Why do dogs shed?

It’s not just dogs that shed. All animals, us included, shed hair throughout the year. Shedding is a natural part of the life cycle of a hair follicle. They grow, then are lost and replaced by newer hairs throughout our lives. 

Depending on a dog’s breed, age and health, their hair may grow and shed at different rates. Breeds like poodles and terriers have hair shafts with a long lifespan, which means they shed very little. Whereas breeds like collies, huskies and malamuteshave hair with a shorter lifespan, as well as all those extra layers to keep them warm in their native habitats, which means a huge amount of shedding!

It’s more important than you might think too...

It’s actually handy to keep an eye on how and when your dog sheds, as this can be a visible indicator of their health and general wellbeing. Unexplained or very excessive shedding can be a sign that something isn’t right,and warrants a visit to your vet. 

For some dogs, skin irritations, metabolic disorders or nutritional deficiencies can cause these all-important changes on hair texture, rate of growth or hair loss. Excessive stress can also bring about heavy shedding in dogs too. 

So be sure to keep an eye on your dog's shed. Is it their normal time of year, is it an excessive amount? If you are at all unsure, speak to your veterinarian.

When is dog shedding season?

Every dog’s shedding differs, but in general most dogs will shed most during times of rapid temperature changes - such as spring and fall.

When the weather begins to warm up, dogs will shed their heavier winter hairs to produce a lighter coat for the summer ahead. When the temperature drops again, they will shed this airy coat for a denser, thicker coat to keep them warm. 

However, dogs with less of an undercoat, like some toy breeds, don’t tend to follow this pattern as obviously. They will need extra grooming to help them shedand produce new coats, unlike heavier haired breeds who will shed quite dramatically!

How to help a dog shed

Here’s how to help your dog through the shedding season, and keep the mess to a minimum for your house too.

• Keep grooming - Get that brush out daily during the shedding months. Ideally, stand your dog outside and keep brushing until you feel most of the shed has come away. This will really help to remove the dead hairs before they find themselves all over your house, and help your dog feel more comfortable too. 
• Specialized tools - For the really heavy shedders, using a special shedding tool can make light work of removing layers of hair. These often have advanced ways of gripping the hair, as opposed to being designed to simply slip through.

• TrueRoller™️ Reusable Pet Hair Remover - The TrueRoller™ is an incredibly easy solution to removing dog hair from your furniture, clothes & household. Great before having anyone over to visit too.

• Visit the groomer - If you are really struggling to keep up, use a professional groomer. They can use a specialized hand-stripping technique on dogs with sensitive coats and clip away excess hairs to provide your dog with some much-needed relief.

• Super vacuums - A handheld vacuum designed to pick up pet hair can really help keep on top of the day-to-day shed. If the budget stretches, many owners cite a robot vacuum (designed for pet hair) as a life changer in shedding months. Try using charcoal filters to eliminate any pet odours, and to change the bag in your vacuum frequently to get really good suction.
• A big bath- A good scrub and rinse can really help to get the worst of the shed out of your dog. Either at home or with the groomer, a once-per-month deep-scrub bath should be really helpful in helping your dog lighten the load.

• Softener- Got hair-covered clothes? Try putting them into the dryer with a fabric softener sheet for 10 minutes before you wash them. This way, most of the hair will end up on the filter, rather than clogging up your machine.
• Furniture hacks - Invest in washable throws for any furniture your dog likes to sit on. On anything new you bring into the home, consider using dog-friendly fabrics like suede or leather, and ensuring they have removable, washable slipcovers if not.
• Nutrition - Staying on top of your dog’s diet can help prevent excessive shedding, and keep their coat in good condition. Be sure to check with your vet that your food is giving them everything they need.