We love our canine companions, but we don’t love those dog-generated fur-bunnies scooting across the living room floor, clinging to our furniture or sticking all over our clothes. And who hasn’t found a stray piece of dog hair in their dinner? Unfortunately, when you have the dog, shedding comes with the territory.
Here are some steps you can take to combat all that flying fur and control your dog’s shedding:
Feed a High-Quality Diet
The old adage “you are what you eat” can be said about our dogs as well. Nutrition plays a huge role not only in your dog’s inner health, but in her outer [hair] health as well. If your dog’s food is primarily comprised of fillers such as corn, wheat and by-product meals, then your dog will most likely have dry, flaky skin and lots of shedding hair.
One of the ways to combat shedding in dogs is to feed them high-quality dry kibble that has real meat as the first ingredient. By incorporating a good-quality canned food to your dog’s dry kibble, you can up its moisture content to ensure your dog stays hydrated and her skin stays healthy.
A good balance of essential fatty acids and oils in the diet is also very important. They can help your dog with the dry skin that often accompanies a dull coat and shedding problems. A high-quality dog food will already have these fatty acids and oils, but your vet may recommend other supplements, such as fish or flax seed oil. If you’re adding liquid oil supplements to your dog’s diet, start slowly. Adding too much oil at once can lead to digestive upset.
Make sure to discuss any diet-related changes with your veterinarian prior to making them. Also, make sure your dog always has access to fresh, clean water.
Groom Your Dog Regularly
All dogs need to be groomed on a regular basis. Grooming your dog will not only help you collect stray hair in one spot, but it also stimulates circulation and distributes the natural oils in your dog’s skin to help keep her coat shiny and healthy.
Designate at least one day a week to brush your dog, and spend enough time to get all the loose hair, untangle any mats and check for any skin abnormalities. Don’t know what brush or grooming tool to use? Here is a short list of the basic brush types:
- Bristle brushes look similar to the brushes we use. They are best for short-haired and smooth-coated dog breeds such as Chihuahuas and Greyhounds.
- Slicker brushes have tiny, tightly-packed, short wire pins, usually set onto a rectangular base with a handle. These are good for dog breeds with medium or curly hair, including retrievers and spaniels.
- Rakes also contain pins and should be purchased with pins roughly as long as your dog’s fur to ensure that it adequately thins the undercoat. The rake works well on dogs with long hair and thick undercoats, such as Collies and German Shepherds.
- Deshedding tools are specifically designed to get rid of the excess undercoat. These come in various forms and should be used on heavy-coated breeds at least twice a year.
Giving your dog a bath can be a huge help when it comes to controlling shedding, as the hair is loosened and whisked away by the water and a post-bath rubdown. However, too much bathing can irritate your dog’s skin, dry it out and actually lead to more shedding. Ask your vet about the appropriate bathing schedule for your dog’s breed or breed mix.
Don’t Forget About Preventives
Then, there are the fleas. Not only can these nasty little critters spread like wildfire throughout your home, flea bites will also irritate your dog’s skin and add to the amount of hair that sheds. Make sure to use preventives year round to prevent fleas and ticks from using your dog as a feasting ground. Talk to your veterinarian about which option is right for you.
Invest in a Good Vacuum and Furniture Cover
Most house guests won’t appreciate leaving your home with a layer of dog fur on their clothes (unless, of course, they have a shedding dog as well). To keep hair and furballs at bay in your home and on your clothes, invest in a high-quality vacuum that has extra suction power to tackle pet hair.
Additionally, consider furniture protectors that will help keep your couches and chairs free of hair. Even a nice throw blanket on your dog’s favorite spot can prevent hair from getting on your sofa; plus, it can be easily laundered or shaken out when it becomes a mess.
Don’t forget about keeping your car seat covers clean, too. A big beach towel or blanket spread across the backseat can help prevent wear and tear in the backseat of your vehicle.
One last tip: for spot-treatments and immediate hair removal, keep a few lint rollers or handheld vacuums around your home and car to help save time and clean up hair in a pinch.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.