When welcoming a new dog into the family there are many different things to consider such as their character, as well as what their personality is like, especially if you have little ones in your home. But one thing that people keep forgetting to look into is how bad a dog sheds.
Blue Heelers shed twice a year, however, this depends on the temperature where they live. For instance, warmer climates will see a lot more shedding from this breed whereas cooler climates may not see any significant shedding at all. Regardless, there are some steps to take to minimize the amount of fur around your home.
In this article, we will talk about the shedding habits of Blue Heelers so that you can decide whether this is a good breed for you to adopt into your home.
The Blue Heeler, often known as the Australian Cattle Dog, has a double coat. This implies they have a short guard coat, about one and a half inches long, that protects them from rubbing up against non-shedding objects.
The undercoat is the second coat. In colder weather, the undercoat’s purpose is to keep them warm. They shed this undercoat as the temperature warms up with the changing of seasons, keeping them cooler.
They shed twice a year on average. This, however, varies depending on the temperature in which they live, whether they are indoor or outdoor dogs, whether they are neutered in the event of a male, and the overall health of their coat. Some Australian Cattle Dogs even shed throughout the year.
A neutered male will often only shed once a year. After being in heat, an unspayed female will normally shed. This usually happens twice a year. Female dogs come into season less frequently as they get older.
The undercoat of the Blue Heeler can be extremely dense, and they shed a lot of fur. When a double-coated dog sheds heavily, the coat is said to be “blown.” This indicates that the coat is clumping.
Blue heelers have a double coat. They have a dense undercoat beneath an extremely short outer coat that typically grows only to 1 1/2 inches in length. Blue heelers coats dont appear to be as thick as they are because the outer hairs rest close to the undercoat. If you like dogs of unusual color and markings youll approve of the blue heelers appearance. Coloring can range from blue to red or blue speckled, blue mottled or even a combination of these.
Elle Di Jensen has been a writer and editor since 1990. She began working in the fitness industry in 1987, and her experience includes editing and publishing a workout manual. She has an extended family of pets, including special needs animals. Jensen attended Idaho and Boise State Universities. Her work has appeared in various print and online publications.
Routine grooming is a useful recommendation to control shedding both in and out of the shedding season. When your blue heeler is blowing his coat, daily grooming with a steel comb and a wire brush will be necessary to control the free-floating hair in your house. One or two warm baths with a quality dog shampoo will also help eliminate loose hair during this time. Outside of shedding season, combing and brushing only needs to be done a couple of times a week and baths can be limited to an as-needed basis, like if your heeler gets into something extremely dirty or smelly.
If youve got an active lifestyle and are inclined to take your dog along for the adventure, blue heelers are up for whatever exciting activity you have in mind. Also called Australian cattle dogs, theyre working dogs who need a lot going on to keep them occupied. They arent exactly high maintenance in the grooming department, but knowing what youre in for with blue heelers and shedding will make grooming easier to deal with.
Aside from the usual shedding that can be expected, if you adopt a blue heeler be prepared for his twice yearly “coat blow.” For one or two weeks every spring and possibly one additional time each year, blue heelers blow their coats, shedding their undercoat in tufts and clumps. How often your heelers coat undergoes this major shed depends on the climate and whether he has been neutered or not. Altered males typically only blow their coats once a year. If you have a female heeler who isnt yet fixed, though, you can expect her to go through a major shedding after each time she goes into heat.
Do Blue Heelers shed a lot
The Blue Heeler or Australian Cattle Dog is a double-coated breed. This means they have a short guard coat of about one and a half inches in length that provides protection from rubbing up against things that they don’t shed. The second coat is the undercoat. The function of the undercoat is to keep them warm in colder weather. When the weather becomes warmer with the change of season they shed this undercoat to keep them cooler.
They generally shed twice a year. However, this can vary depending on the climate they live in, whether they are an indoor or outdoor dog, whether they are neutered in the case of a male, and the overall health of their coat. Some Australian Cattle Dogs even shed all year round.
A neutered male often will only have a major shed once a year. An unspayed female will usually shed after they have been on heat. This is generally twice a year. As a female dog gets older they come into season less often.
The Blue Heeler can have a quite dense undercoat and they often shed large quantities of fur. When a double-coated dog is doing a major shed it is known as the coat is “blown”. This means the coat is coming out in clumps.
How to control Blue Heeler shedding?
Also, whether you have allergies, other pets, or simply want to keep the amount of extra pet hair at your home to a minimum, there are a few key ways that make the process easier, keeping your furry friend healthy and happy.
FAQ
How do I stop my blue heeler from shedding?
Do Blue Heelers shed winter coat?
The main thing you can do to reduce shedding is regularly brushing your dog. Brushing helps to remove excess and lose fur. It also redistributes your dog’s skin oil into the fur helping it to stay in place.