Taking one’s dog to the groomer shouldn’t result in surprises. But for one man, a trip to PetSmart’s dog grooming services could cause long-term consequences for his golden retriever.
The creator, who runs the account @lacythadawg for his golden retriever, posted a video that received more than 902,000 views on TikTok. In it, he explains how his dog left the groomer with a shave that he did not request.
How Bad Is The Cut?
In the viral TikTok video, the pet owner highlights a recent cut his dog received from PetSmart’s grooming services.
The creator tells his audience that he took his golden retriever, Lacy, in for a “slight trim.” He then pans his camera to the golden retriever in question, which is completely shaven. The only parts the groomer reportedly did not cut were the dog’s head and tail.
He points out, “This is the dog they gave me back. What the f—? They messed it up. They left her tail and her head.”
Should Groomers Ever Shave Golden Retrievers?
While single-coated dogs can be shaved without any complications, shaving a double-coated dog—which includes golden retrievers—can have negative consequences.
Double-coated dogs have an inner layer of hair that regulates their body temperature. In the summer, it helps keep them cool. In the winter, it can make them warmer. For that reason, it’s incredibly important to preserve a dog’s double coat.
When a groomer or pet owner shaves a dog with a double coat, it “makes the dog susceptible to heat stroke, and can result in improper hair growth and the possibility of follicle damage,” according to Dr. Jerry Klein, chief veterinary officer for the American Kennel Club.
The American Kennel Club adds that shaving a dog’s double coat can do long-term damage. “When it’s shaved down to the skin, the undercoat hair will grow back faster, and sometimes will crowd out the slower-growing guard hairs. This can change the texture and color of a dog’s coat and make it appear patchy and unattractive,” the club says.
While some groomers may opt to shave a dog if it has a matted coat, most experts agree that it’s more harmful to shave a double-coated dog than to leave its coat alone.
Additionally, the American Kennel Club has specific guidelines and advice for grooming golden retrievers, even with matted fur. The club does not advise pet owners to shave their golden retrievers. Instead, the club recommends that pet owners wash and groom their goldens regularly to avoid matting.
People Are Horrified By The Improper Shave
When viewers saw Lacy’s big haircut, they told the dog’s owner to report the issue to PetSmart.
“As a groomer, I think you should go back and complain…” one commenter said. “We should absolutely never ever shave double coated dogs because it can ruin their coats forever. And even if she was matted, we only shave the section that is matted.”
Lacy’s owner replied to the comment and said, “Yea I sent a formal complaint to corporate. Especially with retrievers double coat, her fur could potentially never recover which would be a shame bc she had such a beautiful coat.”
Another commenter said, “Shaving a golden is a big no no. It’s how they regulate body temperature. That’s grooming 101. I would lose my absolute mind if this happened to me.”
The content creator replied to that comment as well and said, “Ikr! Like some people think they will be cooler without the coat but it’s the opposite. Much higher risk for heat stroke.”
PetSmart’s social media account replied to the post. A representative stated, “We’d like to have our field leadership team look into this further. Could you please DM us your name, email, number, and the location of the store?”
The content creator said he DM’ed the account, but it’s unclear if he’s communicated with PetSmart’s corporate team or social media.
He did, however, post an update saying his “bald-headed buddy” is “as happy as a clam,” despite the potential coat damage.
@lacythadawg Never going to @PetSmart again 😭 😭 😭 #goldenretriever #goldenretrieverlife #badhaircut #dog #pet
BroBible has reached out to @lacythadawg via TikTok direct message and PetSmart via email for comment.