Summer Shaving

Kevin Harrington

Kevin Harrington

Well-known member
Any Lab owners shave your dog for the summer? Any pro's or cons. I saw 2 yesterday and am thinking of doing it to keep my pup cool. Thanks Kevin
 
Never seen anyone do a Lab, though have seen many Goldens....but they took it down to a Lab length. In any case, I would worry about sunburn, seriously. Don't go too short.
 
I would think the skeeters would eat them up too, at least down here where there are clouds of them.
 
good point on the bugs... when I was living in Vermont, I used Skin so Soft in a spray bottle 50:50 with water... every morning when the dogs were put out into the kennel for the day, I put my hand over their eyes and hosed them down, and especially underside. Still the skeeters got to them, but not as bad. Nice shiny smooth coats too!
 
I've never sheared any of my labs, but every summer I give my setters and spaniel a close shave. I do it mainly to cut down on the burdock, beggar's lice and other stickers that get in their coats, but it also helps keep them cooler and I have never noticed any problems with skeeters, deerflies, etc. As for my labs, I give them regular access to the pond and ensure that they have shade in their kennel. This is a tough time of year to have a black coat!
 
In the summer I would always give my Golden a "lab cut" and I know it made him more comfortable during the hot months. I would be worried going any shorter that what you already get in the lab coat. I would ping your vet and ask him/her first over concern for skin issues/burn.
 
Kevin,

Have never shaved any of my labs until recently. We have a chocolate female that just turned 15 years old and she has always had a very thick coat compared to our other labs. I shaved her for the first time at age twelve because she would get so hot during the summer down here in Louisiana. I was concerned about possible sunburn with shorter hair, but that has not been an issue; however she mostly stays in front of a fan in the shade during the day. The one issue that we have to watch is the biting flies. If they start to appear we have to spray her with Adams about every 4 or 5 days.

I only shave her once in early May, full thick coat has normally returned by October. She has not hunted in four years, but not due to lack of adequate winter coat, she has just been retired.

Jay Cunningham
 
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I used to shear my chocolate lab , gunner
used to take it down to 3/8" he loved it, nice and cool. and after a couple of weeks enough of the hair grew in so I wouldn't have to worry about sunburn. by the fall, his coat looked like normal.
 
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