{"id":440,"date":"2020-08-13T16:28:13","date_gmt":"2020-08-13T16:28:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aussieuniversity.com\/?p=440"},"modified":"2021-03-06T17:20:14","modified_gmt":"2021-03-06T17:20:14","slug":"australian-shepherd-fur-grooming-lessons-for-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aussieuniversity.com\/australian-shepherd-fur-grooming-lessons-for-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Australian Shepherd Fur Grooming Lessons"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whew! This summer has been a scorcher. Are you sitting inside with the ceiling fan on and the air conditioner pumping? You can\u2019t help but feel bad for your Australian Shepherd panting away. That being said, Australian Shepherd fur is not as simple as a lot of dogs.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re covered in a thick layer of fur they can\u2019t take off. That has you thinking, is it time to give your Aussie a haircut? Should you ever cut the fur off this breed?<\/strong><\/p>\n

No, there\u2019s generally no need to give your Australian Shepherd a haircut. The only exception is trimming the hair around the feet, legs, and ears, which can get long. You will also have to cut out matts if your dog\u2019s hair gets tangled.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In today\u2019s article, we\u2019ll discuss the coat of the Australian Shepherd in-depth. We\u2019ll also talk about when and where to trim, how, and whether you should ever shave your Aussie\u2019s fur. You\u2019re not going to want to miss it!<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Understanding the Australian Shepherd\u2019s Coat<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Dog breeds have many unique coats color and texture. But, there exists another key difference between dog coats. Some breeds have a single coat and other\u2019s a double coat. What does this mean?<\/p>\n

When a dog has a single coat, then they have but one layer of fur to insulate them. The breeds that boast a double coat have twice the fur.<\/p>\n

First, there\u2019s the undercoat, which is closest to the dog\u2019s body. The hairs here are thicker, almost wooly-like, and shorter.<\/p>\n

A dog with a double coat will get insulation from the cold thanks to their undercoat. In the summer, these dogs are also safeguarded from high temps.<\/p>\n

This is because the undercoat will begin shedding. This isn\u2019t like traditional dog coat shedding, and it even has a specific name, coat blow.<\/p>\n

What the heck is “Coat Blow<\/a>?”<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When spring arrives and the mercury on your thermostat begins going up, the dog will engage in coat blow<\/a>. This allows them to shed the bulk of that undercoat so it\u2019s thinner. Now they\u2019re ready for summer.<\/p>\n

Okay, so that\u2019s the undercoat, but what about the second coat in a double-coated dog? That\u2019s known as the topcoat. Unlike the shorter, woolier hairs that comprise the undercoat, a dog\u2019s topcoat has guard hairs. These hairs are much lengthier than the undercoat, and their duties are different too. The topcoat prevents dirt and moisture from settling into the dog\u2019s fur. The topcoat is not used for temperature control.<\/p>\n

Australian Shepherds are one such dog breed that has a double coat. They share this distinction with these canines:<\/p>\n