Labs as well as other breeds have double-coats. Essentially, they have a top coat that protects them in wet conditions and repels moisture, as well as an undercoat that serves as the primary coat that keeps them warm.
This double-coat is a result of centuries of adaptation and genetics due to how they were used as bird dogs in colder climates! Fans of cutting hair or shaving Labs usually make the argument that if you are not using your Lab in excessively wet or cold conditions regularly, then this adaptation is irrelevant.
In essence, living a normal indoor life with a shaved coat would not harm the dog. To be fair, from what I found during my research, there does not appear to be evidence that this practice causes harm, per se. With that said, it is not a practice that I personally agree with. I think as humans we do enough harm to the natural order of things for our own gain. One of the biggest reasons people even consider shaving a Lab is to help combat shedding. It often takes owners by surprise how much Labradors shed.
What I did see reported, however, was that the hair was shorter. In many cases, this actually exacerbated the exact issue they were trying to solve! With the hair being so much smaller, many floor and handheld vacuums actually struggled to suck them up! The other big reason I found for cutting the hair of Labs was to improve the visual appearance of the coat.
In an effort to create a sleek and shiny look to the coat, owners felt like performing the trim often lightened up the coat and improved the overall appearance. I have found that regular grooming of your Lab can accomplish this just as well. All it really takes is a few basic tools that are fairly inexpensive that you can purchase online.
If interested, please check out the Recommended Products page. The reality is that with their double-coats, you could probably brush them non-stop for hours, every day, and still remove hair.
Yellow labs tend to shed all the time. Regular brushing will remove the loose hairs, which helps circulation to keep your dog cool. Visiting the groomer during the shedding season, especially in the spring, is recommended.
A groomer can bathe your lab and blow out the undercoat. A horse shedding blade yes! Water is essential to help keep your pet hydrated and cool during the summer months. Always have fresh water available for your dog. Walk in the morning or evening to prevent your dog from overheating.
Avoid exercise and playtime outdoors during the heat of the day. Keep your dog indoors in the air conditioning or with a fan so that they are comfortable. I myself keep meaning to purchase this to give it a try. I will be posting my thoughts on this tool soon on the All About Labradors blog. Some people feel that by shaving their Labrador Retrievers, it will keep them from shedding or keep them cooler in the warm weather. What they don't realize is that the Labrador will still shed, and that the undercoat that they are shaving actually helps to keep your Labrador Retriever cool.
The only time your Lab will need to be shaved is if your veterinarian needs to for "Hot Spots", in which case all the fur covering and immediately surrounding the lesion must be shaved, or for some other surgical procedures. Here is a good article for you to take a look at: Why you shouldn't shave your long haired double coated dog. As far as bathing Jake goes, I recommend it only be done when absolutely needed. The only time I bath my Labrador Retrievers is if they if they rolled around in something offensive or something has caused them to smell horrible which means I bath them very, very seldom.
Sometimes, it not even a full bath, it might just be a spot bath. Shampooing them too often will tend to strip the natural oils from their coats, as a properly oily coat will repel dirt and shed water easily. If you brush then regularly, it will keep them clean. It's great to read letters from the readers of this blog and hear the love that a Labrador provides.
No matter what kind of day I could have, or the members of my family could have, I can always count on my Lab girls to make us all smile! If you have any other questions on this matter or anything else, now or in the future, please don't hesitate to e-mail me.
One last thing Cherie, it sure is great being friends with other Labrador Retrievers owners. I receive so many beautiful letters from fellow Lab owners like you and get to share many wonderful stories and advice. Last but not least, I've just added Cherie as another friend. Thank you for enjoying the blog and remember I'm just a click away. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for all the wonderful advice! I just printed your email and plan to buy the correct brushes for Jake tomorrow.
I have been using a shedding blade; he thinks grooming is a big game! I also plan to read the article later. You have been incredibly helpful.
When we got him, the breeder had shaved him it was August , and Jakey did not look too happy. That's partly why I grabbed him up He is now a big bunch of shedding black fur, and that is fine with us! Thanks for confirming what I heard. I will keep in touch and plan to visit your site often to share stories, get advice, share advice, and just have fun. I will talk to you soon. Where do you live? I too feel as if I've met a very nice friend and fellow Lab lover!
Have a great night. I to was wondering the same thing and started searching the web and came across your blog.
0コメント