Did you know that long-haired Chihuahuas can have either a single coat or a double coat? A single coat has a single outer coat or topcoat of thick guard hairs. A double coat Chihuahua has a top coat of guard hairs and an under-coat of thinner hair.
Double-coated Chihuahuas have two layers to protect them from cold weather. The guard hairs (topcoat) are the outer layer and protect your Chihuahua against snow or ice and even sheds water. The undercoat is soft and lies close to the skin. It keeps your Chihuahua warm and dry. In the winter, the undercoat can sometimes be so thick that you might have trouble finding your Chis’ skin.
In the summer your Chi will shed the soft undercoat and only the guard hairs (topcoat) are left. The top hair in warm weather will protect your Chihuahua from sunburn and will insulate him from the heat. Without the undercoat, air can circulate through the topcoat and cool his skin.
The hair on a single-coated Chihuahua just keeps growing. On the other hand, double coats grow to a certain length and then don’t get any longer. If you shave a single coated Chihuahua the hair will grow back again without changing it. That, however, is not true of double coats. If you shave a double-coated Chihuahua it can ruin the coat.
Why Does Shaving a Double-Coated Chihuahua Ruin The Coat?
If you shave a double-coated Chi, you will see that new hair will begin to grow rather quickly. However, the undercoat is the first to grow. That’s the soft fuzzy coat that remains next to the skin and keeps your Chihuahua warm. The topcoat (guard hairs) grow more slowly and you will begin to see them grow mixed in with the soft fluffy undercoat.
You’ll also notice that the texture of the new double coat doesn’t feel the same as it did before. It becomes “sticky” a little like velcro. You’ll find that when your Chihuahua comes in from the yard he may have burrs, seeds, grass, twigs, all kinds of plant life stuck to his coat. Whatever your Chihuahua passes in the yard, on a walk, on a hike, will get stuck to his coat.
The top and undercoat growing together will make your Chihuahua hot in the summer and may contribute to him becoming overheated. That’s because the undercoat no longer is absorbing the sun’s rays.
In the winter his coat will be more likely to mat and that may cause skin irritations and hot spots.
Keeping Your Chihuahua Cool in the Summer
In the summer your Chihuahua will shed his undercoat leaving only the topcoat or guard hairs. It sounds reasonable that by shaving your Chihuahua he will be cooler in the summer. However, keeping your Chihuahua’s topcoat is how your Chihuahua remains cool.
The topcoat or guard hairs provide your Chihuahua insulation and allows the air to circulate near his skin which also helps to keep him cool.
What to do Instead of Shaving
If your Chihuahua has a double coat and you want to help him remain cool in the summer, take him to the groomer. Ask them to bathe him and blow out the undercoat with the high-powered dryers that groomers have. They will also use a tool called a rake to help remove the coat.
You could also ask them to give your dog a summer “trim”. A trim only trims the top coat a little shorter but does not remove it.
Not all groomers are experienced with double-coated Chihuahuas, so unless you are clear, they may shave your Chihuahua just because they didn’t know. Be absolutely clear about what you want and that you do not want them to shave your Chihuahua. If you are not specific, you may pick up your dog later and find out that he has been shaved.
You could also use your own tools to brush and remove the undercoat that has been shed but needs to be removed. However, a groomer will have the correct tools to use. Without the right tools, it can be quite a job.
