Feed Your Dog a Healthy Diet
A dog who eats a complete and balanced dog food will consume the vitamins and nutrients they need to keep their hair follicles growing strong and resilient to breakage. Some dogs benefit from a dietary supplement of Omega-3 fatty acids to promote healthy hair growth, in addition to supporting joint, heart, and immune health. Before starting your dog on supplements, speak with your veterinarian to determine the benefits for your dog.
Knowing how much your dog is drinking can be tricky, but if your dog is shedding more than usual, you may want to keep an eye on their water bowl. The general rule is that a dog should drink an ounce of water per pound of body weight per day. This means that a 10-pound dog needs a little over a cup of clean water. Dehydrated skin is a major cause of hair loss and can easily increase the amount of loose fur you have to clean up around the house.
Some Dogs Shed More Than Others: Choosing a Breed
When choosing a dog, you should consider at-home grooming needs, the allergies of individuals in your household, and the amount of money you’re willing to spend on professional grooming. Different breeds shed at different times and rates throughout the year.
Some dogs shed seasonally in the spring and fall, while other dogs shed all year long. One common misconception is that a hypoallergenic dog won’t shed or cause an allergic reaction. The reality is that truly hypoallergenic dogs are simply those that produce less dander.
For some people, being in the same room as a dog means itchy eyes and a runny nose. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, three in 10 people in the United States suffer from cat and dog allergies.
While some people can reduce the symptoms of allergies through medication, others may be dangerously affected by shortness of breath or skin reactions, such as hives. Pet hair is not an allergen, but it can collect dander, urine, and saliva — all of which cause allergic reactions.
Rather than dealing with the potential dangers to those in your home with pet allergies, you may want to choose one of the breeds that dont shed, like Afghan Hounds, Poodles, Irish Water Spaniels, or Portuguese Water Dogs.
Of course, no one likes tumbleweeds of dog hair floating across the floor. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to help keep your dog’s coat, undercoat, and dander under control all throughout the year, regardless of their breed. It may surprise you to learn that most of these tips to control dog shedding will cost you little to nothing to implement.
Depending on your dog’s coat type, you may need to brush your dog every day or only once a month! There are several different types of brushes:
Whether your dog sheds seasonally or year-round, choosing a shedding tool that is designed specifically to remove dead hair from your dog’s coat can help reduce the tufts you find drifting around your home. Some shedding tools are brushes with closely spaced, stainless steel tines that work on removing the undercoat, while others are shedding blades with serrated teeth.
Understanding Dog Coats and Choosing a Breed
To combat your dogs shedding, you have to know the kind of hair youre dealing with. Dog coats vary in length, texture, thickness, and hair-growth patterns, and fur can vary on different parts of a dogs body.
Before bringing home a new fur baby, know the types of dog coats (and how much shedding and grooming you can expect).
Not all dogs experience an obvious shedding season. Along with a range of hair types, dogs display a variety of shedding patterns influenced by seasonal conditions such as hours of daylight and temperature.
Credit: Corinne Mucha / Julia Bohen
“Theyre also governed by hormones, metabolism, reproduction cycle, and age,” says certified master dog groomer Christina Pawlosky, owner of Pet Connection Care Center in Warren, Ohio. “And with some dogs, the longer the hair grows, the less often that dog will shed.”
When seasonal shedding does occur, it tends to be in the spring and fall as the coat prepares for summer and winter weather.
Research grooming requirements for your dog so you know what type of shedding patterns to expect and how to combat them year-round, Pawlosky says. If youve adopted a mixed-breed dog, use a DNA test to determine his primary breed makeup, which will give clues to how much shedding youre in for. Use this information to create a routine that matches your pups needs.
Its important to establish a grooming routine soon after bringing home a new puppy. The same goes for adopting an older dog (although it may take a little longer to convince him that grooming time is a happy time). Positive reinforcement can help teach your dog that being brushed and combed is something to enjoy.
For practicality, set up a table outside on your patio or in the garage so you dont have to bend down during grooming sessions. Cover the table with a towel, yoga mat, or other surface your dog feels secure standing on.
Regular brushing and bathing greatly reduces dead hair accumulation, thus preventing it from sticking to your favorite chair or pair of black pants. “Its a good idea to brush before a bath and again afterward,” Squadrito says. Pre-bath brushing helps loosen mats and knots that might get worse with water and shampoo. “I also like to use a rubber-backed curry brush in the tub to loosen the hair. Its an inexpensive but very effective tool. And most dogs love the gentle massage [it provides].”
You may need more than just one dog shedding brush. If your dog has curly hair or a thick double coat, he may require a slicker brush and spray conditioner to remove dead hair and tangles. Fortunately, most grooming tools spell out specifically what type of coat theyre best suited for, so take time to read packaging descriptions or seek advice from a professional groomer.
Above all, keep your dogs comfort in mind. “Its important to find tools that are gentle on the skin; repetitive motion can cause irritation,” Squadrito says. “A deep-conditioning shampoo followed by a conditioner helps soften skin so hair is released more easily.”
How To Stop Dog Shedding (Easy Tricks from A Vet)
Despite what you may have heard, all dogs shed — in fact, shedding is normal and healthy! Shedding is part of the natural cycle of hair growth — when the hair stops growing, it is shed to make room for new hair. But that doesn’t make it any less frustrating to pet parents. Keeping dog fur off clothing, furniture and the floor can feel like a never-ending battle!
Breed matters when it comes to the amount of shedding you have to manage. Some dogs shed seasonally in the spring and fall, while others shed all year long! For example, Alaskan Malamutes blow their entire coats twice a year, but other breeds, like the Italian Greyhound or French Bulldog, shed far less. While routine care is still important for their long-term health, they don’t need to be groomed as often.
Generally speaking, breeds with a double coat shed the most. When you add long hair into the mix, like the Border Collie, you’re looking at some of the worst shedding culprits.
Your dog’s coat plays an important role in regulating their body temperature; it provides insulation that keeps them warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. It also protects their skin from extreme temperatures, sun damage, and water. You should never shave a double-coated dog as a way to control blowing coat. Many well-meaning pup parents think that shaving their double-coated breed will help keep them cool, but it will actually do the opposite!
While you can never completely stop your dog from shedding, you can take some proactive measures to control it. Here are four tried and true tips recommended by experts: