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Hot Weather Grooming: Tips & Styles to Help Your Dog Stay Cool

Published on July 1st, 2025

Updated on July 15th, 2025

Written by Elizabeth Anderson Lopez

Reviewed by Petco's Animal Care, Education and Compliance Team

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Hot Weather Grooming: Tips & Styles to Help Your Dog Stay Cool

Summer Grooming

Your dog may love having fun in the sun, but as the seasons change so do their grooming needs. Help your dog them stay cool and feeling and looking good with these hot tips! We’ll covering everything from common summer coats to essential grooming tools and advise you on which tasks you can do at home and which ones should be left to a trusted professional.

The 3 Types of Grooming: Weekly, Monthly & Seasonal:

Weekly Maintenance

Body Checks & Spot Cleaning

If you think your dog’s coat needs freshening up, there are plenty of sprays and wipes to spot clean in-between baths.

Another useful tool to help keep your dog comfortable is the cotton ball. Several of them, in fact. Place a cotton ball at the top of the ear canal—don’t push too far!—to help keep water out of your dog’s ears. Switch them out whenever they get damp to keep the internal ear as dry as possible.

Weekly Brushing

With the warmer weather, your dog might be shedding more than usual. A good brushing one to three times a week can help remove the dead loose hair that is extra plentiful this time of year.

Hydration & Sun Protection

While your dog might feel the heat more in summer, sunburn can occur year-round. Have pet-safe protection on hand, whether you’re going to the dog beach or out in your own backyard.

Brushing

Checking paws and ears

Hydration and sun protection

Regular Grooming

Depending on their breed, most dogs should be bathed every 4, 6 or 8 weeks. Anything more often risks stripping away essential oils; which can irritate your dog’s skin and dry out their coat.

You should always get your dog their own shampoo—this is an instance where “caring is not sharing.” There are also lots of different formulas your groomer can recommend, including oatmeal- based shampoo for sensitive skin.

You may opt to take advantage of Petco’s grooming services, which include:

Brush and clipfor your dog’s breed/coat
Full haircut
Bathing and drying
Nail trims

Seasonal Grooming

When you get that first groom done at Petco, ask what tools they recommend for maintaining the look. The answer will vary based on your dog’s breed and/or coat type. There are six general coat types that can be your guide:

Grooming for Different Coat Types

Hairless

Example Breeds: (Chinese Crested, Xoloitzcuintli)

Tools: Dog-safe sunscreen (avoid peak UV hours), cleaning wipes

Short, smooth coats

Examples: (Beagles, English Bull Terriers, Dalmatians).

Tools: Curry brush, bristle brush

Short, double coats

Example breeds: (Labrador Retrievers, Pugs, Shiba Inus).

Tools: Undercoat rake, slicker brush

Curly, wooly coats

Example Breeds: (Poodles and most Doodles, Bichon Frises, Portuguese Water Dogs.

Tools: Slicker brush, comb

Wiry coats

Example Breeds: (Schnauzers, West Highland Terriers, Wire Fox Terriers).

Tools: Slicker brush, comb and stripping tool (professionals can help explain/demonstrate that last one.

Long, silky coats

Example Breeds: (Yorkshire Terriers, Salukis, Afghan Hounds).

Tools: Pin brush, comb

Long, double coats

Example Breeds: (Golden Retrievers, Scottish Terriers, Bernese Mountain Dogs).

Tools: Undercoat rake, slicker brush, de-matting tool

How Can I Groom My Dog to Help Them Stay Cool?

Start with brushing and inspection

Grooming sessions have three key benefits for your dog, but first keep in mind that while we tend to wash our hair and then brush it, you always want to brush your dog’s hair first to remove tangles.

Reduce shedding

Brushing your dog more often in summer helps remove the loose hair that can end up on your floor and couch. It helps your dog feel better, thanks to boosting some air circulation on their skin. They’ll feel cleaner too. This should be done weekly as maintenance, more often if necessary.

Spot problems early, including hot spots.

Those close-up grooming sessions give you a chance to inspect your pup for skin issues, parasites and mats. More time outside can also mean more time spent hiking or at a dog beach. These adventures can include unwelcome visitors that follow your dog home, such as ticks, irritation from new foliage or warm, wet areas on the coat that can cause matting.

Boost your bond

This is a great activity for dogs and pet parents because it is true quality time. You are paying attention to your dog and doing something that makes them feel good.

It’s up to you to make this a fun experience for your dog. Don’t begin a grooming sesssion when you’re in a rush. If your dog resists holding a certain position, your frustration could diminish the bonding experience. Learn what positions your dog is most comfortable in, and keep some high-value treats on hand for when you need to deviate from those positions to complete your groom. This helps your dog get excited when they see you get the brush instead of hiding!

Use lukewarm water

The warmer weather might mean that you can do bath time outside—but only if the temperature on your hose can be adjusted. No one, not even those with fur, enjoy a frigid blast. And as with brushing, you’ll want to make the experience as enjoyable as possible. Whether the bath is outside or in the tub or shower, aim for cool to lukewarm water. In warm weather, towel drying should be sufficient for your dog. Get one handy before you start!

Emphasize adjustments: frequency, tools, focus on comfort

Mention heat-related risks and seasonal parasites

Grooming and bathing are both perfect times to check your dog’s skin for signs of parasites, including fleas and ticks, that can be more common in warm and humid weather.

What is a Summer Cut for Dogs?

A summer cut is a tailored grooming style designed for shear-able breeds such as Poodles and Doodles to keep your dog cool while protecting their skin and coat.

Common summer cuts include:

• Puppy cut: An even-length trim all over the body for a clean, cute look
• Lamb cut: Short body hair with slightly longer leg hair, offering airflow without sacrificing style
• Kennel cut: Very short all over for easy maintenance during hot months

Do Not Shave Your Dog

Shaving is generally not recommended for any breed, and especially for double coated breeds. Some dogs, including Golden Retrievers, Huskies, German Shepherds and Border Collies, have double coats made up of a soft, insulating undercoat beneath a layer of coarser guard hairs. This fur keeps dogs cool in the heat by trapping a layer of cooler air close to the skin.

While it might seem like shaving or cutting the coat short would help your dog stay cooler, it can actually do more harm than good. Trimming, and especially shaving, a double coat interferes with your dog’s ability to regulate body temperature, leaving dogs more susceptible to overheating in the summer. Adding insult to injury, in some cases, the coat—especially the undercoat—may not grow back correctly, or at all. This can lead to long-term issues with temperature regulation and increased risk of sunburn or skin irritation.

Manage shedding and keep your dog comfortable with regular brushing and bathing, and leave the scissors and shavers to the professionals.

Other Ways to Help Your Dog Stay Cool

Summer Paw Care

Check your dog’s feet after each walk. Foxtails and other hangers-on can get embedded in the fur between your dog’s paw pads. You may find regularly trimming this fur helps, but ask your groomer for guidance. Also keep in mind that hot sidewalks can burn those toe beans, so consider investing in some booties for both hiking and traversing the asphalt jungle. If your dog lets you, regular nail trims can help them stay comfortable no matter the weather, but you may prefer to use a groomer for this task.

Ear Maintenance

Heat and humidity can trap moisture, and breeds with drop ears or floppy ears can be especially prone to this. Also, if your dog is a swimmer, that’s an even bigger reason to check and dry their ears regularly. Some breeds tend to grow extra hair in their ears and may need the hair stripped or trimmed. Again, you may decide to leave this to a professional groomer.

Flea & Tick Prevention

If you do discover any pests on your dog, you can shop for tools, talk about preventive care with a vet or get recommendations from a groomer, all right at Petco.

Hydration and Cooling

Take proactive measures: Look for ways to avoid dehydration and buy tools to help.

Sun Protection

Don’t let your dog feel the burn. Just like us, dogs can get sunburned, and those with either very short hair or very light hair are more susceptible. Be proactive by keeping your dog inside during the hottest part of the day and using a dog-specific sunscreen. A cooling vest can help with body temperature and reducing exposure to the sun.

Conclusion

Being a responsible dog parent means providing consistent, year-round care, and that includes additional grooming in the summer. Dogs naturally cycle through coat changes with the seasons. As warm weather sets in, many dogs begin to shed their heavy winter coats, making regular grooming especially important.

Petco makes it easy to stay on top of your dog's grooming needs with convenient tools, services and seasonal options:

Summer-specific grooming packages

Expert care for double-coated dogs

In-store grooming tools & products

Flexible appointment scheduling

Cooling gear for hot days

Your dog doesn’t care about getting swimsuit-ready, but grooming tools and services at your local Petco to help your dog look and feel their best this summer.