GROOMING TIPS
FOR YOUR SLED DOG
Why NOT to shave your sled dog....
*Siberian Huskies and other sled dog breeds should NEVER be clipped or shaved except in the case of a medical emergency. There are "professional" groomers out there who will tell you to shave your sled dog and some will even do it without asking for your consent! There are Vets who will tell you to shave your sled dog. These Vets are uninformed about the breed.
*Dogs do not sweat like humans. Their cooling process is done via panting from the mouth, sweating at the paws and cooling the blood in their ears. Shaving does nothing to keep the dog cool. It just makes the human feel better when looking at the coated dog.
*The Siberian Husky has no pigmentation in it's skin. If you shave a Husky, you expose it to the sun without protection. Now you have a dog that can come up with a variety of skin problems, including skin cancer.
*Fur acts as a protection against insects and parasites. If you remove that protection, the dog is exposed to even more insect problems than he would have had if he had been allowed to keep his protective coat.
*If you clip or shave your Sled Dog it will eventually ruin the coat and disturb the proper shedding process.
*Shaving or clipping makes a Husky more susceptible o skin allergies, sunburn and parasite infestation. The treatments for these problems can then lead to more serious conditions.
*The Husky "color-coat," also known as the top coat, works as the reflective barrier. Shaving this coat exposes the undercoat and when the two coats grow they no longer 'blend' properly to allow the maximum protection necessary.
NAIL TRIMMING
Here's a good video on how to trim your own dog's nails
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgEwiH8CeUE
WAYS TO KEEP YOUR SLED DOG COOL IN THE HEAT....
*For dogs that like to wade, lie or play in water, a plastic kiddie pool is AWESOME!
*If your Sled Dogs like to play in water, let them run through the sprinkler with the kids!
*A big bowl of ice to play with outside is always a fun treat.
*Make a "sand box" in your yard where your Sled Dogs are allowed to dig ditches and lay in them to keep cool.
*ALWAYS make sure your Sled Dog has plenty of fresh cool water.
*Never leave your Sled Dog out in the heat for long periods of time without checking on them often and giving them the option to come in and cool off.
*A cooling mat- Get it wet in the bathtub, wring it out, then put it in the freezer for 5-10 minutes. Place it in your dog's crate and they can lay on a nice, icy cold mat!
*The information in this forum is not intended to deal with major behavior issues such as aggression and biting. If you have serious concerns about your dog, please seek a qualified professional immediately.