Never do this to your Husky. Ever!

Recently, a photo nearly full-shaven Husky went viral on Twitter. It might have given weird thoughts to many Husky owners to follow suit. We hereby hope that you aren’t one that gave in to your temptations.

Let’s have a primer about the coats of Huskies. They are among the unique breeds, including the German Shepherd, Pomeranian, Chow, Malamute and Samoyed, that have double coats – a long outer fur covering a shorter, denser coat beneath. As you would know, the double coat goes a long way in keeping them warm in chilling climes. Something you might have missed out is how it helps them keep cool in hot surroundings.

An interesting fact about the double coat is that the hair strands are short and crimped, which make them highly efficient at trapping air and insulating your four-legged buddy. This keeps them warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Unlike humans, dogs do not sweat and release heat from their skin, but cool themselves primarily from panting and secondly from the pads of their paws – the only part of a dog’s body that perspires.

So, what happens when you shave your Husky? There is a sad probability that they will never regrow their guard hair (the long outer fur). This gives the dog a patchy, scruffy, frizzy appearance, thereby making it more susceptible to sunburn. Exposure to UV rays can be extremely painful and take a long time to heal, which Huskies otherwise are naturally protected against.

Your Husky would be better off without a close shave. Don’t you agree?