Every June, like clockwork, we start getting the same calls: "My dog smells weird." "She's scratching constantly." "Should I shave him for summer?"
After 8 summers of grooming dogs in Waunakee—through heat waves, humidity that makes your hair curl just looking outside, and more lake-soaked Golden Retrievers than we can count—we've learned a few things about what Wisconsin summers do to dogs. And more importantly, what actually helps.
The Biggest Mistake We See Every Summer
Let's get this one out of the way first, because we see it every year and it breaks our hearts a little: please don't shave your double-coated dog.
We get it. Your Husky is panting. Your Golden looks miserable. Shaving them seems like the obvious solution. But here's the thing—that undercoat isn't just insulation for winter. It's also insulation for summer. It keeps the heat OUT.
When you shave a double-coated breed (Huskies, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Australian Shepherds, Samoyeds, Malamutes, Corgis, Border Collies), you remove their natural AC system. They actually get hotter. And the coat often never grows back the same—it can come in patchy, change texture, or develop permanent bald spots.
What we do instead: a thorough deshedding treatment that removes all that loose undercoat. Your dog will feel SO much lighter, the air can circulate through their remaining coat, and they keep their natural protection. It's the difference between taking off a wool sweater versus stripping down to your skin in the sun.
The Wisconsin Humidity Problem
If you've lived here through July, you know: Wisconsin humidity is its own beast. It's not Arizona-dry or Florida-constant. It's that thick, sticky, changes-by-the-hour Midwest humidity that makes everything feel heavier.
For dogs, this causes two main issues:
Skin funk. That yeasty, corn-chip smell between your dog's toes? The weird odor in their ear flaps? The general "wet dog smell" even when they haven't been wet? That's all humidity-related bacterial and yeast growth. It thrives in the folds of skin, between toes, inside ears, and anywhere moisture gets trapped.
The fix isn't necessarily bathing more (that can actually make it worse if you're not drying thoroughly). It's about keeping those problem areas DRY. We show clients how to do a quick daily check: lift the ear flaps and make sure they're dry, check between the toes, look at any skin folds on smooshy-faced breeds. A quick wipe with a dry cloth goes a long way.
Matting that happens overnight. We've had dogs come in on Monday with a smooth coat and come back Thursday completely matted. Humidity + any moisture + movement = mats. If your dog swims, plays in wet grass, or even just sweats (yes, dogs sweat a little through their paw pads), those damp spots are mat magnets.
The non-negotiable: brush more in summer. We know, it's one more thing. But 5 minutes every other day prevents 2 hours of dematting. Or worse—having to shave out mats that have gotten too tight to the skin.
The Post-Lake Groom
We're 500 feet from Yahara Heights Dog Park, which means we see a LOT of lake dogs. And we've noticed something: dogs who swim in Wisconsin lakes regularly have different grooming needs than non-swimmers.
Lake water here isn't just water. It's got algae (sometimes the dangerous blue-green kind—check the DNR's current advisories), it's got minerals, it's got organic matter from all those weeds. It coats the fur differently than pool water or tap water.
What we recommend for lake dogs:
- Rinse immediately after swimming. Not a full bath—just a good hose-down with clean water before everything dries into the coat.
- Dry the ears completely. Lake water + ear canal = ear infection central. We use cotton balls to gently dry inside the ear flap and the outer canal. Some of our lake-loving regulars come in monthly just for ear cleanings during summer.
- Come see us every 4 weeks instead of 6-8. That lake residue builds up. A professional bath with proper products cuts through it in a way home bathing often can't.
One thing we check for every summer: hot spots. That combination of wet fur, warm weather, and bacteria can create raw, painful spots almost overnight. They often hide under the coat, so we're feeling for them during every summer groom.
Paw Pads and Hot Pavement
You've probably heard the "if it's too hot for your hand, it's too hot for their paws" rule. It's true—asphalt can hit 140°F when the air temperature is only 85°F.
But here's what we've learned from seeing paw pads up close all day: the damage isn't always obvious. Dogs don't always limp or show pain. Sometimes they just have slightly pink, slightly rough pads that get a little worse each day until suddenly they're cracked and bleeding.
What we check at summer appointments: pad condition. We're looking for roughness, small cracks, and color changes. If we spot early damage, we'll let you know—and we can apply a protective balm that helps the pads heal and toughen up.
Quick tip: the hair between the paw pads should be trimmed short in summer. Long hair there holds onto debris, stays damp, and makes pads more likely to slip on hot surfaces (dogs rely on pad grip, not hair grip).
The "Summer Cut" Question
Can you get your dog trimmed shorter for summer? Yes—for some breeds.
Single-coated breeds (Poodles, Yorkies, Maltese, Shih Tzus, Bichons, most Doodles) can absolutely rock a shorter summer cut. No problem. Their coat grows like human hair, and shorter = cooler for them.
For double-coated breeds, we won't shave, but we CAN do what we call a "summer tidy"—trimming the feathering on legs, chest, and belly, cleaning up the sanitary areas, and doing a thorough deshed. This makes a big difference in their comfort without damaging the coat.
When to Come In
Our honest recommendation for summer grooming frequency:
- Lake swimmers and park-every-day dogs: Every 3-4 weeks
- Regular outdoor dogs: Every 4-5 weeks
- Mostly indoor dogs: Every 6 weeks is probably fine
The dogs we worry about in summer aren't the ones who come in regularly—they're the ones whose owners think "it's summer, they don't need grooming" and we don't see for 3 months. That's when we find the hidden mats, the infected hot spots, the tick that's been there for weeks, and the ear infections that have gotten painful.
What We Do Differently in Summer
A few behind-the-scenes things we adjust during hot months:
- We keep the AC cranked. Grooming is a workout for dogs. The last thing they need is to be panting through a blowout in a warm room.
- We use cooler dryer settings. Takes a bit longer, but it's more comfortable for them.
- We schedule anxious dogs for the coolest parts of the day. Heat + stress = not great. If your dog runs nervous, morning appointments are usually better.
- We do tick checks on every dog. Even if you don't ask. We've found hundreds of ticks over the years that owners didn't know about—especially in ears, between toes, and in the armpit area.
The Bottom Line
Wisconsin summers are beautiful, but they're hard on dogs. The humidity, the lakes, the heat waves—it all adds up. The dogs who do best are the ones whose owners stay on top of brushing, keep them on a regular grooming schedule, and don't try to "help" by shaving double coats.
If you're not sure what your dog needs this summer, give us a call or book an appointment. We're happy to take a look and give you honest recommendations based on your dog's specific coat, lifestyle, and needs. No judgment if they're already a matted mess—we've seen it all, and we're here to help.
