[seeker1950]

Fozzie, my Golden mix, is a hair factory, and I can't keep up with it in the house. I had invested in an Andis professional clipper for my other dog, a long haired dachshund. She is fine with the cutting, and it is absolutely necessary with her, since she gets poops stuck in her hair. Fozzie had seen me cutting Feather, the dachshund, and so I was surprised that he let me even get near him with the clippers. I've been giving him cheese rewards for small bouts of cutting, and he's almost bald now.
My question/concern is that I'ved shaved him to close...down to the skin! I have the attachment combs but found they do not work well, and the clippers cut down to the skin. I wonder if he will get sunburned? Should I alter a tee shirt to put on him till his hair grows out a bit!?
Anyone with experience with this, please respond.
And thanks!
Patty

[lynn P.]

Yes you should get a light weight coat if your dog is going to spend time outside...otherwise he'll get sunburned. If its very hot, he also shouldn't be out for long because fur help insulate animals from heat. Some people think they're doing the dog a favor by clipping off the fur when its hot. Not talking about your dog since his fur is causing a problem. Is the fur matted - you may have to be careful with the electric trimmer - the reason - matted fur gets completely matted at the skin and it may hurt the dog.

[seeker1950]

It has been VERY hot here for the past few days...in the 90's!, and sunny. And I do feel you are right about keeping Fozzie inside out of the sun. I've already seen some irritated-looking scratch marks on him. I'll get a large cotton tee shirt and tuck it in for him.
My good friend, this morning, while visiting, mentioned the very same thing you said about fur providing insulation.
thanks!
Patty

[Gr3tta]

I just wanted to mention that they do make doggie sunscreen, you can find it at pet stores. But due to the heat, his time outside should be limited anyway. You can also dress him in a wet t-shirt (soaked in cool, but not ice cold water) to keep him cooler and his skin protected. If his skin seems irritated, red, bumpy, raw, you can try giving him a bath with an oatmeal or cucumber dog shampoo to help him feel more comfy.
Is your avatar his picture? He's cute.

[Rose76]

Hi, I've dealt with this issue back when I had a dog. She's gone now, but I was a big believer in clipping her hair down in the summer. She was a very active dog, and I would clip her about 3 times over the warm part of the year.

I did some research and what I found disputes the idea that fur insulates a dog from the heat. Probably the best person to ask is your Vet. It is true that fur is very important in protecting a dog from sunburn. They have no melanin in their skin. Dogs who get shaved too close are at high risk for serious consequences from sunburn. The dog does not need a lot of fur, just enough so the skin is covered.

Lots of times I would take my dog to the groomer for a clipping. Apparently the grooming shears has several fixed settings. What I found out was that I could not get the exact length of fur cut that I wanted for her. There was a length that was a little too long. So I requested the next shorter length. Well, that was too short. I had the situation you describe above. The groomer advised me to be concerned about sunburn and to put sunscreen on her. I think the idea of a garment - something light, like a Tshirt - might be an idea. Also, just avoid having your dog in the sun, until a bit more fur grows back.

The safest thing I found was to just cut my dog's fur with a very sharp large scissors and then use a smaller scissors for trimming here and there. Doing the job free-hand with a scissors doesn't give you the best looking haircut, but it does give you total control over how much you're taking off. The main thing is that the scissors must be very sharp, or it pulls and hurts the dog. The scissors they sell in places like major name pet stores are crap. Good luck. I think it is important to clip down dogs when you are in a hot climate.