Sun’s out, tongue’s out. When the temperature climbs, doggos need help cooling off. A summer haircut for dogs can make it easier for some pups to regulate their body temp. But summer clips aren’t suitable for all breeds. Can your fur bud benefit from a summer ‘do? Stay tuned for summer haircut inspiration for nine popular dog breeds, and find out how to help your pupper get ready for summer.

Should You Shave Your Dog in the Summer?

If your dog has a lot of hair, it may seem like a good idea to shave them during the summer to give them some relief. But it’s never a good idea to shave your dog all the way down to the skin. Your pup’s fur protects their skin from harmful UV rays, insect bites and abrasions, and you don’t want to remove that layer of protection. Also, some dogs shouldn’t be shaved at all. Doing so could backfire by making them hotter.

That said, a lot of dog breeds can benefit from a summer haircut, as long as it’s not too short. How short you should go depends on the type of coat your fur kid has.

Double Coated Breeds

Dogs with double coats have a thick undercoat that provides insulation during the winter. This layer of fur thins out around springtime and actually increases the air flow under the protective outer coat to help your pooch stay cool. Shaving your double-coated dog down to a single layer of fur defeats the way their coats were designed and can actually cause them to overheat.

Double-coated dog breeds include St. Bernards, Siberian huskies, pomeranians, golden retrievers, Great Pyrenees, Bernese mountain dogs, German shepherd dogs, corgis and border collies, among others. If you live in a warm climate and you have a cold-weather dog like a husky or St. Bernard, it’s okay to trim their outer coat to provide some relief. Just don’t cut it any shorter than their undercoat. This could damage their coat by causing the undercoat to grow out faster than the outer coat.

Silky Coated Breeds

If you have a dog with a silky coat, like that of a cocker spaniel or an English or Irish setter, shaving them too close could ruin their coat. Cutting their hair too short could cause it to grow back every which way, causing cowlicks that keep the hair from lying smooth. As with double-coated breeds, you can give your silky-coated pup a summer trim, but take care not to go too short.

Short Coated Breeds

Dogs with short, single-layered coats, like boxers, Boston terriers and short-haired Chihuahuas, don’t need any trimming for the summer. Their hair is already as short as it needs to be. Regular brushing to remove excess hair as it sheds, along with weekly baths, should be enough to maintain their coats through the summer and help them keep cool.

Long-Haired, Curly-Haired and Wire-Haired Breeds

Basically, if you have a dog with the type of single-layered coat that grows constantly and needs regular trims, it’s okay to shave them as long as you leave enough hair to protect their skin. Examples of dogs with this type of coat include poodles, all kinds of doodles and ‘poos, maltese, shih tzus, Bichons, Yorkies, Havanese, old English sheepdogs, schnauzers and West Highland terriers. Summer hairstyles for many of these dog breeds can go quite short for easy maintenance, and offer no shortage of style.

9 Cool and Stylin’ Summer Haircuts for Dogs

Here are nine of the best summer dog haircuts by breed that are cool in more ways than one.

1. Poodle

Whether for a tiny toy poodle, a lap-sized miniature or a big boy standard poodle, poodle haircuts tend to be widely varied, ranging from basic to wildly elaborate. One of the best poodle cuts for summer straddles that line. The Miami cut is a simple close-shaved clip all over the face, neck and body, making it a cool and breezy cut for your pooch. But this cut adds a stylish flare by leaving the hair long on the ears, top of the head, end of the tail and around the ankles. With the curls combed out, your pooch will look ready to step out for a night on the town decked in fringed booties.

2. Yorkshire terrier

The kennel clip is a popular summer cut for yorkies that actually ups the cute factor, as if that’s even possible. Similar to the Miami cut above, most of the body hair is cut super short, but left a bit longer on the head, tail and around the ankles for a touch of style. It’s an adorable look that will provide a lot of relief to yorkies who are prone to overheating.

Photo by Brandon Tran on Unsplash

3. Pomeranian

As with poodles, you can do a lot with a pomeranian coat, despite this being a double-coated breed. The teddy bear clip is one of the most sought-after pom styles, and no small wonder. This cut makes your already cute pup look more like a Muppet than a dog. It’s cute on steroids. The key to this look is to round out the fur around the face and ears to resemble the titular stuffed animal, while clipping the outer coat along the body to the same length as the undercoat – about two to three inches long.

4. Shih tzu

It’s not fancy, but one of the best shih tzu haircuts for summer is a basic puppy cut, also referred to as the summer cut. With the body hair clipped to only one or two inches all over and the ear and face kept slightly longer, it’s an adorable, low-maintenance look that will help your hot little pup feel great when the mercury rises.

5. Maltese

When worn long in the standard style, the Maltese’s silky white locks make them look like a tiny, sweet version of Gandalf the White. But all that hair can be too much for your tiny pup in the summer. A Maltese bob is a cute, easy style that will help your Malti feel light and airy while keeping a touch of style. Simply part the hair on the head down the middle and trim it slightly longer than chin length, while keeping the body hair clipped to about an inch all over. For bonus cuteness, pull the hair on top of the head into a top knot and secure it with a hairband.

6. Maltipoo

With hair that’s curlier and fluffier than their purebred Maltese parents, maltipoos already resemble little lambs. The lamb cut is an adorable maltipoo haircut that will highlight this resemblance while giving your fluffy pup some relief. For this cut, the hair is clipped short all over, with the ears, head and paws left long enough to curl and fluff.

Image by Sam Williams from Pixabay

7. Goldendoodle/Labradoodle

Doodles don’t tend to handle heat well, and it’s no wonder, with all that hair. One of the most popular goldendoodle short haircuts is the teddy bear cut. While that look is indeed charming, if you asked your doodle, they might ask for a basic short clip to get them through the summer. With the hair trimmed to one inch all over the body, this doodle summer cut works equally well on goldendoodles and labradoodles. It’s an easy and low-maintenance clip that will keep your doodle feeling fresh and cool.

8. Golden Retriever

As a double-coated breed, you need to be careful not to cut your golden’s coat too short. Nevertheless, the thick coat of this breed can weigh them down and make them hot. The basic summer cut for a golden retriever involves shortening the hair along the chest and around the ears to improve airflow and cool them off when they run. Your groomer may also trim an inch or so from the outer coat all over the body to lessen the amount of hair your golden pal has to carry around all summer.

9. Cocker Spaniel

This breed’s coat is both thick and silky, making it tricky to deal with in the summertime. A basic puppy cut is the most likely summer cocker spaniel haircut to provide your curly-eared charmer some relief in hot weather without damaging their coat by clipping it too short.

How to Keep Your Dog Cool Without a Cut

If you’re the parent of a double-coated breed that was bred for colder climates, such as a husky, St. Bernard or German shepherd, one of the best things you can do to help your furry pal stay cool in the summer is brushing your dog regularly with an undercoat brush to strip excess hair from their summer coat and improve airflow beneath the top coat. This will also help reduce shedding and help you spot any ticks or burs they picked up on their outdoor explorations. No worries about their hair growing back – their winter coats will fill back out in the fall.

Here are a few more tips to help your fluffy pup stay cool:

• Save long walks for the early morning or evening hours when temps are cooler.
• Keep them inside as much as possible.
• Provide plenty of water and shade when outside.
• Swap their regular blanket for a cooling blanket.
• Never leave them in the car.
• Freeze fruit juice or plain yogurt in ice cube trays for an icy, crunchy treat.
• Take them swimming at the beach or the pool (just be sure to bathe them with a good moisturizing dog shampoo and conditioner to keep their coats smooth and repair damage from all that salt and chlorine).

However you decide to care for your dog’s coat during the summer, the important thing is their safety and comfort. Looking good is a bonus that you get to enjoy, but feeling good is what matters most to your pooch.