Duke and Meyla

Duke and Meyla

Friday, August 22, 2014

Never Again........


 At first I liked it,
 But then it bit.
I now say "It's ugly,"
My family smiles smugly.

His coat was thick and beautiful,
For his breed, very suitable.
Eight inches long on his tail,
It protected him from rain and hail.

I decided to shave,
Saying, "It will save,"
"His flesh from the heat,"
"And also from cheat." 

So I took the clippers, 
And shaved off his slippers.
I shaved his muzzle.
(That was quite a puzzle!)

I shaved his shoulders,
I needed lots of holders,
For all the hair, 
Everywhere! Then I started to stare.

Duke my boy was shorn!
"No cute fluffy dog," I mourn. 
I've regretted it since that day,
"Never again," I say.


Now here's the bad part which I overlooked when I did it. Double coated dogs should NEVER be shaved! Never! And here's why. 
Basically, a double coated dogs has a rain coat with a fleece blanket underneath. The rain coat keeps out the rain, (Duh!) sun etc. It actually HELPS to keep the dog cool because the sun is not hitting their body. The fleece blanket obviously keeps the dog toasty warm but is NOT waterproof and all. 
When you shave these dogs, the rain coat does not grow back quickly for most dogs while in fleece blanket does. The reason for this is simple. The fleece blanket sheds every year-the rain coat doesn't so it isn't made to grow fast at all. It can take over a year for it to come back. In the meantime, every time the dog gets wet the fleece blanket soaks all that water up and deposits it directly on the skin. So the dog gets wet and cold. How is that going to work in the winter? The dog's gonna freeze to death! Poor Duke-I don't know what I'm going to do with him the winter. :( 

Below is what he used to look like. 



   
And now he looks like this-ugly to say the least.

3 comments:

  1. Poor boy :( BUT he looks better than that last pic now.. isn't that from right away? I think I see pink skin!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh my goodness! Moldy

    ReplyDelete