As Ireland enjoys an unusually long spell of hot weather, dog groomers are feeling the pressure, and so are our pets. Dog behaviourist, trainer and groomer Lindsey Power of In the Doghouse in Witches Lane, Ballinanisa, says regular grooming is far more than a cosmetic extra, especially for double-coated and long-haired breeds.

Breeds like collies, Labradors, retrievers and huskies carry heavy undercoats that can trap dead hair against the skin. If this isn’t removed through proper brushing and professional tools like high‑velocity blasters, the coat compacts, stopping air from reaching the skin and acting like insulation in the heat.

Crucially, dogs do not self-groom like cats. Left unattended, their coats can become badly matted, in extreme cases, forming a rock‑hard shell that’s both painful and dangerous in hot or wet weather. In winter, mats hold water close to the skin, making dogs colder, not warmer.

Power warns that popular breeds such as poodles, doodles and cockapoos need grooming roughly every six weeks to avoid severe matting. When it’s gone too far, shaving is often the only humane option.

She also urges owners to introduce puppies to grooming early, around 14 weeks, with short, positive visits so that lifetime sessions are less stressful.

Above all, Power says owners should rethink both heavy coats and hot pavements: if you wouldn’t tolerate that level of heat on your own skin, your dog shouldn’t have to either.