3 Tips For Shedding Dogs

Mar 11

Why do Dogs Shed?

Twice a year, my dog Luke starts shedding like crazy. It typically starts at his butt, where you eventually see a big hair flake fall off. That’s when I know, it is about to rain fur.

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There could be multiple reasons why your dog is losing hair, but it is typically related to seasonal change. Seasons trigger hormonal change in your dog, due to temperature or light condition, which will make your dogs’ hair fall out. It is also a way to regulate their body temperature in hot (or cold) seasons.

3 Steps to get through the shedding season faster

Here are three steps that will help you to keep the dog hair under control. I know the shedding seems endless, but trust me, there tip will make your daily clean-up a breeze.

1.Brush your Dog Daily:

I typically do not brush my dog that often, but when shedding season starts, he HAS to get brushed daily. Yes - daily - I know it’s a lot of work, but it is so worth it. I tried multiple combs and brushes but found that the FurBlaster is the best tool for dogs with undercoats. The FurBlaster is essentially the cheaper version of the Furminator, but works pretty much the same. It is almost a blade-like brush that really gets the loose hair from the undercoat. If you have a dog, this tool is a MUST-HAVE. The blade piece can be taken off, in case it needs to be replaced, but I have had mine for over 4 years and it still gets the hair out, like on the first day I got it.

2. Bathe your dog:

Honestly, I rarely bathe my dog. His coat is self-regulating and cleans itself very well. BUT when he starts shedding, the shower is a MUST. My dog really hates showers, so unless there is a good reason for him to get showered, he typically just gets brushed. If you shower you dog once or twice while he is shedding, most of the hair will come loose and keep the hair under control. Make sure you massage the dog shampoo into his hair while you bathe him and brush him afterwards.

3. Prevent Dry Skin:

There can be multiple causes why you dog has dry skin, but hydration or parasites are a likely cause for flaky skin. If your dog has dry skin, his hair is more likely to fall out and leave a mess in your house. Make sure, your dog is well hydrated (especially during summer months) to prevent his hair from falling out. Constant access to water can solve dehydration pretty quickly. If you notice that you dog is not drinking enough water, try to give him some watermelon or add some bone broth to his water.

Hair loss is not always seasonal though, parasites, like fleas can make your dogs skin itchy. Scratching causes dry skin, which causes his hair to fall out. Try to check your dog for fleas and if he isn’t already on flea medication, go see a doctor in order to get him treatment. If you would like to know more about flea treatment, check out my blog post here.

Careful: Some people like to shave their dog in order to avoid the hairy mess. Overall, I would not recommend shaving your dog since the hair plays an important role in regulating your dogs body temperature, preventing sunburns and protects from bug bites. Shaving your dog to prevent his shedding process might work for a few says, but once it grows back, the hair will still fall out. But now, you have to deal with smaller pieces of hair that are even more difficult to clean up. Just remember that your dogs’ fur typically regulates and cleans itself. The excessive shedding is temporarily so keep brushing and move on. A little hair everywhere won’t hurt.

Happy Shedding!

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