PatiLee Premium Pet Resort

Grooming · 4 min read

Summer shedding: brushing vs. shaving (and why we brush)

Reaching for the clippers to beat summer shedding? Here's why a good brush-out beats a shave every time.

March 18, 2026

When the weather warms up and the hair starts flying, shaving feels like the obvious fix. For most dogs, it's the wrong one. Here's what actually helps.

What shedding really is

Double-coated dogs shed their soft undercoat as the seasons change. The loose fluff you see isn't a sign the coat is too thick — it's the coat doing its job of regulating temperature.

Why we brush instead of shave

A proper de-shedding brush-out removes that loose undercoat at the source, dramatically cutting the hair around your home — without stripping the protective coat. Shaving, by contrast, can leave skin exposed and cause patchy, permanent regrowth in double coats.

Keeping a shedding dog comfortable

  • Regular brushing, stepped up in shedding season
  • Warm-water baths to loosen the undercoat
  • Shade and fresh water rather than a shave

Read more about why we never shave a healthy coat, and what our bath & grooming includes. Questions? We're here.

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