Double Coat Care
Learn About Double Coats
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Coat Care 101: Double Coats
A double coat is made up of two distinct layers that work together to protect your dog. The undercoat is soft, dense, and fluffy. It acts as insulation, helping keep your dog warm in the winter and cool in the summer by regulating body temperature. The guard coat is made of longer, coarser hairs that protect the skin from moisture, dirt, UV rays, and scratches while giving the coat its color and shine. Both layers have important jobs, a healthy double coat naturally sheds and renews itself throughout the year, with heavier shedding typically occurring in the spring and fall.
Grooming needs
Double-coated dogs don't usually need haircuts, but they do need routine maintenance.
Regular brushing removes loose undercoat before it mats and causes compaction- which can cause dogs to have trouble regulating their temperature and cause harm to their skin. Professional deshedding treatments help remove compacted undercoat that can't always be reached with home brushing, allowing air to circulate through the coat more effectively.
Recommended care
Brush 1 to 3 times per week
Schedule a professional deshedding treatment every 6 to 8 weeks
for long coated dogs, tidy bum and feathers to help prevent matting
Why shaving isn't usually recommended
Many people think shaving a double-coated dog will keep them cooler in the summer, but that's generally a myth.
The coat actually helps insulate against heat as well as cold. Removing it can: Reduce the coat's ability to regulate body temperature, Increase the risk of sunburn, Leave the skin more exposed to injury, Cause the coat to grow back unevenly or with a different texture in some dogs
Common double-coated breeds:
Golden Retriever, Siberian Husky. German Shepherd Australian Shepherd, Bernese Mountain Dog, Alaskan Malamute, Chow Chow, Pomeranian
A well-maintained double coat isn't just beautiful, it's an important part of your dog's natural protection and comfort year-round. At LPS we are here to help your pups coat thrive.
Contact us today to schedule your pups grooming at 207-242-3096