Can somebody settle an argument about the clipping of long haired breeds.
My missus claims that you should not clip in the summer as the long hair traps a layer of air which acts as an insulator that actually keeps the dog cooler and if you are going to do it should be in the cooler months.
This seems the wrong way round to me and that you would want the trapped air insulation in the winter to keep the cold out.

This argument is largely acadaemic cos we have no intention of ever clipping our bearded collie . We bought the breed because of its lovely coat and therefore think it makes no sense to clip it. However we would like to know just out of interest.

I would have thought it would be similar to sheep - you clip when it's hot, and leave it long when it's cold.
:)

I agree with JG, my sis-in-law has her Giant Schnauzer clipped in the summer months to help keep him cool, and leaves it in the winter months :)

liberty

Our Am. cockers who are not in the ring (broods, pets, stud dogs etc) are all clipped.  Most clipped right off, a couple in pet trim.  This is done every 4 - 6 weeks, regardless of weather.  Never known an American Cocker adversly affected by heat, but they do benefit from less coat in the winter months when clipped down - they can get wet and muddy, then just be cleaned off quickly without needing the whole bath/blow dry thing! 
bye
Gwen

I've been racking my brains trying to think of a wild animal that grows a long coat in the summer to keep cool, and sheds it in the winter to keep warm. Haven't thought of any yet. Umpteen that do the opposite, though.

I think colour is a more important colour in heat problems in dogs. Black dogs tend to suffer more as their colour absorbs the heat rather than reflects it, having said that doesn't stop the black ones lying out in the sun!

Jesse

My friend who breeds Welsh Springers said this to someone in the summer - that the coat actually does help to keep the dog cool, so clipping is not necessarily the thing to do if it's hot weather.  I also remember reading something of the sort around the same time.  Anyway, how it works in winter then, I don't know!  Maybe it's simply that no matter whether it's hot or cold, the coat 'insulation' keeps the body at an even temperature.
  Hilda

Have to admit that I clip my Spanish in the cooler months mainly due to the show schedule.  There coat is wool though so it keeps them cool in the summer and warm in the winter if left on.  Doesn't seem to bother my dogs about having their coats clipped in the winter months and they still like to go swimming too!!

Saffy has a very long coat (11 inches in places) and I'm sure it helped to keep her cool in the hot weather as she didn't seem bothered by it at all.  I think it also insulates in the winter though. I have been tempted to have her clipped when she has been in the mud, but agree with the poster that one of the reasons I bought a briard was because of the beautiful coat, so would not clip it, whether I showed her or not.

Fiona and Saffy