Shaved all 3 Collies today

colliehauler wrote:
Ike was a Handsome dog and you know what I mean by long hair. Bud and Mikko liked being shaved, this was the first time I shaved Lassie my 14 year old Collie and she is embarrassed.

Ike had the most collie-like coat I've ever seen on an Aussie...LOL! I think once Lassie figures out that losing the coat is "fun" (probably like skinny-dipping?) - she'll like it?

We have poodle mixes and shave them all the time. But their coats are made to protect their skin, even if shaved. They are cute longer but it is a mess to take care of constantly.

Deb and Ed M wrote:
Ike my Aussie LOVED to be shaved. I agree - not very impressive-looking when "nekkid" - but MUCH happier, and certainly dried out faster after his daily swim.





In the before picture, he looks so fat - and he wasn't!

He's been gone almost 2 years. In the spring of 2013, he was REALLY angry with me for not shaving him - followed me around with exaggerated panting and just generally cranky... but by then, he had lost so much weight that quite frankly, I was afraid to let people see how bony he was (plus I figured it gave him some protection from laying on the hard floor).

I always shaved his fur (and now Ben and Jimmy) in the direction that it grew. A #10 blade would leave about a 1/2" of fur - never had problems with sunburn.

Ike was a Handsome dog and you know what I mean by long hair. Bud and Mikko liked being shaved, this was the first time I shaved Lassie my 14 year old Collie and she is embarrassed.

Ike my Aussie LOVED to be shaved. I agree - not very impressive-looking when "nekkid" - but MUCH happier, and certainly dried out faster after his daily swim.





In the before picture, he looks so fat - and he wasn't!

He's been gone almost 2 years. In the spring of 2013, he was REALLY angry with me for not shaving him - followed me around with exaggerated panting and just generally cranky... but by then, he had lost so much weight that quite frankly, I was afraid to let people see how bony he was (plus I figured it gave him some protection from laying on the hard floor).

I always shaved his fur (and now Ben and Jimmy) in the direction that it grew. A #10 blade would leave about a 1/2" of fur - never had problems with sunburn.

Yup, both Jesse and Jake get shaved. We've also discovered that when Jesse is hot he breaks out more. We just did a field cut because it's still chilly up here but shortly they will be nekkid! And yes, they do look funky!

Uppercrust wrote:
Pictures? I have been tempted to shave Misty our Shepard, she really sheds.

You really don't want to see them, they are not very attractive.

Pawz4me wrote:
I trim my Shih Tzu just a bit shorter in the summer than in the winter. But not anywhere near shaved. I hate to say it, because I know it's not always accurate, but anytime I see a completely shaved dog my first thought is always that the owner didn't keep the dog brushed/combed and it had a ton of mats that required shaving. Since your dogs are prone to hot spots it was probably a good idea to go ahead and shave them. Those things can get nasty so fast.

They had bath's and combed out but were so uncomfortable that I decided to try it this year.

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Our Border Collie/Lab turns 15 this year.

She has the LONG overcoat with THICK DENSE undercoat.

We 'TRIM' her short every year since a puppy.....after the first time that I 'shaved' her and she got sunburn.

Don't forget to provide a blanket at night if temps still get cool

This was the problem the very long overcoat and very dense undercoat. They were already hot and it just turned spring. Bud's coat was so thick the only time he was comfortable was when it was very cold. My main concern is sunburn so I will keep them inside most of the day until it grows out a little. There not very attractive but comfortable.

Pictures? I have been tempted to shave Misty our Shepard, she really sheds.

I trim my Shih Tzu just a bit shorter in the summer than in the winter. But not anywhere near shaved. I hate to say it, because I know it's not always accurate, but anytime I see a completely shaved dog my first thought is always that the owner didn't keep the dog brushed/combed and it had a ton of mats that required shaving. Since your dogs are prone to hot spots it was probably a good idea to go ahead and shave them. Those things can get nasty so fast.