If you are an animal lover and pets are a part of your life, you know that shedding comes with the territory. You might already own some deshedding tools. On the other hand, you might still be looking for solutions. Let’s look at a few tools and practices that could help.
We love our pets but it can be frustrating constantly chasing rolling balls of fur around the house. Clusters of fallen hair can accumulate in corners and under furniture. This can be totally annoying unless you have a really good vacuum for pet hair and even then, it can be a never-ending chore.
Trying to get out of the house with dark colored clothing, that isn’t covered in dog hair, can seem like an impossible task.
Dog hair just seems to drop everywhere. However, if you have a basic understanding of shedding, frustrations can be significantly reduced. This is particularly so if you have some good deshedding tools.
Table of Contents
Dog Shedding – The Facts
Are you ‘dogged’ by extensive Labrador shedding or wondering how to better manage your Golden Retriever grooming in order to reduce shedding? Regardless of your dog’s breed, some knowledge of shedding causes can help you decide on a course of action.
Why Do Dogs Shed?
Shedding is a normal occurrence in dogs and the breed, type of coat, and health of the dog all play a part in how much and how often a dog will shed. Seasonal changes are also a contributing factor.
The normal shedding process is typified by hair falling out when the hair shaft reaches the end of it’s natural growth cycle.
Low Shedding Dog Breeds
Some dogs, depending on their breed, may have hair shafts with a longer life cycle that results in very minimal shedding. One such example would be Poodles (you can see clippers for Poodles here). There are many low shedding dogs but these breeds are more often than not referred to as non shedding dogs.
Shedding Dogs
Other breeds like Golden Retrievers or Huskies have hair shafts with a much shorter life span causing more frequent shedding and in greater amounts.
You might like to explore a grooming kit for Huskies, for example, because such kits often include more than just a set of clippers. You can find kits that come with scissors, nail clippers, a comb etc.
Dog Hair – Different Coat Types
Dogs also have different types of coats but that doesn’t mean Fido is sporting a cute little jacket. A dog coat is a term used to describe a dog’s hair or fur and is also a factor in shedding.
Two of the most common types of coats are single and double coats.
- A single coat is a single layer of hair (short, medium or long hair) that covers a dog’s body. Some examples of dogs with a single coat are Poodles, Dobermans, Greyhounds and Maltese.
- A double coat consists of a soft undercoat and a coarser top coat of fur (also called guard hair) typically found in dogs originating in colder climates where extra protection is needed from the cold.
Dogs such as the Siberian Husky, Great Pyrenees or Golden Retrievers will shed their downy undercoat in warmer weather with large clumps of fur literally falling off the dog.
These breeds are considered to be ones that shed the most. Similarly, German Shepherds shed continuously throughout the year and totally shed their undercoat twice a year.
Whilst Pugs are short-haired, they have a double coat and are notorious for excessive shedding year round.
Pet Grooming Gloves (affiliate link)
To Shed or Not to Shed
Shedding is a fact of life for all dogs unless you opt for a hairless breed such as the Mexican hairless dog (Xoloitzcuintli or Xolo for short) or Peruvian Inca Orchid.
In these ‘non-shedding’ dog breeds there is no hair to contend with. However, extra care may be needed for their hairless skin to ensure good health.
Non Shedding Dogs
There are dogs that are specifically referred to as non-shedding or low-shedding which is a great choice for individuals with allergies or those who are looking for a cleaner house. These types of dogs do shed but it is very little in comparison to most breeds.
Some types of non-shedding and low-shedding breeds are Poodles or any type of poodle mix. In addition, this would include most types of terriers, Maltese, Shih Tzu, Bichon Frise, Italian Greyhound and Lhasa Apso. You could also expect less shedding from the Havanese breed. So the popular Havanese Teddy Bear Cut as well as the Puppy Cut should prove easier to maintain.
Excessive Shedding in Dogs
Many dogs shed excessive amounts of hair which may be very normal for their particular breed.
However, for other dogs, excessive shedding may be due to an underlying problem such as poor nutrition, a medical condition or stress.
Allergies, parasites, infections, hormonal changes or certain pet medications are just a few causes of excessive shedding.
A pet’s diet can also play a huge role in excessive shedding as the dog may not be getting adequate nutrients. Most quality pet foods contain all of the nutrients that a dog needs in their daily diet. However, you may want to consult with your veterinarian on the best course of action for your pet’s diet.
If a dog begins to experience any of the following conditions, a veterinarian should be consulted as soon as possible.
– Open sores
– Thinning hair or bald spots
– Redness of the skin or other skin irritations
– Dull looking and dry coat with hair that pulls out easily
– Excessive scratching or persistent foot licking
Pet Grooming Brushes to Reduce Shedding (affiliate link)
Dog Shedding Remedies – How to Reduce Dog Shedding
When people talk about dog grooming at home, they often jump straight to the topic of clipping. But there are many dog grooming tasks required in between trips to the salon. Such tasks include bathing/washing and brushing. And it’s these tasks that can go a long way towards dealing with a dog that sheds a lot of hair.
When trying to figure out how to stop a dog from shedding, you will find a number of theories proposed. However, the word “stopping” is really a misnomer. A dog’s hair needs to shed to varying degrees, depending on the breed and the shedding season.
Nevertheless, dog shedding can be controlled and managed just by following some easy steps.
How to Manage Excessive Shedding Plus Deshedding Tools
- Brushing is a priority to help control shedding. The right shedding brush can go a long way towards providing an answer to the question of how to minimize shedding.
Short-haired dogs won’t need as much brushing. However, long-haired breeds should be brushed daily to remove loose fur and prevent matting.
There are many dog shedding tools available such as combs, brushes and specific deshedding tools for the undercoat. Tools should be selected based on the size of your dog and your dog’s coat type.
But at the very least, a good long hair de-shedding tool should be part of your grooming supplies.
Deshedding Tools for Dogs (affiliate link)
- Regular baths will help to remove loose hair. This will also clean and moisten the skin which helps control shedding.
- Feed your dog a balanced low carb diet rich in proteins, fat and fiber.
Your vet may recommend supplements, such as fatty acids, to improve the condition of your dog’s coat. - Flea and tick control for your dog is important as parasites can contribute to excessive shedding.
- Dogs can become stressed just like humans. Try to eliminate stress or try to manage stressful situations that may affect your dog. A happy dog is a healthy dog.
As you can see, grooming a dog on a regular basis and in the right way can help significantly with the problem of shedding. But in addition to preventive type measures, dog owners and salon operators really do need to have a vacuum that is capable of picking up pet hair.
5 Deshedding Tools – Popular Solutions
Here are some popular dog shedding solutions (Affiliate links):
1. A Furminator Deshedding Kit Including Shampoo
2. A Deshedding Grooming Tool
3. A FURminator Deshedding Tool
FURminator deShedding Tool for Dogs, Large, Long Hair – 101008
4. An Undercoat Deshedding Tool
FURminator Undercoat deShedding Tool, For Large Dogs, Long Hair, Blue
5. A Tool for Deshedding and Dematting
There are many, many options available to help you manage excessive shedding. You can explore alternative dog shedding solutions here (affiliate link).
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