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I can't count how many times I have been asked
each summer to shave a client's dog in an attempt to make it feel cooler. Here
in New England, where the summers are scorching, I have had requests to shave
almost every breed imaginable. It is a common misconception that all dogs would
automatically be cooler if they had less hair.
All dogs can basically be divided into two
groups. First we have those who need to have their haircut on a regular basis,
the HAIR-BEARING dogs, such as poodles, shih tzu, maltese, spaniels, lhasa apso,
terriers, etc. These breeds can be shaved with no problem.
The second group of dogs consists of all the
other breeds, longhaired or shorthaired, whose hair grows to one length only and
then remains that length, the FUR-BEARING dogs. These dogs typically shed much
more than dogs in the first group. Examples of fur-bearing dogs are Alaskan
Malamutes, Keeshonds, Siberian Huskies, Samoyeds, Pomeranians, Chows, Labradors,
Golden Retrievers, etc.
It is a well-known fact within the animal medical
community and experienced groommers that shave downs of the fur-bearing dogs may
lead to alopecia (hair loss) and skin disease. There are a myriad of skin
diseases, under the category of “Coat Funk,” that are either caused by or
triggered by the shave down groom of the fur-bearing dog.
Although some 
 have referred to “Coat Funk” only as the absence or destruction of guard
coat, “Coat Funk” refers to a myriad of diseases such as The Black Skin Disease,
Alopecia X, Sebaceous Adenitis and Post Shaving or Post Clipping Alopecia to
mention just a few. The mechanism for causing or triggering “Coat Funk,”
after-shave downs in the fur-bearing dogs, is unknown to medical researchers. It
is simply known that there is a high incidence of “Coat Funk” as a result of
shave downs.
The
AKC Website
lists all the breeds and their coat type.
Petsborough>will not perform shave down on Fur-Bearing dogs
just by owner’s request, it will be mandatory present the veterinarians medical
recommendation in writing for the groomer shave down.In addition to the written direction
from the veterinarian, we will have the pet owner sign a waiver exempting us
from skin and hair coat damage post shave down.
EXCEPTIONS
Severely matted dogs
If the dog is severely matted all the efforts,
like demating, shave out the matts
and other procedures will be taken before the final decision to shave all the
dog down.
A waiver will be sign by the pet’s owner
exempting us from the skin condition under the matted coat.
A full shave down on any dog will be charged by
the regular price of a full grooming to that particular breed, plus a $25,00
extra.
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