
- Brush your dog at least two or three times a week to prevent mats and tangles.
- Use a undercoat grooming rake to remove loose and dead hairs from your dog’s undercoat.
- Use a slicker brush on your dog’s rump where the fur is thicker and longer.
- Go over your dog with a wire pin brush or comb to remove dead and loose hairs from the top coat.
- Work through mats and tangles with a wide-tooth comb – if you have to cut one out, pinch the fur as close to your dog’s skin as possible to prevent accidentally cutting his skin.
- Go over your dog’s coat with a bristle brush to improve shine – this should be your last step.
Here is a list of dogs with double coats, some of which may surprise you!
1. Spitz Type Dogs
American Eskimo Dog
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Pomerarian
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Siberian Husky
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Samoyed
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Akita : Alaskan Husy : Alaskan Malamute : American Eskimo Dog : Chinook : Chow Chow : Fissish Spitz : Finnish Lapphund : German Spitz : Icelandic Sheep Dog : Keeshond : Korean Jindo : Norwegian Elkhound : Norwegian Lundehund : Pomerian (Toy) : Shiba Inu : Siberian Husky : Samoyed : Swedish Lapphund
2. Herding Breeds
Pembroke Corgi
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Border Collie
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German Shepherd
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Australian Cattle Dog
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Australian Cattle Dog : Australian Shepherd : Bearded Collie : Belgian Sheepdog : Belgian Malinois : Belgian Tervure : Border Collie : Briard : Bouvier des Flanders : Canaan Dog : Pembroke Corgi : Cardigan Welsh Corgi : German Shepherd : Norwegian Buhund : Old English Sheepdog : Polish Lowland Sheep Dog : Puli : Shetland Sheepdog : Swedish Vallhund
3. Working Breeds
Newfoundland
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Komodor
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Tibetan Mastiff
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Bernese Mountain Dog
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Bernese Mountain Dog : Black Russian Terrier : Entlebucher Mountain Dog : Pyrenean Mountain Dog : Komodor : Kuvasz Leonburger : Newfoundland : Saint Bernard : Tibetan Mastiff
4. Sporting Breeds
Golden Retriever
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Boykin Spaniel
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Labrador Retriever
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Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
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American Water Spaniel : Boykin Spaniel : Chesapeake Bay Retriever : Golden Retriever : Labrador Retriever : Nova Scotia Duck Toliing Retriever : Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.
5. Non-Sporting Group
Bichon Frise is the only dog in the Non-Sporting group to boast a double coat
6. Hound Group
The Plott hound and the Otterhound each have double coat.
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Otterhound
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7. Terrier Group
Tibetan Terrier
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Norfolk Terrier
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Scottish Terrier
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Irish Terrier
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Australian Terrier : Cairn Terrier : Dandie Dinmont Terriers : Norfolk Terrier : Parson Russell Terrier : Irish Terrier : Lakeland Terrier : Miniature Schnauzer : Norfolk Terrier : Rat Terrier : Scottish Terrier : Sealyham Terrier : Skye Terrier : Tibetan Terrier
8. Toy Group
Tibetan Spaniel
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Yorkshire Terrier
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Shih Tzu
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Havanese
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Havanese : Shih Tzu : Tibetan Spaniel : Yorkshire Terrier
Not all pups (or dogs) take to the water easily or know how to swim, here are some tips for you to teach your pup (and adult dog) to swim.
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Help - our normally friendly, happy pup hates to be brushed - he runs and hides when the brush is brought out!
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If you have a dog with a double coat, regular grooming is a necessity, otherwise knotting, foreign items in coat etc, becomes a nightmare.
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