pandasmom Posted March 28, 2007 Report Share Posted March 28, 2007 Hello All! I am new to the boards! And very excited to learn more about the new addition to our family (a one year old bc). I live in the south and it gets rather hot here, and already she seems to be uncomfortable in the heat (we've already had some hot days) and I didn't know if I needed to take her to a groomer to have her hair trimmed or shaved or whatever? Can anyone suggest what I can do to make her more comfortable in the upcoming hot summer months, other than let her lay on the AC register? haha! Thanks for any help and again, I am looking forward to reading about all the topics to help me be a better BC Mom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
border_collie_crazy Posted March 28, 2007 Report Share Posted March 28, 2007 the outercoat atcually PROTECTS the dog from the sun, shaving it off would do more hard then good. its the undercoat that would be making your dog hot , I would just suggest lots and lots of brushing tp get out the undercoat, or perhaps the Furminator, thats supposed to remove undercoat really well, which should make your dog more comfortable. I only have 1 dog I shave for the summer but he is not a BC and his coat does not even remotly resemble a BC, he has a cording coat, and he cords so quickley that he gets very hot and uncomfortable from the mats. BCs havent got a cording coat so as long as you keep it brushed out it should be fine. at most I trim the outer coat a bit shorter on my rough BC, but it doesnt keep her cooled down any better, I just do it because she liks running through the shrubs and brambles, going for a swim in the creek then comming back up with wet knoted hair through the brambles... lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Root Beer Posted March 28, 2007 Report Share Posted March 28, 2007 Some folks recommend getting just the dog's tummy area clipped, but I prefer to just wet that area down with water when my dog is out in super-hot weather. Interestingly, I find that my dog with the longer coat seems to be more comfortable in the heat than the two that have naturally shorter coats. I leave their coats alone and just make sure that they have adequate water and shade when we are outside in the summertime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest CleverDog Posted March 28, 2007 Report Share Posted March 28, 2007 I'm from the south too -- I probably wouldn't shave your dog, most people say not to shave dogs for various reasons, but if I shaved my border collie, just the way his fur is he wouldn't have any left, he's got a thin coat.! Then he would get a sunburn... If you don't have a pool, you could always get a kiddie tub and fill it with a bit of water for your dog to lay down in if you're playing etc, or just out in the yard. My dog likes ice cubes, you could put some in her bowl, or just give her one every now a then. Freeze a kong, etc....does she like to play with the hose? That always exercises my dog and cools him down when it gets too hot...that's all I can think of really...are you near a beach? There are some great dog beaches, which is always a nice option since we have 'gators... That's all I could think of really -you know how it is! It's just hot. Just watch her really carefully when you're playing etc...my dogs could overheat really easily in the summer, Caper especially since he is black...he can only chase the ball (in full sun) for a couple of minutes before I bring him back in. Get her a personal fan? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pandasmom Posted March 28, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2007 Thank you so much everyone! I think this will help me alot. I for sure won't have her shaved. Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bc4pack Posted March 28, 2007 Report Share Posted March 28, 2007 I sometimes do a very coarse belly shave on my wooooolly BC. Mine have a couple of kiddie pools, I leave a box fan on in the house. I have floor registers too...so fact of life is that during a hot,humid Houston day mine are inside on top of registers.Once it's cooled to 85 they will spent their time outside...yeah I've got a dog door. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olivia Posted March 29, 2007 Report Share Posted March 29, 2007 Hey Pandasmom! I second everyone's advice not to shave your little girl. I never shave my guys and they are rough coated, we just keep activity to a minimum during the heat of the day and spend a lot of time playing in the river. However, the real reason for this reply is to say 'hi' to another Tennesseean. Are you anywhere near Knoxville? Olivia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smileyzookie Posted March 29, 2007 Report Share Posted March 29, 2007 If you like her coat, do not, I repeat, DO NOT shave her. You will regret it!!!!!! Last year I took Riven in for a "trim" and they shaved her... she looked like a lab, seriously...it was awful and her hair grew back in all squirrelly. Trust me it is a bad idea. LOL...for real Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WyoBC Posted March 29, 2007 Report Share Posted March 29, 2007 I agree, don't shave him. I think Black Jack's coat keeps him cooler too, when he's in the sun his hair get hot but if you feel under it he's not to bad. My friend shaves both of her BC's in the summer but I don't think it's very good for the dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsnrs Posted March 29, 2007 Report Share Posted March 29, 2007 Get a undercoat comb from Walmart ($5) and brush a lot. That should remove the loose hair. We also get cement mixing tubs from Home Depot so the dogs can get in and cool off whenever they want. We have Aussies and have shaved them for the summer with no ill effects (groomer did the cut). We find that the cool water and A/C does the trick. We are in AZ so it gets hot here too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smileyzookie Posted March 29, 2007 Report Share Posted March 29, 2007 Sorry I also wanted to add that water poured on Rivens back and rubbed down to her skin really seemed to help her cool off a bit as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
painted_ponies Posted March 29, 2007 Report Share Posted March 29, 2007 I'm in coastal SC and summer here in the swamps gets pretty intense. Violet just dives into the farm ditches every so often to cool off. Lord only knows what's in the runoff , so I always hose her down to rinse off anything that might make her glow in the dark. If I shaved off her hair, I'm afraid the mosquitoes would drain her dry. I don't know if my puppy Faith will have that much sense. I filled of the horse's big dishes with water and put it out with her when she was in her run the other day. I watched to see if she'd get in, but no dice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DixiesDad Posted March 29, 2007 Report Share Posted March 29, 2007 I live in Athens, GA where the temp has already reached mid 80's and I wouldn't think of shaving my two girls. They're outer coat actually acts as a sunblocker so I keep the undercoat brushed out as they shed. I provide plenty of shade for their pens and a kiddie pool of water. Later on I'll place a box fan on a timer blowing into their pens. The last three years this has been more then adequate for Dixie and I believe it will suit Lady for this year. Beware of you new BC because you can't own just one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BustopherJones Posted March 29, 2007 Report Share Posted March 29, 2007 A contributor to the comfort of a dog with long fur and a heavy undercoat is proper grooming. In Annie's case, I groom her daily with an undercoat rake, then follow up with a wire grooming brush; the rake "de-thatches" the fur, and the grooming brush cleans up any loose fur. This removes excess fur from both the undercoat and topcoat; it not only makes her more comfortable, but also reduces the amount of fur that she sheds in the house. Her trips to the groomer are infrequent, and usually involve trimming the fur between her toes, cutting her nails, and what I call a "sanitation trim" (trimming excess fur around and below her...well, you know...). When it gets very warm, we also limit her outdoor activities so that she does not overheat herself, and ensure that there is always plenty of fresh, cool water available. In especially warm situations, a spray from the garden hose (set on "mist") also helps. On weekends, I take her to a local park with a slow-running stream and let her play in the water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haleigh Posted March 29, 2007 Report Share Posted March 29, 2007 I have a rather large-ish dog run for Joy in the back yard. It's 7' by 13'. It's covered by a tarp, and I have one of those igloo dog houses with a fan and a flap to keep in the cool air in the dog house. Half of her run has pea pebbles, and they stay rather cool. I also have a kiddie pool that I add ice blocks to when it gets around noon to cool out the water when it geys especially hot out. I never clipped her coat, except for a bit of the the feathering on her back legs, her butt area for sanitization purposes, and the bottoms of her feet to prevent balling mud and snow. Hope that helps! If you want to isolate the cool area in your yard, the run I got was $215 from petsmart, and was super easy to put together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haleigh Posted March 29, 2007 Report Share Posted March 29, 2007 Oh and thinning the coat works great, I got a pair of thinning shears from petsmart for about 20 bucks (I don't remember) and I just snip her coat in some of the problem areas like her trousers and her rump by the base of her tail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pandasmom Posted March 29, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2007 Hey Pandasmom! I second everyone's advice not to shave your little girl. I never shave my guys and they are rough coated, we just keep activity to a minimum during the heat of the day and spend a lot of time playing in the river. However, the real reason for this reply is to say 'hi' to another Tennesseean. Are you anywhere near Knoxville? Olivia hey olivia! thanks for the input on Panda's coat. I am actually living in a burb of Nashville (or Nashvegas as we fondly call it!haha) and lovin' it! We have a decent little chunck of land and have recently taken on our first foster dog (a chocolate lab pup) . I am stil not quite used to the southern weather as i am a midwestern girl, but i'm adjusting. Panda definetly DOES NOT like it. It's been in the 80s a few times already and she does not dig it at all. But we got her a kiddie pool and she seems to love that. So nice to meet another Tenneseean! Take care! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC Millie Posted April 25, 2007 Report Share Posted April 25, 2007 If you like her coat, do not, I repeat, DO NOT shave her. You will regret it!!!!!! Last year I took Riven in for a "trim" and they shaved her... she looked like a lab, seriously...it was awful and her hair grew back in all squirrelly. Trust me it is a bad idea. LOL...for real Please explain why I will "regret it". Last summer I trimmed my rough coat BC in the heat of the Texas summer. Before trimming I couldn't walk her after 8:00 AM without her getting overheated. Her coat is so thick even after trimming that there is no chance of a sunburn. By now it has all grown back and summer is approaching so I am trying to understand why I shouldn't trim her again. I have read all the posts about their coat insulating them from the sun but it doesn't make sense to me. If that is true why don't we all wear down coats in the summer?http://www.bordercollie.org/boards/style_images/1/folder_post_icons/icon14.gif http://www.bordercollie.org/boards/style_i...cons/icon14.gif Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smileyzookie Posted April 25, 2007 Report Share Posted April 25, 2007 Lets see .. reasons I regret shaving Riven. No particular order.. 1. Even if you disagree, it didnt insulate her and she was hotter (shaving takes away their natural protection from heat - they cant regulate their temp) 2. She looked like a lab 3. Her hair hasnt grown in right since. (see picture 2) 4. It took 6 months to even get the fuzzy BC ears back. 5. I love the furry toes, those took a long time to come back 6. She sunburnt a bit 7. Mosquitos got to her more. Riven after being shaved Now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanni and kingsley Posted April 25, 2007 Report Share Posted April 25, 2007 it is recommended that you can thin the fur by using an undercoat rake or a furminator to keep the fur "airy". The other coat actually serves to protect the skin of your dog against the sun. think of why people in the middle east wear dark and long covering.. it is airy and serves as a protection. kingsley is surviving well all year round at the equator with his regular grooming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smileyzookie Posted April 25, 2007 Report Share Posted April 25, 2007 it is recommended that you can thin the fur by using an undercoat rake or a furminator to keep the fur "airy". The other coat actually serves to protect the skin of your dog against the sun. agreed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca, Irena Farm Posted April 25, 2007 Report Share Posted April 25, 2007 In places where it's really hot, the inhabitants wear long sleeve, ground length clothing of a light cloth that allows for air flow, but blocks the sun. Think desert dwellers around the world. That's the same idea - blocking the sun's radiant warmth but allowing for the movement of air that is hotter than body temp away from the skin. When you trim away the guard hair, you take away their natural defence against radiant heat. Also, in most cases, the hair grows back coarser and less able to loft heat away from the skin. If shaving were a tried and true method of helping the dog cope with heat while working, most farmers would shave their dogs, since in the summer you can't pick and choose when to work. I don't find this to be true, in reality. I agree with the previous posts that say that the best way to keep your dog comfortable is to remove as much undercoat as possible while leaving the guard hairs intact. Also, if you know there is no way to escape the heat (ie, you can't exercise earlier or later), you might want to consider acclimating your dog - keeping him or her outside for longer periods than just one quick exercise session. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJS30 Posted April 25, 2007 Report Share Posted April 25, 2007 If you like her coat, do not, I repeat, DO NOT shave her. You will regret it!!!!!! Last year I took Riven in for a "trim" and they shaved her... she looked like a lab, seriously...it was awful and her hair grew back in all squirrelly. Trust me it is a bad idea. LOL...for real That place obviously doesn't know what they are doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smileyzookie Posted April 25, 2007 Report Share Posted April 25, 2007 That place obviously doesn't know what they are doing. Yeah welcome to Nowhere, Idaho lol. Needless to say I give EXPLICIT instructions when I drop her off for her bath and dry that she is to cut no hair AT ALL. No trim, nothing! I tell her repeatedly. She must think I think she's deaf. I think she just has selective hearing....humm...maybe shes related to Riven lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJS30 Posted April 25, 2007 Report Share Posted April 25, 2007 Yeah welcome to Nowhere, Idaho lol. Needless to say I give EXPLICIT instructions when I drop her off for her bath and dry that she is to cut no hair AT ALL. No trim, nothing! I tell her repeatedly. She must think I think she's deaf. I think she just has selective hearing....humm...maybe shes related to Riven lol. Man that could have turned ugly if your dog would have developed some type of skin issues of some sort. For some reason alot of grooming places really love shaving it down on dogs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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