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An Essential Guide to Grooming your Samoyed
Taking care of your Samoyed means maintaining its fluffy hair and keeping it beautiful and clean. Grooming a Samoyed plays an essential part in keeping them healthy and tidy pets. The grooming methods can be trimming, brushing, clipping nails, and shaving, in some cases. While you may have all these options for grooming your Samoyed, these methods have their pros and cons.
Trimming vs Shaving a Samoyed
With the summer heat getting hotter and hotter, Samoyed owners often have a dilemma of whether to trim or shave their dog. If you are one of them, then you have come to the right place. Trimming is more favorable than shaving because the quantity of hair being cut off is smaller. Shaving can make your dog feel restless and irritated if you think that shaving will keep Samoyed cooler. Not all Samoyeds feel comfortable with shaved coat as the outercoat protects their skin from direct sun rays. Even if you shave a Samoyed under recommendation or advice from your vet, keep your dog indoors and away from direct sun until the hairs grow out. As you go further, you will learn that it is much better and safer to go the trimming route instead of shaving your Samoyed.
Dog groomer
As a Samoyed owner, it is your responsibility to groom your dog, keep it healthy and beautiful. It may take you a while to give ample time and effort to groom your dog. However, grooming a Samoyed regularly will keep its hairs in shape and improve its health, looking neat and tidy. With regular bathing and brushing, your Samoyed will have healthy skin and beautiful fur if you thoroughly bath it with the right dog shampoo and drying techniques. If needed, take your dog out for a walk to calm it down before grooming and always reward it with a bone during the grooming session to keep it from getting distracted. But if you think that your dog needs more professional grooming session, you can approach the professionals out there who can cater to your specific needs.
How to shave a Samoyed? When and how to do it?
Before deciding to shave your double-coated Samoyed, keep in mind that shaving should be done only under the recommendation of your vet or groomer. It is done mainly because of medical reasons such as injuries, skin conditions, infections where certain areas or the whole body need to be shaved for treatment. However, some people shave Samoyeds during summer as part of their grooming.
Understanding what tools for shaving and trimming you need is very crucial as there are tons of tools to choose from. There are different kinds of blades and scissors, depending on the type of coat your dog has. Research thoroughly before you proceed with the grooming process. If you are confused about which tool to buy, consult a professional groomer or your vet.
There are two methods of shaving:
Shaving Samoyed certain areas
Firstly, pick a pin brush and brush Samoyed to remove mats, tangles, debris, and dirt. Brushing Samoyed can be time-consuming due to its thick coat but do it carefully with patience and gentleness to shave it down smoothly.
Secondly, take a clipper and install the right blade for shaving to prevent any mishaps or injuries. Be very careful as you start shaving the outer coat. Avoid shaving the undercoat if it is not needed so that your Samoyed will have hair to protect its skin. However, if shaving is required for the undercoat due to infection or injuries, research and ask for guidance.
Thirdly, if you decided to shave the undercoat, change the clipper’s blade and gently shave it down to the skin level for treating the wounds. After its done, bath your Samoyed and remove all excess hair.
Naked shaving
Bath your Samoyed and brush the hairs evenly and remove all tangles. It is a lot of work to bathe a double-coated dog, so take enough time to take a thorough bath to remove all the dirt, mats, and other debris. Blow-dry your dog entirely before proceeding with the shaving.
Since Samoyed is a double-coated dog, keep in mind to shave its hair in layers. You can shave it in one go or multiple times to reach the undercoat, depending on the length of its outer coat. Shaving a Samoyed, make sure to keep cleaning the clipper and take frequent breaks to keep your dog in position.
After shaving all the outer hairs, take another break and change the clipper’s blade for undercoat shaving. Brush off the excess hairs, and you may begin with the shaving. You will need to gently stretch its skin to shave the undercoat evenly without wounding your dog. After its done, give your dog a good bath and remove all the extra hairs and blow-dry it. The Samoyed shaved skin will need more attention to prevent it from sunlight.
Why you shouldn’t shave a Samoyed
Shaving is not the best way to groom your Sammy, and there are numerous reasons why you should refrain from it. It is important to remember that shaving means removing the protective double-coated fur of your dog, which could lead to sunburn or exposure of scared areas. This protective coat consists of the undercoat and the guard hairs, which keep the dog warm even in extreme weather conditions.
Samoyeds are known for shedding their fur seasonally, and that could be a reason why you would want to shave your dog. But trimming is the better way to go around with the problems unless a necessary shaving procedure is required. If you have to shave your Samoyed, do keep in mind that it may take some time for the fur to grow back (several months). Your Samoyed’s fur might grow back, but shaving can sometimes permanently damage the hair follicles. The coat may not grow back properly. Although the undercoat will most likely grow back to its original form, the same cannot be said for the guard coat (topcoat), and in some cases, it may not even grow back.
Trimming methods
Before you begin with the trimming, brush the entire hair to remove mats and tangles. Choose the appropriate clip if you need to clip the hairs while trimming. Trim around the chest, paws, genital areas, and tail. Be careful and aware of sudden reflexes and movements of the dog when you are trimming and keep away from the nose and eyes.
When you use scissors for trimming, be very careful and gentle to prevent injury or cut the skin. Keep the scissors at a distance and in alignment with your Samoyed’s skin. It’s better to keep a Samoyed on a leash while trimming. Preparation for trimming is similar to shaving but trimming a dog’s hair is easier and safer than shaving. Here are the steps on how to trim a Samoyed:
- Trim off the long outer hairs on the back and chest evenly to prevent your dog from looking funny. Keep combing the hair as you trim so that all the hairs are in a straight line. Continue to trim the hips and thigh areas.
- Make your dog stand on a hard surface or a grooming table to get its feet trimmed. Take the shortest blade to cut off the hair around the feet. Gently stretch the toes and trim the excess hair in between the toes. When one foot is done, take a break and reward your dog so that it won’t feel tired or get distracted. Move on to the next foot and continue with the same process.
- After the toes are done, grab a chunker and trim the hairs on the rear legs. Continue to trim over the back and croup of your dog to blend the hairs with the chunker.
- As your dog stands firm, lift its foot to trim the hairs on the pads. Begin by trimming the long hairs and position your scissors parallel to the pad with a little distance. Be careful while trimming the area on the pads as they are sensitive and susceptible to injuries. It is not recommended to fully trim off the hairs on the pads as it decreases traction.
- Another trimming area is around the butt. Trimming that area helps in keeping your Samoyed clean and hygienic. Keep your Samoyed standing and pull up its tail. Start trimming the hair around its rear little by little, by placing your scissors close to its skin. Take a short break, brush the hair on its chest to stop your dog from jerking, and then continue trimming the butt area towards the tail.
- Make sure to trim any long or stray hairs on the tail; you can choose to trim the hairs short or keep them fluffy, depending on the haircut you choose for your Samoyed.
- Trimming of nails is essential as overgrown nails will lead to infection or cause irritation. Take extra care and patience while trimming sensitive areas or take it to the vet or a professional groomer if you think it’ll be safer in their hands.
How often to trim a Samoyed?
For a double-coated pet like Samoyed, you can trim or only brush the hair as a grooming routine. Trimming your Samoyed will help in keeping it clean and tidy. One of the most common questions about grooming is how often to trim a Samoyed. Samoyed sheds seasonally and has long hairs all over the body, including the feet, ears, and around the butt that need trimming. It is crucial to trim dog hair at least twice a year to keep the dog’s coat healthy and clean. It is also necessary to trim its toenails once in every three weeks. Taking care of a double-coated dog
like a Samoyed is more work comparing to a single-coated dog. However, the results will be the same if you take the time to learn how to groom and keep your Samoyed healthy and clean. Get your Samoyed a trimming session more often than you would opt for shaving, as it is not
advisable to shave.
How to trim a Samoyed face?
Your Samoyed has hair all over the body except around the face. It is usual for this dog breed to have less or very short hair on a face. It is especially visible on a young Samoyed and is called a monkey face. The hair eventually grows out as a Samoyed gets older but it is normally shorter than its coat hair.
If you feel the need to trim the hairs of Samoyed face, gently comb or brush a dog’s facial hair with a slick brush. Before starting directly on the face, begin trimming the hairs in a downward direction from the chin to keep your dog at ease. Keep cutting and move up to its snout and around the eyes. Samoyeds have less hair on their face, unlike other breeds with long facial hair, so it is unnecessary to trim a Samoyed’s face.
Should you use a Furminator on your Samoyed?
Furminator is a grooming tool used to reduce the shedding, although using one on a Samoyed is controversial. Your Samoyed is likely to shed much more than other dogs due to a thick undercoat. And you may think of getting a furminator to solve this issue. However, furminator is most likely to create more problems because it might destroy your Samoyed’s hair rather than solve the shedding issue.
Furminator has sharp blades that may change the appearance of a dog with undercoat like Samoyeds. It is not recommended to use it on a Samoyed since its topcoat might grow back uneven. Many Samoyed owners go for an undercoat rake or a shedding comb instead of a furminator. These rakes are blunt like a brush and do not cut off the hair. Before you get your hands on a furminator, carry out thorough research and get a rake or a comb to keep your Sammy in good shape during shedding season. If you eventually choose to use a furminator, work with this tool carefully and with a light hand. Also, make sure your Sammy doesn’t move while trimming with a furminator to prevent cutting its skin.
Samoyed haircut
When it comes to the Samoyed haircut, there are not so many options to choose from. Grooming your Samoyed is as equally important as looking after its health. Still, minimal grooming to achieve a more natural look is best for your dog. The best option is to keep your Samoyed’s beautiful fur closer to its original form. Here are the top two haircuts for your Samoyed:
The Classic Samoyed Look
This classic look tops the list of hairstyles and is the most common for Samoyeds. All you have to do is trim your dog’s coat by following the hair’s natural line to get a perfectly groomed Samoyed. Also, make sure to brush your dog’s coat regularly to keep it mat-free.
The Sammy Cotton ball
As the name suggests, this hairstyle is a good choice if you want your Samoyed looking like a fluffy cotton ball. It is another typical look for the Samoyed. You should trim the feathering of Sammy’s hind legs and the underside of the tail mainly to keep debris away from the fur, while still keeping the body coat cutting to the minimum.
Related questions:
Is a Samoyed double coated?
Yes, a Samoyed is a double-coated breed. They have both long and short hair. The topcoat is harsh, coarse, and long hair that helps in keeping the undercoat clean. It may look white but has a silver tint if examined closer. The undercoat has a brownish color that is short and thick. These double-coat keeps Samoyeds healthy and protected from both hot and cold weather.
How long does it take for a Samoyed hair to grow back?
The time necessary for a Samoyed’s hair to fully grow back mostly depends on the dog’s age. It generally takes a shorter time for puppies. For an adult Samoyed, it usually takes around 2 – 3 weeks for the hair to start growing back after trimming/shaving. It takes about three months for a young Samoyed to fully grow out the hairs while an adult Samoyed will take about six months.
Is it OK to shave a Samoyed?
Shaving a Samoyed is never recommended unless under medical and other emergency circumstances. Samoyeds can adapt to both cold and hot weather conditions because of their thick and dense double-coated hair. Shaving the Samoyeds may not only destroy their beautiful natural hair but also lead to health problems or skin complications. This useful fur will no longer be able to protect them from the heat of the sun and to keep them warm during winter. A shaved Samoyed will e exposed to a lot of health issues. Moreover, in some cases, their coat does not grow back as the same texture as they were before they were shaved.
