Dogs
DO NOT SHAVE your double, or triple coated dog. While shaving your dog will help to reduce the amount of fur flying around your home, there are other solutions that are much healthier for your pet.
The issue with shaving a double-coated dog is that their coats act as a natural layer of insulation, both against heat and cold. During summer a heavy coat will actually guard them against the heat from the sun's rays and keep their bodies cooler. In addition, if shaved, their skin will be exposed to the sun and they become more susceptible to sunburns. Instead, help thin the coat out, I often clip back the hair on the bellies to offer relief during the summer months. For more information on the myths of shaving double-coated dogs, check this article out.
- Tips For Controlling Your Pet’s Shedding
By Langley Cornwell There was a time, a long time ago, when I naïvely thought that pet shedding was seasonal. I used to think there was a magical time in the not-so-distant future when I wouldn’t have to dust, sweep or vacuum every day. I used to hope...
- How To Groom A Short-coated Dog
By Ruthie Bently Each dog’s hair coat is different and in my opinion, grooming a dog with a short coat (also known as a smooth coat) is the easiest. You don’t have to cut the dog’s hair coat and you don’t need to use a stripping knife to cut...
- Keeping Your Dog's Coat Beautiful: Brushing
Brushing is one of, if not the, most important thing you can do to help your dog's coat and skin stay shiny and beautiful. Brushing helps to prevent matting which can be uncomfortable, and even dangerous to your dog's health. Many pet...
- Miniature Schnauzer Grooming
Miniature Schnauzer is a small dog breed that is characterized by its small, square shaped furry body. It is basically a mix dog breed of Standard Schnauzer and small dog breeds like Poodle and Affenpinscher. Dogs of this breed are usually 12 to...
- How To Groom A Golden Retriever
Golden retrievers are one of the most popular dog breeds in the world and were first developed as hunting dogs or gun dogs to retrieve game that had been shot down. Golden retrievers are double coated and have a dense undercoat or inner coat which...
Dogs
Getting Ready for Spring: Shedding
It's that time of year again...
When your vaccum is ready to quit...
When your home feels like the wild west with all the fur tumbleweeds drifting through it...
When you can't sit on your furniture without putting a fur sweater on...
That's right. It's shedding season (commonly referred to by non-pet owners as Spring).
Before I get into how to reduce shedding I would like to start with how NOT to reduce it...
DO NOT SHAVE your double, or triple coated dog. While shaving your dog will help to reduce the amount of fur flying around your home, there are other solutions that are much healthier for your pet.
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| I will NOT shave your husky! |
So what to do??
Regular brushing is the best thing you can do to get rid of the fur by speeding up the shedding cycle (in a healthy way). Brushing will allow you to get that coat out on your own terms instead of waiting to find it in patches on the couch.
One of the most popular and effective de-shedding product lines is made by Furminator. This is a fantastic line of tools as well as shampoos and conditioners that work very effectively to lift the undercoat from your dog.
Furminator tools (brushes) are more expensive than your typical pin or curry brush, but everyone I know that has one stands by them -- and with good reason. Furminator tools dramatically cut down the amount of time spent brushing when compared to a typical brush. They come in different sizes and models so you can select one that is best suited to your dog's breed.
Notice the ends of the brushes? They are designed to actually grab the fur from your dog's coat, rather than simply pass through it.
Bathing your dog regularly will also help to reduce shedding. If you use a de-shedding solution/conditioner during the bath you will find the Furminator brush will work even better since the fur will be loosened before attempting to brush.
While bathing and brushing are the most obvious fixes to shedding you may also want to consider what food you are feeding your dog. Low quality foods may actually increase the amount your dog sheds while a high quality food can help to reduce it.
Are you sure this is normal?
Finally, if the amount of shedding is abnormal for your dog's breed consider taking them to the vet to ensure that is is not due to a medical problem. According to the ASPCA, it's time to see your vet when there is evidence of:
I hope you've found my de-shedding tips helpful!
-Peter
Furminator tools (brushes) are more expensive than your typical pin or curry brush, but everyone I know that has one stands by them -- and with good reason. Furminator tools dramatically cut down the amount of time spent brushing when compared to a typical brush. They come in different sizes and models so you can select one that is best suited to your dog's breed.
Notice the ends of the brushes? They are designed to actually grab the fur from your dog's coat, rather than simply pass through it.
Bathing your dog regularly will also help to reduce shedding. If you use a de-shedding solution/conditioner during the bath you will find the Furminator brush will work even better since the fur will be loosened before attempting to brush.
While bathing and brushing are the most obvious fixes to shedding you may also want to consider what food you are feeding your dog. Low quality foods may actually increase the amount your dog sheds while a high quality food can help to reduce it.
Are you sure this is normal?
Finally, if the amount of shedding is abnormal for your dog's breed consider taking them to the vet to ensure that is is not due to a medical problem. According to the ASPCA, it's time to see your vet when there is evidence of:
- Skin irritation (redness, bumps, rashes, scabs etc...)
- Open sores of any kind
- Bald spots or thinning of coat
- Dull, dry hair that pulls out easily
- Scratching
- Constant foot licking or face rubbing
I hope you've found my de-shedding tips helpful!
-Peter
- Tips For Controlling Your Pet’s Shedding
By Langley Cornwell There was a time, a long time ago, when I naïvely thought that pet shedding was seasonal. I used to think there was a magical time in the not-so-distant future when I wouldn’t have to dust, sweep or vacuum every day. I used to hope...
- How To Groom A Short-coated Dog
By Ruthie Bently Each dog’s hair coat is different and in my opinion, grooming a dog with a short coat (also known as a smooth coat) is the easiest. You don’t have to cut the dog’s hair coat and you don’t need to use a stripping knife to cut...
- Keeping Your Dog's Coat Beautiful: Brushing
Brushing is one of, if not the, most important thing you can do to help your dog's coat and skin stay shiny and beautiful. Brushing helps to prevent matting which can be uncomfortable, and even dangerous to your dog's health. Many pet...
- Miniature Schnauzer Grooming
Miniature Schnauzer is a small dog breed that is characterized by its small, square shaped furry body. It is basically a mix dog breed of Standard Schnauzer and small dog breeds like Poodle and Affenpinscher. Dogs of this breed are usually 12 to...
- How To Groom A Golden Retriever
Golden retrievers are one of the most popular dog breeds in the world and were first developed as hunting dogs or gun dogs to retrieve game that had been shot down. Golden retrievers are double coated and have a dense undercoat or inner coat which...