04/17/2023
BEWARE: long educational post about dogs being too hot in Florida, and hypoallergenic dogs!
Your dog's coat acts like insulation in a house, that's why, if your dog is a double-coated breed: (Labrador, Golden-retriever, German Shepherd, Mini or standard Australian shepherd, any kind of shepherd, even Pomeranians. It is important to not shave these breeds unless they are matted. They need their coats for protection, especially here in sunny Florida. I know your pet seems hot, that's why they pant. They don't sweat like we do. If you want to help your dog out you can brush, brush, brush! Use an undercoat rake, or a slicker brush, and then make sure to use a COMB; to make sure you've gotten down to the skin. You need to insure there are no knots that can grow into mats, and get worse and worse. These mats hurt your pup. Just imagine how they'd feel on your head. 😭 Ouch! That's why we do not de-mat dogs, unless the matting is VERY minimal. When you do shave a double-coated breed, especially dogs like labs, Aussies, and shepherds...their hair will probably never grow back right. I have done dogs where their hair never grew back in some spots. It was so sad to see. I refuse to shave these breeds, unless they are matted to the skin and it is the only option. That's why it's so important to brush. Even once every week. Ten minutes. That's all it takes. They need our help.
*Also, if you have pet allergies; the dander is what causes it. Dander is your pet's skin. It also comes from their saliva. Their fur has nothing to do with it. 😊 So even the 'hypoallergenic' dogs, have dander. And doodles are very much not hypoallergenic. They are bred with Labradors and golden retrievers...which are double coated breeds, have a lot of hair, and also have dander. Double coated breeds may be less tolerable. Breeds that shed less are less likely to cause allergic reactions, because the dander and saliva remain on the hair that stays in the hair follicle. Less shedding means less allergens in the house. But all breeds have dander. There is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog. Thank you for reading my long post! These are some things I didn't know before I was I groomer, and a lot of pet parents still don't know, but it is important to know. So share this information with your friends! ❤️❤️😊
