shaving the tummy on a newf

[sara722003]

My boy gets increasingly uncomfortable during our summers as he ages. I've wondered if anyone out there has shaved their Newf's belly. Seems to me he'd feel better lying on cool tile if I took him to a groomer and asked for a tummy shave. Is this wise? Any advice would be appreciated. I've never done this with a Newf before, and I lived in Houston with my other boy, so I'm hesitant but just want him to be comfortable.

 

[BlackLightning]

I am going to shave Ayasha's belly I think. She was spayed last Summer and she loved having a shaved belly. Boum's is currently shaved because he was neutered and had a gastropexy. I think they like the coolness. From the side, you can't even tell when their bellies are shaved (well, at least for a pet owner, it's not a big deal).

 

[NessaM]

I hand-scissored the fur off Nanook's belly once. Left it about an inch long, I think. I was afraid to get too close to the skin for fear of nicking his nipples. Hah!

 

[Thule's Mom]

My groomer calls it 'tunnelling'; Thule has it done now!

 

[tonkatruck]

I shave Tonka's belly. Keeps him cool in summer and you can't see it unless he's laying down. If you look at the pictures I just posted of him, his belly is shaved but you can't tell

 

[angie j]

I do it too. Lolly gets so matted and dirty. He cools off in the swamp and then lays in the dirt hole he digs for himself under our porch where it's cool... yuck!!! It's much easier to care for.

 

[2newfs4now]

Last year, I shaved the boys tummies and will do it again this year. They were so much more comfy. You couldn't tell from the side...

 

[wrknnwf]

I kept Hugo's (11) tummy shorter last summer. I think it helped some. This spring, I'm leaving it long, because he (and Piper) are my assistants in several Humane Ed classes for grade school kids. At the end of each session, he does his "play dead" trick and is supposed to end up on his back with all four feet in the air. Sometimes this happens and other times he's ends up on one side.

After some careful consideration, I decided that it would probably be more appropriate for a well endowed male to have some camouflage in his nether regions when sprawling belly up before a crowd of youngsters. And I'd rather not put the teachers or parents in an awkward position, or worse, have them faint. I have no doubt that the topic could come up on the bus ride back to school. So, I'm pretending that it is necessary to keep his tummy as hairy as possible (although having him wear trousers might be amusing).

 

[sara722003]

Thanks, all for your responses! Makes me feel better about pursuing an option I wanted to do anyway, but felt conflicted. Jane, I can see your point. BossMan is a therapy dog at mental health lock-down wards; but those folks just don't notice or care about shaved or cut hair!! (thank heavens!) They just love having a big guy kiss their ears and faces and relish in the connections! Thanks for writing to all!

 

[dumainedogs]

I recently posted this pic of Obie's shaved belly in another thread. So far.. so good.

 

[Melissakins]

I recently posted this pic of Obie's shaved belly in another thread. So far.. so good.

I did this last weekend for Bava - you can't tell when he stands up....he's LOVING it

 

[R Taft]

Because we live in a very hot Summer climate, we clip our bellies every late Spring. We use our horse clippers and you cannot see it from the side. Katy loves to lie with her belly on the tiles Ronnie

 

[Erika]

all 5 of ours are already done.......not shaved but real close

 

[heather pluciennik]

I never thought of doing this. Thanks for letting me know about it. Well see how Morgan does this spring and if she gets to hot it's a option.

 

[rca99]

I would like to do this, and our vet recommended it, but not our local groomer. Or problem is that Blackfly season starts in a few weeks, and that is followed by mosquito season, and then those lovely delta wing deer flies arrive. Our pyr used to come in with one or the other eye swolen from a bite from a deer fly as that was the only place he could be bit. I think the dogs would be more comfortable in the house with the belly fur tunnelled, but a big risk for outside here. The joys of living near a swamp.