Why do people buy long haired breeds then clip them out???

[Acolyte]

I have always wondered about this one - why (for example) buy an Old English Sheepdog then have it clipped out? Why not buy a shorter haired breed in the first place?

I dont mean breeds like terriers which are traditionally clipped/stripped/trimmed - but I have even seen people with clipped Cavaliers, which really need a minute or two in maintenance every day

Just wondered - I have just seen a clipped dog in the park at lunchtime which reminded me to ask

 

[CorvusCorax]

My mate breeds OES and they clip the ones they don't show for maintenance purposes - boy do they get mucky - as for first-time owners, then I can't answer that.
It fab to see how wiry bobtails are without their coats, though!

 

[Acolyte]

Yeah I was really meaning the average family who own one or two dogs rather than breeders - can quite see why breeders do it

They really are amazing without a coat I agree

 

[_Libby_]

My lhasa gets VERY mucky on trips to the stables so clipping is better for her rather than lots of washing or grooming.

 

[Acolyte]

Oh yes I can see that makes sense - but did you not consider getting a short haired breed rather than a Lhasa in the first place, knowing you would be taking the dog to the yard and it would get mucky?

Just curious, the posts which have been up about choosing a breed made me wonder how people decide what dog to get

 

[GinaB]

I got my Beast as she is a breed that doesn't shed (mini schnauzer) although she does get the traditional schnauzer clip (much to her horror. How dare we touch her beard, it's her pride and joy

)

 

[Acolyte]

Oh I didnt realise that schnauzers didnt shed - how fab for you, my greyhound is STILL throwing coat out at a vast rate of knots at the moment

I do like mini schnauzers I must say, and if I had the space I would love a giant one

 

[Super_Kat]

I have a CKCS and she get's very hot during the summer, especially on long walks so it's for her comfort more than anything

 

[misterjinglejay]

I used to show my samoyeds so huge amounts of grooming, bathing etc. Stopped showing 3 years ago, still huge amounts of grooming, bathing etc.

Would never clip them as the coats keep them at the optimum temperature (usually), and they look like shorn sheep if clipped

 

[Acolyte]

OMG I have never seen a clipped Samoyed and cant imagine one

But huge respect for you, I couldnt cope with all that coat myself

They are beautiful dogs though

 

[GinaB]

[ QUOTE ]
Oh I didnt realise that schnauzers didnt shed - how fab for you, my greyhound is STILL throwing coat out at a vast rate of knots at the moment

I do like mini schnauzers I must say, and if I had the space I would love a giant one

[/ QUOTE ]

She is a wee star, I love her

And yes, I find my two labradors are casting like crazy! A few other people were saying their dogs are exactly the same.

Fuzzy Beastie...

And just clipped...

She gets a little coat to wear in the winter

 

[Spyda]

We used to clip our long haired German Sherpherd. Simply for her comfort. She was too darned hot in the summer. Ruined her coat in summer but she was no show dog and we just wanted her to be happy. It grew back in by autumn and she was her fluffy-self all winter.

Can't see the problem myself; rather like buying a hairy cob and clipping him in winter cos he sweats at the winter shows. Wouldn't put me off buying a horse that grows a thick coat that needed clipping, nor a dog that benefits from being clipped in summer to keep it comfy. I come from America where the weather in some areas is SOOO hot. It's common to clip long haired dogs there. But with Global Warming encroaching.......

 

[prose]

We're toying with a CKCS for our second dog, and I will likely clip in the height of summer. I'm going with the breed for temperament reasons, mainly. In any case, the temperature this past week has barely dipped below 95 degrees. Stella, as a short-faced breed, is not supposed to do well in the heat, but even she manages a 40-minute walk at a good clip, while the retrievers etc. seem to really suffer in their long coats. My friend has a Samoyed and the dog is practically bald from June-September.

 

[ShadowFlame]

I have a long haired dog (a rough Chow - try to find a breed with a thicker coat than that!), and wouldn't dream of clipping her. People say they clip to help them cope with the summer heat, but people don't realise is that heavy coats help to insulate dogs against heat as well as cold. For most long haired dogs, it is kinder to leave their coat intact.

 

[brightmount]

I note that you exempt terriers, but I just wanted to say I clip my Yorkie as otherwise he would have to wear his fringe in a bow to be able to see, and that's just mortifying - he's a rufty tufty boy!

I clip the rest of his coat according to the season, it would be floor length if I didn't. I have to clip every 2 weeks, it grows that fast.

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

I love long haired dogs clipped in summer, their coat may protect them from heat but they pant a lot less without it which for me means they are more comfy!

and they look a bit like shetland grand national contestant without their body hair but with legs left on.....he hee You can see then the 'proper dog' shape beneath the fuzz!

 

[Acolyte]

[ QUOTE ]
I have a long haired dog (a rough Chow - try to find a breed with a thicker coat than that!), and wouldn't dream of clipping her. People say they clip to help them cope with the summer heat, but people don't realise is that heavy coats help to insulate dogs against heat as well as cold. For most long haired dogs, it is kinder to leave their coat intact.

[/ QUOTE ]

My thoughts exactly TBH - I always wonder how it evolved, you never saw clipped dogs a few years ago?

Just my viewpoint however!

 

[howengold]

My rescue CKC is clipped but I am growing it out as I like him with a nice long coat. I bath him most days cos he stinks anyway so the dirt side isn't a problem and on hot days (do we actually get those here lol) he stays at home with the aircon on to keep him and my other house animals cool.

 

[Skhosu]

We have a mutt with long hair (similar to GSD/burmese mountain dog) and a golden retriever both clipped out for the summer, they are clipped out as in the summer it is much kinder for them, it's like a weight off them, they are left long in the winter.

 

[Starbucks]

Agree with S&H - my mum has got an insanely hairy border terrier and she just gets so hot with her full coat - you are supposed to strip them but she doesn't like it so she gets a nice shave in the summer!

 

[PennyJ]

I've had a lot of Shih Tzu's over the years, big dogs trapped in little long haired bodies.

I ended up clipping them out once a year only - in summer for their comfort more than anything else, but there are other advantages like they didn't get tangled up in the undergrowth to the same extent. I never showed them, so they didn't need their fabulous long coats and it made grooming them A LOT easier and more bearable for them. I've since found out that really they don't moult very much at all - I have far more hair everywhere problems with our Sprocker.

But basically yes, why do people get long haired dogs and then clip them out all year round. I think they must just like the look. It's incredibly rare to see a full coated Shih Tzu these days unless it's a show dog. They do look cute clipped though.

 

[ShadowFlame]

[ QUOTE ]
I've had a lot of Shih Tzu's over the years, big dogs trapped in little long haired bodies.

I ended up clipping them out once a year only - in summer for their comfort more than anything else, but there are other advantages like they didn't get tangled up in the undergrowth to the same extent. I never showed them, so they didn't need their fabulous long coats and it made grooming them A LOT easier and more bearable for them. I've since found out that really they don't moult very much at all - I have far more hair everywhere problems with our Sprocker.

But basically yes, why do people get long haired dogs and then clip them out all year round. I think they must just like the look. It's incredibly rare to see a full coated Shih Tzu these days unless it's a show dog. They do look cute clipped though.

[/ QUOTE ]

Shih Tzus don't moult at all, so it is necessary to clip them if you don't wish to have a dog that resembles a mop. My mother has a Shih Tzu and he hates having a long coat, he goes really quiet and depressed when it gets to a certain length. Once he's been clipped, he's back to his noisy, slightly manic, self.

For breeds who don't shed at all, fair enough to keep them under control, but for those who do shed I see no point in clipping.

 

[Spyda]

[ QUOTE ]
.....for those who do shed I see no point in clipping.

[/ QUOTE ]

Why? If a dog has a thick double coat like my GSD and she's panting constantly and moving around uncomfortably trying to find the coolest places to lay for most of the summer, why would you see no point in us clipping her, when once clipped she's relaxed, comfortable and able to mouch about without panting constantly??? It's a no brainer to me. Can't see why anyone would comment on it, let alone have a problem with it. Sorry, just feel strongly that my dog's comfort is more important than how she looks cosmetically, and I resent people looking shocked because she's clipped for 2 or 3 months of the year.

 

[Acolyte]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
.....for those who do shed I see no point in clipping.

[/ QUOTE ]

Why? If a dog has a thick double coat like my GSD and she's panting constantly and moving around uncomfortably trying to find the coolest places to lay for most of the summer, why would you see no point in us clipping her, when once clipped she's relaxed, comfortable and able to mouch about without panting constantly??? It's a no brainer to me. Can't see why anyone would comment on it, let alone have a problem with it. Sorry, just feel strongly that my dog's comfort is more important than how she looks cosmetically, and I resent people looking shocked because she's clipped for 2 or 3 months of the year.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well I can only speak for myself Sypda - but chill! I have not at any stage said that I am shocked by people who have their dogs clipped out, I do not have "a problem" with it, I just asked why people who have long haired breeds then have them clipped

I personally agree with ShadowFlame that long haired dogs are able to regulate their body temperature perfectly well, and the long hair actually serves to assist that process, but if people prefer to clip them then that is your personal choice as an owner.

Blimey if I had realised people were going to get this stressed about it I wouldnt have bothered asking the question

 

[CorvusCorax]

Interesting though, I have never heard of a longhair GSD being clipped. Wherabouts are/were you Spyda?
Most longhairs I've come across didn't have an undercoat, which is why it is deemed a 'fault'.

 

[Spyda]

Oh sorry, didn't mean to sound fierce

I didn't mean you specifically would be shocked by the thought of it, more I meant the people who see a clipped GSD when it's out and about. Dog showing people in particular! Thankfully my dog is no show dog. Just bums about the farm getting smelly and filthy, bless her. Crufts judges & GSD experts would cringe at my dog, I'm sure

My GSD is certainly no show standard specimen. She has one of those ENORMOUS thick coats with masses of fuzzy white fluff underneath the (also fluffy) long top coat. Not waterproof at all. She wears a coat in winter to keep her warm and dry. One of her ears flops down, too. Many people mistake her for a puppy because of it! But no, she's 9 now. She's definitely a pure GSD but came with no papers as a puppy. Her temperament is second to none though, and she looks fierce enough through the metal gates to keep burglars away from our property! We love her. Clipped or not

I'll shut up now and go away

 

[CAYLA]

LOL....a mini fight

...just messin

Im not keen on long coats being clipped, obviously not the like of shih-tzu's and the likes of as they would just grow into a mass hair ball

...but as a groom I do it, I can understand why owners think it keeps dog cooler...but as suggested the coat protects the body/skin preventing them from burning and becoming even hotter as the sun can then penetrate closer to the skin of course a shady area should always be accessible for any dog in the hotter days.

My Long Coated Akita has possibly the thickest hair I have ever seen, but she looks lovely with it and would look well odd it I clipped it off.....I do shave her stomach off so she can lie around in the shade as she does and get a little more cooler from the cold on her stomach...but of course u cannot see that unless she rolls over.

I cannot imagine her all shaved down

, but she does take a lot of maintenance, but it worth it as she has a lovely coat

 

[Acolyte]

Blimey Cala that is what I call a long haired dog

Great respect to you, I couldnt cope with that

Love your Dobermann by the way

 

[CAYLA]

The dobie is a boarder.....I would never willingly own a doberman

Lol...she is a hairy bear...it takes me a good 3 hours to bath, dry and groom her out

but she looks like a cute fluffy bear so worth it

 

[Acolyte]

Awwww thats sounds so sweet

But not as sweet as your whippet of course

Now I have actually met my landlords they seem pretty laid back, so once the job thing is sorted I will gently suggest to them about another dog....just a little one....