Seasonal care
Summer Grooming Tips for Fluffy Dogs in Sydney
Sydney summers can be tough on fluffy dogs. These grooming and safety tips will help keep your Husky, Samoyed or oodle cool, comfortable and safe.
Long, hot days are great for beach trips and barbecues, but they can be hard work for fluffy dogs. A little extra grooming and some common-sense precautions go a long way towards keeping your dog comfortable all summer.
1. De-shed, don't shave, double coats
For Huskies, Malamutes, Samoyeds and other double-coated breeds, removing the loose, dead undercoat is what helps air move through the coat. Shaving removes the guard hairs that shade the skin, and can affect how the coat grows back. Read why double coats shouldn't be shaved, and book a professional de-shed before the heat really kicks in.
2. Keep oodle and long coats manageable
Non-shedding coats like Cavoodles and Groodles can be clipped. A practical summer length is easier to keep clean and tangle-free. Ask about a shorter style that still keeps some coat for sun protection. Our guide to oodle grooming styles can help you choose.
3. Brush more often
Mats trap heat and moisture against the skin. Regular brushing keeps the coat light and airy, and it's a good chance to check for grass seeds, ticks and hot spots.
4. Paws and paw pad fur
Tidying the fur between the paw pads can help with grip on smooth floors and stops burrs and sand collecting. That's a tidy trim, not a shave, and it's quite different from clipping the coat. Check paws after walks for cuts, grass seeds and sore spots.
Hot pavements can burn paws. Before a walk, press the back of your hand on the footpath for about seven seconds. If it's too hot for your hand, it's too hot for paws.
5. After the beach or a swim
- Rinse off salt water and sand with fresh water.
- Dry the coat thoroughly, especially thick undercoats, which can stay damp against the skin.
- Check ears, and dry them gently after swimming.
6. Check for ticks
Paralysis ticks are found along the east coast of Australia, including parts of Sydney. Check your dog all over after walks in bushy or grassy areas, especially around the head, neck, ears and between the toes, and speak to your vet about tick prevention.
7. Heat safety basics
- Walk early in the morning or later in the evening.
- Always provide shade and plenty of fresh water.
- Never leave your dog in a parked car, even for a few minutes.
- Flat-faced breeds, older dogs and overweight dogs are at higher risk in the heat.
Know the signs of heatstroke
Heavy panting, excessive drooling, weakness or wobbliness, vomiting, confusion or collapse can be signs of heatstroke, which is an emergency. Move your dog somewhere cool, offer water, wet their coat with cool (not icy) water, and get to a vet immediately.
Getting ready for summer? Book a de-shed or groom at our Brighton-Le-Sands salon. We're open 7 days, 9am to 4pm.
Need a hand with a summer de-shed?
We're at 287 Bay Street, Brighton-Le-Sands, open 7 days, 9am to 4pm.
Quick answers
Should I shave my dog for summer?
Not if your dog has a double coat, like a Husky, Samoyed or Malamute. A professional de-shed is the better option. Non-shedding coats like oodles can be clipped to a practical summer length.
How do I know if the pavement is too hot for my dog?
Press the back of your hand on the pavement for about seven seconds. If it is too hot for your hand, it is too hot for your dog's paws.
What are the signs of heatstroke in dogs?
Heavy panting, excessive drooling, weakness, vomiting, confusion or collapse. Heatstroke is an emergency, so cool your dog with cool (not icy) water and get to a vet immediately.
