Can I get a Long coat clipped to look like a short coat?

[Chicagocanine]

Shaving the coat, unless you completely shave to the skin (which I would DEFINITELY NOT recommend EVER), is not going to reduce shedding. Shaving does not actually get rid of any hair that is going to be shed by the dog, it just shortens the hair. They still have the same amount of hair to shed-- the hairs are just going to be shorter (and sharper since cutting makes a sharp end to the hairs.)
If you want to reduce the shedding you can try a shedding blade or Furminator, or go to a groomer who does the Furminator treatment. I do that with Bianca to cut down on the shedding in the summer and it helps a lot.

Shaving a long coat won't make them look like a regular/stock coat German Shepherd because most of the color is at the tips of the fur, plus shaving exposes the wooly undercoat. So shaving will make the dog's fur color look diluted or lightened and their fur will look wooly or fuzzy.

Shaving a double-coated breed can actually make them heat intolerant as the double coat protects them from the heat and sun. There is also a risk of sun damage to the skin.

Example here is a shaved (stock coat) Shepherd, see how the fur is lighter and the black saddle is gone?




Here is another, you can see the wooly appearance to the coat here:

[VegasResident]

Awk!!! The worlds largest chihuahuas!

The fur does so much to protect the skin and oils it is a wonder anyone would remove fur like that....but I judge not...

Seriously, my long coat lived (and next one will) in the Mohave Desert in Las Vegas where summer temperatures are in the 100s for a few months and she did not have a problem with themperatures reaching 116-118.

So my vote is to let them stay their beautimous self!!!

Here was my baby girl, the Binkmiester fur and all!!!...

[mjbgsd]

Originally Posted by Chicagocanine

Example here is a shaved (stock coat) Shepherd, see how the fur is lighter and the black saddle is gone?




Here is another, you can see the wooly appearance to the coat here:

OMG WHY?!?! I work at a grooming shop and we NEVER would shave a double coated breed as the hairs protect them against the heat/cold. Take that away and now they are exposed. Also the hair never grows back the same. It can become stiff and flakey looking. ick

[Chicagocanine]

Originally Posted by mjbgsd

OMG WHY?!?! I work at a grooming shop and we NEVER would shave a double coated breed as the hairs protect them against the heat/cold. Take that away and now they are exposed. Also the hair never grows back the same. It can become stiff and flakey looking. ick

The second dog, the photo were from a rescue site, the dog was in very bad condition, matted etc so had to be shaved.
The first-- I have no idea why! I have known a few people who regularly shave their double-coated dogs and I never understood it. One was a Golden/Chow mix (you can see him here in various stages of shaved-ness, poor dog), another was a pair of rough Collies. I always wondered, if they were just going to keep those poor Collie shaved all the time why not just get smooth Collies??

[veeds35]

vegas your girl is a beauty, I have what I think is going to be a LC male hes 7 months and I just love his coat he looks like a big teddy bear we also have a female stock coat and I think she sheds more then he does lol

[thepoultrygirl]

Ive decided for now Im not gonna get her clipped. She seems comfortable enough, and the monsoons are here to create a nice muddy mess and cool everything down. I guess we'll just keep entertaining more of the "lovely dog, what mix is it?" questions

[Blazer707]

My girl pippy is a plush coat and the furminator is the best brush ive ever used for her extreme shedding.