Tips to Combat Dog Shedding

By: The Coastal Pet Products Staff

Unless you’re dealing with a hairless dog, you can expect shedding to happen.

Most dogs shed year-round, even single-coated, shorthaired breeds like Dobermans and Weimaraners. But it’s the wooly- and long-haired dogs that you’ve got to watch out for.

These dogs are notorious for leaving tufts of hair all over their owners’ homes all year long. It’s even worse in the spring – and late fall for some breeds – when many dogs blow out their undercoats, leading to massive amounts of loose fur flying around.

If you’re dealing with a dog that regularly leaves fur on clothes, furniture, and everything in between, here are several tips for how to reduce a dog’s shedding.

Give Regular Baths

Regularly bathing a dog is a good decision for many reasons. It keeps the dog’s fur and skin clean – and smelling nice! And it removes dead skin and hair that if allowed to sit around can turn into mats and cause all number of problems. Moisturizing shampoos and conditioners help keep the dog’s fur soft and manageable. Making brushing a pain-free and pleasurable experience for both you and the pooch.

If a dog is particularly prone to shedding, switch out a regular doggie shampoo for a deshedding one. Loaded with omega fatty acids that promote strong, healthy hair follicles, these shampoos can help reduce excess shedding over time.

Commit to Regular Brushing

Brushing medium- to long-haired dogs is one of the most important things you can do to keep their coats healthy and minimize shedding.

For one, brushing helps remove dead hairs. And by removing dead hair, you prevent the buildup of mats that will require more extensive grooming. Two, brushing helps mix the natural oils of a dog’s skin into their fur. Keeping it shiny, but also making it stronger.

Most medium-haired dogs, and even some long-haired breeds, only need to be brushed once or twice a week. Though that can increase during the spring shedding season, especially for dogs with thick undercoats, like German Shepherds and Huskies. Breeds with longer silkier hair, such as Bearded Collies and Afghans, may need daily brushing in between professional grooming sessions.

Choose the Right Brush

• A bristle brush, like the Safari Bristle Brush, is good for all coat types. They come in several bristle lengths and thicknesses. Longer bristles are good for dogs with long fur, while stiff bristles are good for dogs with coarse fur.
• A wire-pin brush, like the Safari Wire Pin Brush, is good for dogs with curly, woolly coats such as Poodles and Bichons.
• Combs can also be helpful for removing dead hair from a dog’s undercoat or getting through mats. The Safari Dog Mat Remover is a good option for dogs with coarse fur.
• Slicker brushes, such as the Safari Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush and Safari Curved Firm Slicker Brush with Coated Tips for Long Hair, are made with fine wire bristles and are excellent for removing mats, tangles, and loose hair. With regular use, these high-quality brushes will also reduce shedding for a healthy coat.

Add a De-shedder to the Mix

A de-shedding tool, like the Safari Shed Magic De-Shedding Tool, is not the same as a regular dog brush. But it’s one of the best ways to stop dog shedding.

De-shedders target the dog’s undercoat, which is where most fur is shed from. Regular brushes target a dog’s outer layer of fur, though some can get into the denser undercoat.

Because dogs can shed all year long, you may want to add a weekly or bi-monthly de-shedder session to your grooming schedule. How often it’s needed will depend on what type of dog you’re working with. For all dogs, except super short-haired breeds, you may want to consider adding a de-shedding session in the spring, when most pooches shed their thicker winter coats.

Recommend a Balanced, Nutritious Diet

Did you know a dog’s coat is made up almost entirely of protein? It’s no wonder vitamins and nutrients, such as Vitamin B2, biotin, and omega fatty acids, are essential to protect it. To keep a pup’s fur in the best shape possible, they need to be fed a fully balanced diet.

It’s when a dog’s diet doesn’t contain the right nutrients that their hair might fall out or become dry, weak, and brittle. Encourage clients to check the ingredients of their dog food and, if they’re unsure, reach out to their vet to see if a daily supplement would be beneficial.

Keep Hydrated

One of the most commonly — and easily overlooked — causes of hair loss is dehydrated skin. While not technically the same as shedding, hydration-related hair loss will present similarly — loose fur that detaches easily.

The fix? Simple. Make sure dogs are drinking plenty of water. This is particularly true in colder months, when the forced heat in homes dries out the air. During these months, you may also want to suggest owners put a humidifier in the room(s), their dog spends the most time in.