Beat the Summer Heat- But Clip?

Some dog owners believe that clipping a dog's coat will make them cooler. They get their dog a summer cut to help them beat the summer heat. What they don't realize is that a dog's coat is insulating not only during the winter, but it's insulating against the heat in the summer. A dog doesn't sweat, but dissipates their body heat through panting. The undercoat helps to not only keep out the summer heat, but it prevents sunburn and skin irritations such as misquito bites. We know that Cairn Terriers should be stripped, not clipped. The primary reason is that dead hair left in the follicle and not stripped out, damages the base of the hair and makes it soft. The dead soft hair matts and is more odorous and difficult to manage. When stripping, the dead hair is removed by plucking it when it's ready, and a new hair grows in that remains course and the coat stays cleaner, less smelly, and does not matt as easily. It's important in the summer to brush regularly, remove any matts that may actually cause excess heat, and strip to maintain coat health. Bathe once a month to minimize drying out the skin. When spending a lot of time in the summer sun, use a dog sunscreen & insect repellent such as Flea the Scene by Happytails Spa product line. Ensure your dog has plenty of clean cool water to drink. There are various products available, such as cooling beds and cooling bandanas to help cool your dog when spending a lot of time outside. Some owners like to provide a baby wading pool in the yard for the Cairn to play in. They enjoy playing in the water and it helps keep them cool. Remember to use caution around large pools and use safety gates & fencing to dog proof your pool. Dogs can easily drown if they fall into a pool and can't get back out.