How to help a dog from shedding

You love your dog, but you don’t love the shedding. Although shedding is a natural process by which your dog’s body replaces old fur with new, all that loose hair can drive you crazy.   Below are tips on how to minimize shedding in dogs.

You can do a lot to minimize the amount of fur your dog sheds, as well as, keep down the amount of loose hair scattered throughout your home.

Follow These 8 Steps To Minimize Shedding In Your Dog

1. Brush frequently. The more often you brush your dog, the more hair you will remove to avoid excess shedding. During the shedding seasons of fall and spring, brush your dog at least twice a week—more if you have time. If your dog has a double coat, which is standard in breeds like Pomeranians, Siberian Huskies, Corgis and Shetland Sheepdogs, to just name a few, use a grooming tool that is designed specifically to remove shedding hair.

2. Bathe often. A great way to get rid of excess hair is to give your dog frequent baths. Heavy shedders should be bathed twice a month with COWBOY MAGIC® Rosewater Shampoo, and followed up with COWBOY MAGIC® Rosewater Conditioner. Be sure to brush your dog thoroughly before his bath, removing as much hair as you can before you get him wet. If your dog’s fur tends to mat, follow up the bath with COWBOY MAGIC® Detangler & Shine™.

3. Blow dry. After bathing your dog, towel dry him, and then blow-dry his coat with warm (not hot) air, using a hair dryer. As your dog’s coat becomes drier, you can use a brush to help remove the loose hair as you dry. Be sure to brush from the skin outward to get the most hair you can. Keep brushing and drying until your dog is no longer damp.

4. Brush after drying. After you have finished drying your dog, brush him thoroughly once again. A lot more hair will come out at this stage of the process. It’s crucial to get this hair now because if you don’t, you’ll find it on your carpet!

5. Consider clipping. If you live in a warm climate, or have hot summers, and your dog has a thick, profuse coat that sheds often, consider having him clipped. Take him to a professional groomer and request that his coat be shortened, which will reduce the amount of hair that falls out on its own.

6. Give supplements. You may be able to reduce shedding by supplementing your dog’s diet with Omega 3 fatty acids. You can ask your veterinarian for an Omega 3 product made specifically for dogs, or you can buy a product designed for pets at pet supply stores or over the Internet. Omega 3 fatty acids not only reduce shedding, but can contribute to healthy skin, as well as providing other health benefits.

7. Don’t skimp on food. Good nutrition reduces shedding, so feeding your dog a quality dog food can help keep loose hair to a minimum. Buy the most expensive food you can for your dog. When it comes to dog food, you get what you pay for. Premium brands use better quality ingredients, which equal better nutrition for your dog. Also, be sure to purchase products that list an animal protein such as chicken, turkey, beef, lamb or fish as the first ingredient.

8. See a vet. If your dog seems to be shedding excessively, or is losing hair in patches, he may be suffering from a health problem. Skin infections, allergies and even cancer can cause excessive shedding in dogs. Take him to your veterinarian for an exam, they may be able to diagnose any underlying issues and help minimize shedding in dogs.

You can do a lot to keep your home free of pet hair in addition to trying to minimize shedding in dogs. Vacuum often, use lint rollers on your clothes, and cover furniture frequented by your dog with washable blankets. Consider changing your flooring, too. If you have carpet, your dog’s hair will stick to it and build up over time. Tile or hardwood floors are easiest to clean when you live with a dog that sheds.

Shop now for our Cowboy Magic Rosewater Shampoo, Conditioner and Detangler & Shine set.

Winning the battle against dog shedding takes vigilance and time (and understanding your pup's fur can go a long way, too).

Whether you're getting ready to adopt a new dog or are used to all your furniture and rugs covered in fur, learning to control dog shedding is an important aspect of pet care. And it's not just for keeping your house tidy: Loose hairs on your dog can get matted, trapping dirt, debris, and oils on the skin. This can make your dog uncomfortable and lead to skin issues.

Luckily, there are shedding remedies you can try to keep the fur from flying.

Why Is My Dog Shedding So Much?

Despite what you might have heard, all dogs shed. In fact, all animals with hair shed—even humans. We all just shed at different rates.

"To better understand how coat type affects shedding, you need to understand how a dog's hair grows," says groomer Dawn Squadrito, owner of Hairy Poppins, a mobile grooming service in Loxahatchee, Fla. Hair growth and shedding occurs over four phases:

• Anagen: This is an active period when hair grows to its genetically predetermined length. New hairs push out any remaining old hairs.
• Catagen: During this transitional phase, the hair stops growing and the root shrinks and attaches to the hair.
• Telogen: The hair and root rest while a new hair root develops underneath. 
• Exogenous: The old hair sheds to make room for new growth. The new root moves to the anagen phase.

Dog shedding frequency differs by breed. Some dogs will significantly shed only once or twice a year. Other pups shed hair from different parts of their bodies at different times, so it seems like they're constantly shedding. And if a dog's coat spends more time in the anagen phase, it can seem like he barely sheds at all. 

Dogs with low rates of shedding are sometimes misleadingly called "non-shedding breeds" because the process is infrequent and not very noticeable. But don't assume these dogs are low-maintenance—many low-shedding dogs have greater grooming needs than their high-shedding counterparts.  

To combat your dog's shedding, you have to know the kind of hair you're dealing with. Dog coats vary in length, texture, thickness, and hair-growth patterns, and fur can vary on different parts of a dog's body.

Before bringing home a new fur baby, know the types of dog coats (and how much shedding and grooming you can expect).

• Smooth coat: The hair is sleek, shiny, and close to the body. Some dogs with short, smooth coats (such as beagles, boxers, and bulldogs) need to be brushed daily to reduce shedding.
• Double coat: A short, thick undercoat beneath a longer topcoat of guard hairs. Double-coated dogs with wiry guard hairs—such as the Lakeland terrier—need their coats to be hand-stripped to remove dead hair by the root.
• Wire coat: Hair texture ranges from coarse and wiry to smooth. Dogs with wire coats, including Airedale terriers, Brussels griffons, and Scottish terriers, shed less than many other breeds, but you still need to remove tangles as necessary.
• Silky coat: The hair is long, straight, and silky. Such coats require daily brushing and are found on cocker spaniels, Irish setters, and Yorkshire terriers).
• Curly coat: Coats range from tight curls to beachy waves. Corded coats, like what's found on the pumi, are a variation of curly. Grooming needs vary dramatically between breeds, so check with a professional groomer for the best approach.

RELATED: 13 Glamorous Long-Haired Dog Breeds Giving Us Life

When Is Dog Shedding Season?

Not all dogs experience an obvious shedding season. Along with a range of hair types, dogs display a variety of shedding patterns influenced by seasonal conditions such as hours of daylight and temperature. 

Corinne Mucha / Julia Bohen

"They're also governed by hormones, metabolism, reproduction cycle, and age," says certified master dog groomer Christina Pawlosky, owner of Pet Connection Care Center in Warren, Ohio. "And with some dogs, the longer the hair grows, the less often that dog will shed."

When seasonal shedding does occur, it tends to be in the spring and fall as the coat prepares for summer and winter weather.

Tips for Reducing Dog Shedding

Research grooming requirements for your dog so you know what type of shedding patterns to expect and how to combat them year-round, Pawlosky says. If you've adopted a mixed-breed dog, use a DNA test to determine his primary breed makeup, which will give clues to how much shedding you're in for. Use this information to create a routine that matches your pup's needs.

It's important to establish a grooming routine soon after bringing home a new puppy. The same goes for adopting an older dog (although it may take a little longer to convince him that grooming time is a happy time). Positive reinforcement can help teach your dog that being brushed and combed is something to enjoy.

For practicality, set up a table outside on your patio or in the garage so you don't have to bend down during grooming sessions. Cover the table with a towel, yoga mat, or other surface your dog feels secure standing on.

Regular brushing and bathing greatly reduces dead hair accumulation, thus preventing it from sticking to your favorite chair or pair of black pants. "It's a good idea to brush before a bath and again afterward," Squadrito says. Pre-bath brushing helps loosen mats and knots that might get worse with water and shampoo. "I also like to use a rubber-backed curry brush in the tub to loosen the hair. It's an inexpensive but very effective tool. And most dogs love the gentle massage [it provides]."

You may need more than just one dog shedding brush. If your dog has curly hair or a thick double coat, he may require a slicker brush and spray conditioner to remove dead hair and tangles. Fortunately, most grooming tools spell out specifically what type of coat they're best suited for, so take time to read packaging descriptions or seek advice from a professional groomer.

Above all, keep your dog's comfort in mind. "It's important to find tools that are gentle on the skin; repetitive motion can cause irritation," Squadrito says. "A deep-conditioning shampoo followed by a conditioner helps soften skin so hair is released more easily."

Some pet parents turn to vitamins and supplements or even home remedies as dog shedding hacks. But while certain dog shedding products and tricks (like feeding your pup olive oil) may help improve the condition of the skin and coat, not all are risk-free. Always ask your veterinarian for advice before starting any treatments at home.

Shedding is a natural and healthy process for all creatures with hair, so don't expect to eliminate all signs of dog fur from your home. And as tempting as it may seem, shaving your dog down is not a great solution. Depending on your dog's coat type, pet hair removal may require frequent vacuuming and the use of other pet hair removal tools.

RELATED: ​​Here's How Often You Should Be Washing Your Dog

Is My Dog Shedding Too Much?

All pups shed, but it's important to understand what's normal for your dog and when to get help. If you think your dog is shedding more than normal based on his coat type, start with a good grooming session.

Brush your dog and look at the whole coat as well as the skin underneath. Contact your vet if you notice any patches of hair loss or baldness, redness or irritation of skin, crusting or severe dandruff, foul odor, discharge, or discomfort. Increased shedding may be a sign of a skin condition or other disease. If the skin appears normal, a professional groomer may be able to help you better manage your dog's coat.

A version of this article, written by Sandy Robins, first appeared in Happy Paws Spring/Summer 2020.