Do you find yourself reaching for the nearest lint roller because you’re covered in your sweet pup’s fur?! Most of our furry friends tend to shed all over our clothes, furniture, and really anything they touch! Although this is totally normal, it may not be very fun for you. You might think to yourself “How the heck do I tone down this dog’s shedding??”. Well, we are here to help answer that!
The first thing we need to know is, does your dog shed a normal amount? And how can you tell? It really depends on the breed of dog you have and the time of year. Many breeds have a shedding cycle where they lose lots of their fur or hair for a given period and then their shedding will slow down. You can speak to your vet about your dog’s breed and find out what is considered a normal amount of shedding for where you live and what time of the year it is.
Once you speak to your vet, you should know the normal shedding amount for your dog. If you think your dog is shedding more than what is common, it may be due to one of these issues:
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Excessive itchiness
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Skin patchiness
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Skin scrapes or cuts
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Generally ill or unwell
If so, it is best to make an appointment with your local vet to see if there is an underlying cause to your dog’s shedding. Things like diabetes, thyroid disorders, or nutrient deficiencies can lead to excessive shedding.
After you rule out any severe health issues you can start reducing shedding at home! So how exactly do you do that? Here are 5 tips to help your dog stop shedding and to keep you and your home a little less hairy!
1. Diet
What you feed your doggo can truly make a world of difference for their coat and shedding! Giving your dog a balanced diet full of vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats like fish oil can increase their coat’s shine and decrease shedding.
When picking out a diet for your dog, quality should be top of mind! Many brands use fillers like corn and wheat that may irritate your dog’s skin even further!
For more information about what to feed your dog check out our free “Healthy Dog Food Guide” downloadable PDF here!
2. Grooming
Grooming your dog is probably the best way to prevent your dog’s hair from going everywhere! You can easily do this at home with just a few simple tools. The type of hair your dog has will help you determine what tool you should use. Here are some examples!
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Curly hair → Metal Pin Brush
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Long hair→ Wide Tooth Comb
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Undercoat → Deshedding tool (eg: FURminator)
You can mix and match these recommendations to find the best combination for you and your dog! So how often should you groom your dog? Ideally, you should brush your dog on a daily basis. This will help decrease their shedding but it is also great for their skin health and gives you and your dog time to bond!
Bonus Tip! If your furry friend doesn’t like when you brush him you can try to give him treats throughout the process. It is best to give him a treat during a calm moment so he can recognize his good behavior and continue it in the future!
If you want to go the extra mile you can also trim your dog’s coat at home! Here are a few tools you may need to get started:
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Sheers or Scissors
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Clipper Kit
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Shampoo & Conditioner
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Detangler Spray
If you are not too fond of the idea of trimming your dog’s hair then take a look at tip #3!
3. Professional Grooming
Are you a little worried about grooming your dog at home? Well taking your dog to the puppy salon may be the best option for you! It might be a little pricey but it can be well worth it!
If you are unsure how to groom your fur baby, taking them to a professional might be a more enjoyable experience for your dog. They will also likely have specific products and shampoo to help reduce shedding and may be able to provide you with tips and tricks to implement at home!
A good rule of thumb is to take your pup in for grooming every 4-6 weeks depending on how fast their hair grows.
4. Home Care
Once you have implemented one or all of the tips listed above, then it is time to give this tip a try! In some cases, no matter how much you groom your dog or increase the quality of their diet they will just keep on shedding.
Here are some ways to reduce the amount of hair in your home!
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Invest in a vacuum (robotic vacuums like Rumbas can be a great option because you don’t even have to think about it!) A vacuum will be your 2nd best friend, behind your doggo of course! This will save you so much time and energy when compared to sweeping. You can also vacuum your furniture while you’re at it!
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Cover your furniture if your dog has a place where they love to layout like your couch or ottoman it is a good idea to cover it with a blanket or sheet. That way you can just shake out the cover and throw it in the washer, and voila, all clean!
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Lint Rollers. These sticky rollers are not only great for your clothes but your furniture too! Try out a lint roller sheet on your couch next time you notice a bit of hair on it. They are a great quick fix when you are in a pinch!
5. Air Filters
Do you notice you get a little sniffly or have itchy eyes when your dog sheds too much? An awesome option for you is an air filter! This will catch hair floating in the air as well as excess dandruff. If you decide to invest in an air filter be sure to change the filters consistently to ensure the best results!
Be sure to remember that shedding is natural! Every dog does it! Although grooming your dog may be time consuming, it is a great way to spend more time with your dog and show them how much you care for them! If you want to keep your puppy extra clean, make sure to clean their ears too. Check out our 4 easy steps to cleaning your dog’s ears HERE!
