It’s shedding season, and everyone who has shedding dogs knows it, because there’s dog hair everywhere in your house! It seems to happen suddenly and without warning. You find yourself vacuuming and sweeping up your dog’s waste non-stop, with no end in sight. So what can you do? Well, first let’s talk about why and when your dog moves. Then we’ll talk about how you can handle it.
why does a dog shed
Everyone knows the most common reason for shedding, and that is when your dog sheds his heavy winter coat in the spring. There are a few other reasons why dogs shed:
- Undisturbed adult females shed when in heat.
- The cubs shed their puppy fur for their adult fur.
- Stress. Yes, just as humans can lose hair when stressed, so can dogs.
- Dry skin or damaged coat. Dogs that are bathed frequently or bathed with a strong detergent-based shampoo can become dry and lose the natural fatty acids that help maintain a healthy, conditioned coat.
- Dogs with a medical condition, such as sarcoptic mange or a fungal infection, will lose their hair.
Keeping your dogs at bay
Let’s focus on the common causes of shedding, as they can all be treated at home with similar methods without the help of a vet or groomer. Please note that seasonal shedding cannot be eliminated; it is a natural process that no drug or treatment can stop. But you can do a few things to keep it to a minimum so that you and your dog can live in harmony during your shedding period.
- Mark your calendar! Shedding is much easier to control when you know it’s coming and you’re prepared. Think of it like preparing for any season. A blizzard is a lot less stressful if you have everything you need in case it snows, right? So start looking for signs of shedding by giving your pup a good coat rub. You’ll know by the amount of shedding that the glorious molting season has begun.
- Take time every day to brush your dog’s coat. 5 minutes or less should be enough for most dogs. Focus on the back, sides, chest, and particularly the hindquarters. Don’t have time to brush? Give your kids (or the kids in the neighborhood) an incentive by giving them extra Xbox or TV time where they can brush the most hair. But of course, do it outdoors; After all, it’s the indoor hair that’s driving you crazy!
- Use the right brush. A bristle brush won’t do much for a dog with an undercoat. Bristle brushes are best to use on short coats. Use a coat rake on really long coats (but be careful how much pressure you use) or a pin-head brush (your dog groomer can recommend one that works best on your dog’s coat).
- Give your dog a good massage with a rubber curry brush at least once a week. Scrubbing will not only relax your dog, but it will remove a large amount of hair without the risk of over-brushing and damaging the skin.
- Bath and condition your dog’s coat once a week before and during shedding season. Note: Be sure to use a conditioning shampoo in addition to an after-shampoo conditioning treatment. The ones that are best are those that contain Omega3 and 6 fatty acids. There are also supplements on the market that can be added to your dog’s food that contain these acids and vitamins A and E are good for promoting a healthy coat.
- Use a stripping treatment. There are many on the market that make it easy to remove dead hair.
- Intensify your visits to the hairdresser. If you don’t have time to bathe and brush your dog, cutting his coat very short will remove a lot of hair. Your groomer can also provide you with a good shedding treatment in conjunction with your regular groomer for a minimal charge.