Is it ok to shave dogs with double coats?

WHAT IS A DOUBLE COAT

Double-coated dogs are those that essentially have two layers of fur: the undercoat and the outer coat. The undercoat is very soft, sits close to the skin and serves as an insulating material for dogs. This means, it helps them stay warm in winter and cool in summer. During the summer they shed a significant portion of their undercoat, but what remains helps to “trap” air between the two layers, giving them time to regulate their temperature.
The outer coat, or guard coat, consists of longer hairs that give them their color and which do not shed as much. So, while they shed their undercoat, the outer coat remains as a protective shield, protecting their skin from the sun and bites from external parasites.
Therefore, when we completely shave the dog, we remove this valuable shield.

RISKS AND IMPACTS OF SHAVING

Shaving these types of hair causes long-term and irreparable damage.
1) When we shave, the undercoat grows much faster than the outer coat and sometimes “suffocates” the small outer coat hairs that grow more slowly.
This results in changing the quality, density and color of the outer fur.
2) Our dog can suffer from heatstroke in very high temperatures as we have removed his natural sun protection.
An analogy for us humans would be to wear a tank top and a short-sleeved shirt over it. Under the hot sun, we would take off our tank top to cool off but leave the short-sleeved shirt on to protect ourselves from the sun’s rays.
3) In rare but real cases, it can also lead to alopecia, as you can see in the Pomeranian in the photo.
Breeds with double coats should be deshed every 6-8 weeks to avoid possible knots in their fur and to help their skin “breathe” better.