To Shave or Not to Shave?

So many people say “My dog must clearly be cooler in the summer months with freshly shaven skin” logic. NO NO NO!A dog’s coat works like a thermostat.  It helps regulate their body temperature in both hot and cold weather, similarly to duck’s feathers and down.  The undercoat and outer coat form an insulated barrier that keeps the temperature regulated.  It becomes increasingly difficult for a dog to keep itself warm or cool with no fur.  Dogs do not sweat like people do to cool themselves.  The mechanism of cooling by sweating is through evaporation.  Since dogs only sweat in the pads of their paws this is not an effect method of cooling.  A dog cools itself by panting.  Their coat does not effect their ability to pant.