Dog Shedding And How To Control It

Video: akita dog defurminating the shedding hairy beast by itzaclip
How to reduce dog shedding

Reduce shedding with regular grooming

Video: how hair conditioner can fix hairy situations

More ways to reduce dog shedding

Dogs lose hair, it`s a totally natural process and not something that you can stop, or `cure`.

Your dog`s hair is continually growing and then falling out (much the same way as ours does), and this 3-part cycle can last anywhere from a month to a year depending on the breed and coat type.

There are also certain times of the year, or certain situations,where your dog is going to shed more than normal.

It usually happens twice a year duringthe major change of seasons (from cold to hot and back again) and is called `blowing coat`... also often happens in a female dog after she`s had a litter.

There are many different types of dogs, there are many different typesof coats and some will shed more than others, or shed more noticeablythan others.

Breeds that were originally created to live/work outdoors(especially in cold climates), such as German Shepherds, Newfoundlands,Alaskan Malamutes, Pomeranians and so on have tons of hair - both thelonger `outer-coat` hairs and the softer, denser `under-coat`. Thismeans that they tend to lose a lot of hair and dog shedding isdefinitely going to be part of life for their owners.

However, it`s not only these longer-coated breeds that are proneto heavy-duty dog shedding! I own Rottweilers, whose coats are muchsmoother and shorter than the breeds I just mentioned. Sadly, thisdoesn`t seem to reduce their ability to shed, and this seems to apply toLabrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers and other similar breeds too.

Dog breeds who have long, silky outer-coats and little, or no,undercoat (such as Yorkies, Lhasa Apsos and Afghan Hounds for example)tend to shed less than many other breeds, so do dog breeds with curlycoats such as Poodles or Bichon Frise. These could be considered to below shedding dog breeds.

Video: Akita dog defurminating the shedding hairy beast by itzaclip

Wire-haired dogs such as many of the terrier breeds need not onlyat-home grooming sessions, but regular clipping or stripping to keeptheir coat mat-free and `in order`. The up-side of this is that aregularly clipped/stripped coat will shed less too.

So, to sum it up... pretty much all dogs shed (except hairless ones) but that`s not any real consolation for dog owners who spend what seems like halftheir waking hours removing dog hair from their clothes, furniture,carpets... even coffee cups - and I`m one of them!

How To Reduce Dog Shedding

Although there`s no `magic bullet` that will stop your dog from blowing coat, or gradually depositing his hair all over the furniture, there are a few things that you can do to reduce the amount of loose hair he has to share.

Removing it from his coat manually, before it floats off by itself, can really help.....

Reduce Shedding With Regular Grooming

When it comes to controlling or reducing the amount of hair your pet is losing, regular and proper groomingis the key.

If you don`t brush/comb your dog regularly, that hair isgoing to fall (or fly!) off your dog and land all over the place.....all the time.

BUT if you groom your dog regularly then YOU will be incontrol of that hair loss, and you can remove an amazing amount of hairin a fairly short time with the right dog grooming tools/equipment.

In addition to brushing/combing your dog, a bath now and thenhelps to remove loose hair and dander.

Bathing once or twice a monthshould be enough, although if you or someone else in your family has anallergy to dog hair, bathing weekly may be better as long as it doesn`tirritate the dogs` skin.

Always remember to use a very mild shampoosuch as a puppy formula, Oatmeal Shampoo or hypoallergenic formula (no medicated or highly-scented ones please!).

There are even a whole range of special dog shedding shampoos such as FURminator deShedding Shampoo or Vet`s Best Anti-Shedding Dog Shampoo.

If you or someone in your family has allergies, this 8in1 Perfect Coat Dander Control Shampoocan really help reduce the dog dander that`s the number one trigger forsneezing, itching and other common dog allergy symptoms.

Video: How Hair Conditioner Can Fix Hairy Situations

Here`s a quick look at the best tools to use when you`re trying to keep dog shedding to a minimum in different breeds:

Dogs with thick `double coats`
You`ll need a rake, such as the Bamboo Dog Undercoat and Dematting Raketo make sure that the loose hair is removed properly. A simple comb orbristle brush won`t do the job. They need to be groomed daily ifpossible, failing that at least 3 times a week.

Dogs with long, silky hair
You`ll need a metal grooming comb and a dog slicker brush(the wide-flat type with bent-wire `teeth`) to take care of these breeds (for example the Yorkshire Terrier,Maltese, Setters, Spaniels etc.), who are pretty high-maintenance interms of grooming! Be prepared for daily grooming sessions. Do becareful when using the slicker brush though, as you don`t want toscratch or hurt the delicate skin under that beautiful flowing hair!Setters and Spaniels also need regular `stripping` or `plucking` anddogs like Yorkies can get a `puppy cut or clip` which makes life easier.

Dogs with short, wiry coats
Many terriers (such as the Cairn Terrier, Jack Russell Terrier,wire-haired Fox terrier and so on) and other breeds such as the IrishWolfhound, have a soft undercoat and a tough, wiry top coat. To reducedog shedding in these breeds you`ll need a steel comb and a `pin` brushto remove all the loose hair. They also need `stripping` or `plucking`and bathing every 3 months or so, and it`s best to have this done by aprofessional groomer. An alternative is to have the coat of your wirylittle guy (or gal) clipped short, and `trimmed` every 2 - 3 monthsafter that.

Dogs with smooth, short coats
These are the easiest ones to groom and the least labor-intesive breedsin that respect. This group includes breeds such as the Boxer, Bulldogs,certain Hounds such as short-coated Dachshund and the Weimaraner, Doberman Pinschers and many others. For these guys, a weekly date with a bristle brush bristle brush or a dog grooming glove/mitt is enough to keep them neat and tidy and keep dog shedding to a minimum.

More Ways To Reduce Dog Shedding

There are a few other things you can do to reduce the amount of hair your dog loses.

Diet can play a role in hair loss and of course it`s the foundation for good health, so feeding a premium dog food that has all the nutrients your pet needs is very important.

There are also `anti-shedding` supplements and natural productsthat may help. Generally they contain different oils which are known toimprove the condition of a dogs` coat and skin.

The all natural Canine Royal Coat EFA Expressis a great choice, and is packed full of essential fatty acids (Omega-3and Omega 6), plus Vitamins A, D and E which may not be present insufficient levels in your dogs food.

Given daily this can improve thehealth and condition of your dogs skin and give him a shiny, healthycoat and healthy coats often shed less!

If your puppy or dog is losing more hair in some areas than others and has bald spots or a patchy coat, or there is irritation alongside the hair loss, then you need to have your veterinarian examine him.

Sometimes allergies, fungus or parasites, can cause hair loss in puppies and dogs, and conditions such as Mange or Ringworm can only be diagnosed by your veterinarian.

Whether your dogs` shedding is due to normal breed/coat type and seasonal/developmental fluctuations or allergies or disease, all of that hair floating around your home can drive you nuts! It does me anyway.

BUT, I recently discovered a fantastic little vacuum that deals with dust bunnies (aka `pet hair bunnies`) like a pro... and has made keeping our home dog-hair free a snap.

It`s the lightweight, cordless and super-effective Dyson DC59 Animal Vac and it`s amazing!