Summer Grooming Tips: Keeping Your Dog Cool and Comfortable
Why Summer Grooming Matters More Than You Think
When the temperature climbs, your dog's coat becomes more than a fashion statement — it becomes their climate-control system. A well-maintained coat traps a layer of cool air against the skin, reflects heat, and lets sweat evaporate from the paw pads. A tangled, dirty, or overgrown coat does the opposite: it holds heat in, blocks airflow, and turns a hot day into a miserable one.
Summer grooming is not about giving your dog a fancy haircut. It is about keeping the coat clean, tangle-free, and thin enough to breathe, while protecting the skin underneath. A little regular maintenance goes a long way, and most of it you can do at home.
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A clean, brushed-out coat is your dog's best cooling system in summer.
1. Brush Out the Loose Coat Regularly
Shedding speeds up in summer as dogs drop their winter undercoat. If that loose fur stays trapped in the coat, it mats into a dense blanket that blocks air from reaching the skin. The fix is simple: brush more often, in short sessions, before mats can form.
For most dogs, a slicker brush is the everyday workhorse. Its fine wire pins reach through the topcoat and lift out loose hair and light tangles. Work in small sections, brushing in the direction the hair grows, and be gentle over bony spots like the hips and shoulders. A few minutes every other day is enough for short-coated dogs; long-coated breeds benefit from a quick daily pass.
A slicker brush lifts out loose hair and light tangles from the topcoat.
Double-coated breeds — Huskies, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds — shed a thick undercoat that a slicker brush alone may not fully reach. A deshedding tool is designed for exactly this job: it pulls the loose undercoat out without cutting the healthy topcoat. Use it once a week, with light pressure, and always on a dry coat. If you see a soft pile of loose undercoat coming away, that is the tool doing its job.
A weekly deshedding session pulls out the heat-trapping undercoat.
For dogs that dislike brushes, grooming gloves are a gentle alternative. You simply stroke your dog the way you normally would, and the rubber nubs on the glove collect the loose fur. Nervous dogs often accept a glove groom when they would run from a brush, which makes it a great starting point for puppies and rescue dogs.
2. Never Shave a Double Coat
It is tempting to shave a thick-coated dog for summer, but for double-coated breeds this is one of the worst things you can do. The double coat insulates in both directions: it keeps warmth in during winter and keeps heat out during summer. Shaving removes that insulation, exposes the skin to sunburn, and can permanently damage the coat so it grows back patchy or coarse.
Instead of shaving, keep the coat brushed out and trimmed only where it genuinely helps — around the paws, the sanitary area, and any spots that trap dirt. If your dog has a single coat that grows continuously, like a Poodle or Shih Tzu, a shorter summer clip is fine, because their coat works differently. When in doubt, ask your groomer which category your dog falls into.
3. Cool Baths, Done Right
A summer bath does more than make your dog smell fresh. It washes out sweat, dust, pollen, and the loose fur that brushing missed, and it leaves the coat lighter and easier to keep tangle-free. But a bath in summer has its own rules.
Use lukewarm water, never ice-cold. Cold water on a hot dog can cause shivering and shock, while lukewarm water cools gradually and rinses more effectively. A gentle pet shampoo cleans without stripping the natural oils that protect the skin. Lather, rinse thoroughly — leftover shampoo residue is a common cause of summer itching — and dry your dog well, because a damp coat left in a warm room can smell musty and mat faster.
A lukewarm bath with a gentle pet shampoo washes away sweat, dust, and loose fur.
How often should you bathe in summer? For most dogs, once every four to six weeks is plenty, with extra baths only after muddy adventures or a dip in a lake. Over-bathing dries out the skin and makes the coat dull.
4. Protect Those Paws From Hot Pavement
Dogs sweat through their paw pads, and those same pads walk directly on hot surfaces. Asphalt and concrete can reach temperatures that burn paw pads in seconds on a sunny afternoon. Before a walk, press your palm onto the pavement for five seconds: if it is too hot for your hand, it is too hot for your dog's paws.
Walk early in the morning or after sunset when the ground has cooled, stick to grass and shaded paths, and check the pads after every walk for redness, cracks, or blisters. A quick paw wipe with a damp cloth after walks also removes hot dust and grit, and it is a good moment to check between the toes for burrs, ticks, or small cuts.
5. Ears, Nails, and Hydration
Summer brings more swimming, more humidity, and more ear infections. Floppy-eared dogs are especially prone, because warm, damp ear canals are a perfect home for yeast and bacteria. After baths and swims, dry the outer ear gently with a clean cloth, and check weekly for redness, odor, or dark discharge. If you spot any of these, see your vet rather than trying to treat it at home.
Keep nails trimmed, too. Dogs that walk less on hard summer ground — because you are avoiding hot pavement — wear their nails down less, so they may need more frequent trims. Long nails change how a dog stands and walks, which can strain the joints over time.
Finally, never underestimate water. Keep a fresh bowl available at all times, bring water on walks, and watch for signs of overheating: heavy panting, drooling, bright red gums, or wobbliness. If you see these, move your dog to shade, offer cool (not ice-cold) water, and call your vet.
A Simple Summer Grooming Schedule
Daily: quick brush for long-coated dogs, fresh water, paw check after walks. Every other day: brush for short-coated dogs. Weekly: deshedding session for double-coated breeds, ear check. Monthly: bath with a gentle pet shampoo, nail trim, full coat and skin check for lumps, ticks, or hot spots.
Recommended Products
These are the tools mentioned in this guide — buying through these links supports PawProper at no extra cost to you.
★★★★½ 4.6 (14,451 ratings)
Brushes out loose summer coat and keeps airflow reaching the skin.
★★★★½ 4.5 (2,821 ratings)
Pulls out the loose undercoat that traps heat in double-coated dogs.
★★★★☆ 4.1 (2,468 ratings)
A gentle glove groom pets love — great for dogs that dislike brushes.
Summer is the season for long walks, beach days, and lazy afternoons in the garden. A few minutes of grooming here and there keeps your dog comfortable enough to enjoy all of it — and keeps the shedding off your sofa, too.
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