Cooling Mats for Huskies & Double-Coated Dogs (and Why Never to Shave)

If you share your home with a Husky, Malamute, or German Shepherd, you already know summer is a different game. Double-coated breeds carry a built-in winter coat into July - here's how to help them stay cool, and the one thing you should never do to that coat.

The short answer: Double-coated dogs cool themselves mainly by panting, not through their coat, and that thick coat actually helps insulate them from heat - which is why you should never shave it. Keep them cool by managing the environment: walk in the cool hours, keep water and airflow available, give them a cool surface to lie on, and watch closely for heat distress, since heavy coats hide the early signs.

Why double-coated breeds struggle in heat

Northern and working breeds - Huskies, Malamutes, Samoyeds, German Shepherds, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Golden Retrievers - have two layers of fur: a dense insulating undercoat and a longer topcoat. That coat is brilliant at trapping warmth in winter, but in summer it slows how fast a dog can shed heat. Since dogs cool down mainly by panting rather than through the skin, a heavy-coated dog on a hot day is working harder to reach the same relief.

Never shave a double coat

It feels logical to shave a fluffy dog in summer, but for a true double coat it usually backfires. The coat insulates against heat as well as cold and shields the skin from sunburn; shaving can disrupt how it regrows and remove that protection. The better move is regular brushing to clear the loose undercoat so air can move through, not clippers. When in doubt, ask your groomer or vet - not the internet.

How to keep a double-coated dog cool

Focus on the environment, not the coat. Walk early or late when the pavement is cool, and skip walks entirely in a heatwave. Brush out the undercoat so air can reach the skin. Keep fresh water within reach and a fan moving air, and draw the blinds on the sunny side. Give them a cool surface to settle on rather than a thick bed that traps heat - a cooling mat gives a hot Husky or Shepherd a spot to lie down and shed heat instead of hunting the house for cold tile. It's one part of a cool setup, alongside shade, water, and grooming.

Watch for heat distress - the coat hides it

A heavy coat can mask how hot a dog is getting, so watch behavior closely. Frantic or noisy panting, heavy drooling, bright red gums, wobbliness, vomiting, or collapse can signal heatstroke - an emergency. Move your dog somewhere cool, offer water, and contact your vet or an emergency clinic right away. With big-coated breeds, err early.

Frequently asked

Do cooling mats work for Huskies and other double-coated dogs? Yes - a cooling mat gives a heavy-coated dog a cool surface to lie on and shed heat, which helps when their coat slows cooling. It's cool to the touch, not ice-cold, and works alongside shade, water, and cool-hour walks rather than replacing them.

Should I shave my Husky or German Shepherd in summer? No. A true double coat insulates against heat and protects the skin from sun, and shaving can disrupt regrowth. Brush out the loose undercoat instead so air can move through, and ask your groomer or vet before any big cut.

Which double-coated breeds overheat most easily? Heavily coated northern and working breeds - Huskies, Malamutes, Samoyeds, German Shepherds, Bernese Mountain Dogs - feel summer heat most. Larger and older dogs, and any dog carrying extra weight, need extra caution.

Sources: Veterinary and kennel-club guidance on double coats, summer grooming, and canine heat regulation. General information, not veterinary advice - for concerns about your dog, contact your vet.

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See the Coolden cooling mat - gel-free, cool on contact - or browse all cooling mats.

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