Lassie Shares Her Hair Care Secrets

I got a question via my contact form. This is what it said:

My question is does Lassie get hot with all of the hair? Is it okay to cut or shave a collie's hair?

Well, here's Lassie's answer.

Dear Considerate,

I'm a rough collie. That means I have a thick, double-layered coat made up of a short downy layer and a long, coarse upper layer. In summer I get very hot, but in winter I need my coat for insulation.

Some people think it is okay to cut or shave a collie's hair as long as you leave 1/2 inch left. Otherwise collies could get a sunburn and are cold when winter comes around. But the hair may not grow back as thick! So it is really not recommended to cut or shave your rough-coated collie. Better to groom her every week and keep her protected from the heat. Make sure she has plenty of fresh water, too!

Love, Lassie