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Posted on 19/10/2017

Tips to make your dog comfortable in warmer weather

Tips to make your dog comfortable in warmer weather

By Rebecca Coutts-Smith

WITH summer just around the corner, everyone is shedding their jumpers and embracing the sunshine.

However, man’s best friend can’t cool down so easily and may need a bit of assistance.

Dog Groomers Association WA president Shai-Marie Cheyne has plenty of tips to make sure your dog is comfortable as the weather warms up:

When it’s 30C we get hot and so do our fur family. We normally see a huge jump in clients that first warm week of spring.

For some breeds, it’s not always a great idea to just clip the coat as dogs use their coat to help protect them from the elements.

Nordic breeds, double coats, short-coated and brachycephalic dogs tend to feel summer a bit more than most.

Double-coated breeds use their coats as airconditioning and heating systems, but they only work effectively if the coat is not impacted with lots of dead hair.

Double-coated breeds want a ‘groom out,’ which is the removal of dead coat to improve ventilation.

For the dogs who receive regular grooming, a little shorter clip should be sufficient or maybe a hidden runway strip on the belly, to make it easier for them to cool down.

The most important part of grooming is to ensure your dog is matt and knot free as this can hide skin issues and make a dog hotter.

Just remember it’s not always necessary to go down to skin to make your dog comfortable.

Sometimes it’s just easier to add ice to their water, wet their chest to cool or perhaps let them enjoy the aircon.