Is it cruel to shave your dog?

A photo of a completely shaven husky, with only its head untouched, was posted to social media last week and has started some outrage.

Once the photo went viral on Twitter, many people debated over whether shaving dogs is bad for their coat.

>>It’s so hot I shaved my dog, and cried for days at my mistake

Some Twitter users described the photo as “horrible” and “upsetting,” while others thought it was comical.

A grooming expert, Teri DiMarino, told TODAY that for husky breeds it is better not to shave them because they have what is called a "double coat."

Double-coated dogs have two layers of fur: the bottom layer that is dense and fluffy, and the top layer which is stiffer.

A veterinarian also told TODAY that shaving your dog could cause the hair to take a long time to grow back, and even cause hair loss.

Here are some Twitter reactions to the photo:

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Healthcare at College Park, a nursing home in Fulton County, GA, stands shuttered with its door chained on July 26, 2025, having closed in recent months.  Researchers at Brown University developed a list of U.S. nursing homes they predicted were at risk of closing based on 2023 data, and would be at elevated risk of closing due to the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act's cuts to Medicaid. Healthcare at College Park was on their list.  It survived past its last federal inspection in August of 2024 but has now closed down. The bill's biggest provisions will roll out over years starting Jan. 1. (Ariel Hart/AJC)

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