It is excellent at trapping air and insulating the dog, essentially keeping it warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The topcoat is made of tougher guard hairs that shed very little.
The topcoat actually helps insulate the dog from the heat. What this means is: do not shave your Sheltie! By stripping them of their natural ability to heat and cool themselves, you could be doing them harm.
Unlike humans, dogs do not cool themselves through their skin. Only the pads of their paws sweat. Their main mode of cooling is panting. The dog looked awful, but the owner demanded that we shave it again. Every shave further damaged the coat, until finally it was as thin as peach fuzz. I also had a sheltie, and despite her advanced age of 15, her coat remained plush and beautiful. Double-coated dogs, such as golden retrievers, shelties, Australian shepherds, Newfoundlands, Saint Bernards, and German shepherds, have undercoat — short, fluffy hair that grows close to the skin and insulates against the cold and heat.
According to Kristi Baum, NDGAA-certified master groomer, the best way to keep a double-coated dog cool during the summer is to remove dead undercoat with a coat-king — a rake-like tool that pulls out undercoat. Shaving too close can cause medical conditions from something as common as razor burn which hurts like the dickens to more serious damage.
Some damage can be permanent, such as damage to the hair follicles. The fur may grow back in patches, leaving the Sheltie bald in various places all over its body, or the fur may not grow back at all. If the care of coat is inconvenient or too difficult, reconsider if the Sheltie is the right breed for you. They know they are beautiful with that gorgeous coat. Most Shelties have actually acted embarrassed after being shaved.
As long as the undercoat is brushed out they will keep cool and hes not living outside so its even less of an issue. Cut parallel to the legs, clipping in several places where the hair is thickest, and then brush or comb out all the cuttings. Repeat the process until your Sheltie is left with a nice appearance and a manageable coat.
The important thing is your Sheltie is comfortable and pain-free. When the mat is close to the skin, snip very carefully. And avoid pulling the fur taught as this pulls the delicate skin into the path of the scissors. Instead, hold the fur back loosely and cut in small, gentle snips until the entire mat is free.
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