Dog Hair Shedding

Shedding is a natural loss of hair in dogs that allows the new coat to come in. All dogs shed; some more then others. There is no such thing as a non-shedding dog, unless you have a completely hairless dog, such as the American Hairless Terrier, however shedding varies greatly from breed to breed.

The majority of breeds that are considered “very light shedders” are usually the breeds that need to be clipped, stripped and/or scissored. Because their hair falls out at a much slower rate, if they are not properly groomed they are prone to matting.

Some breeds have a seasonal shedding season in the spring, as their winter coats are lost. But if your dog is an indoor dog it may not be outside enough for the dog’s body to register the change of season, so he may shed all year round. Today dogs are bred mostly as companions and some breeds are not meant to live outdoors, so do not start leaving your dog outside all day long in hopes to stop the shedding. Longhaired dogs may appear to shed more, but it is really just the length of their hair that gives that illusion.

What can you do to reduce shedding?
Some dogs shed a lot. What can you do to help get the hair loss under control? Grooming is the key. Keeping in mind that the hair is going to fall out either way and it is best to remove it yourself and throw it in the trash, then to let the hair fall out naturally all over your house. The more hair YOU remove the less you will see it all over your house. Brushing your dog once a day will greatly reduce the unwanted hair all over your clothes, carpet and furniture, especially during shedding season. .

There are products that can help you remove all the dead hair in a few grooming sessions, leaving less hair to fall out inside your house. During the shedding season, if you do not remove the shedding winter coat, you will most likely see it falling all out all over your house for about a period of a month or so.

There are physical problems that can cause large, abnormal amounts of shedding such as ringworm, skin infections, stress, mange and cancer. It is not normal for your dogs coat to thin as the dog gets older. If your dog’s hair loss is abnormal you will see bald spots. If you see bald spots or you think your dog is shedding abnormally, take your dog to the vet.

Heavy Shedding Dog Breeds: Part I

All breeds of dog actually shed. Dogs need fur, just like most other animals, to protect them from the elements. Dogs found in colder regions of the world have more fur on their bodies because they need greater protection. However, when the weather becomes warmer, excessive fur can cause a lot of discomfort to the dog. This is the primary reason that dogs shed.

Secondly, unlike humans who shed dead skin through ever growing nails and hair on their head, the fur on the dogs body can only grow as long is common for their breed. So, they shed dead skin by shedding their coat. The dead skin is removed in the hair that is shed and the new coat appears after the dead skin is discarded. Dogs that have heavier coats are prone to heavy shedding.

Some of the breeds of dogs that shed a lot include:

Alaskan Malamute
Among the North American Spitz dog breeds, the Alaskan Malamute is a big built dog, wide-chested and heavy bodied. The Malamute’s weight can range any where between 75 and 100 lbs. Its expression has a slight resemblance to that of a wolf and it has soft, thick ears. The undercoat of the Alaskan Malamute is soft, dense and fluffy and is shed twice a year during spring and again in summer. While it’s outer coat is of medium length and has a rough water-repellant quality which helps protect it from the wind, snow and rain prevalent in its natural environment. It sheds dust and dirt very easily and does not need regular baths.

Australian Shepherd
The Australian Shepherd is often kept on ranches to herd sheep and cattle. It also makes a good family pet. Its build is large and muscular and its weight can be any where between 40 and 60 lbs. The Aussie is a good looking dog and comes in varying shades of merle and tan or white. The length of its overcoat ranges from medium to long and is resistant to water. It requires very little grooming. The unique feature of these dogs lies in the eyes which are multi-colored i.e. each eye is a different color.

English Toy Spaniel
The English Toy Spaniel is known by different names in different regions. Outside the U.S.A and Canada, it is known as the King Charles Spaniel. It is also known as ETS or ‘Charlie’. It is a square little dog, its nose is short and its head is shaped like a dove. Its coat is long and dense, a bit wavy and very soft. It has a great deal of feathering on its feet and legs. And its body, chest and ears are heavily fringed. They come in four colors and are less than a foot tall.

The English Toy Spaniel needs to be brushed at least twice a week. The fringe on its body, chest and ears need to be looked after carefully. A special lotion should be applied on the face every week, especially between the folds.

Heavy Shedding Dog Breeds: Part II

There are some breeds of dogs that shed more than the others. Heavy Shedding is most common in dogs that are found in colder climatic conditions as they are more likely to have a heavy double coat, which is essential during the winter months, but becomes a source of discomfort as the temperature rises in the summer. Some such breeds of dogs that are heavy shedders include:

Belgian Sheepdog
There are four breeds of Belgian Shepherds and the Groenendael (Belgian Sheepdog) is the most popular among them. They are muscular and really solid. And yet, they are also very agile. This is a hyperactive breed and very enthusiastic about playing, to the extent that it can continue to do so until it collapses, exhausted.

All four breeds have similar bodies but have different kinds of coats. The Belgian Sheepdog or Groenendaels coat is long, silky and smooth. It has a double coat which is black. It sheds heavily in the spring and fall. The loose hair sheds all year round. On the other hand, the Belgian Malinois has a double coat that is dense and quite short. Its color normally ranges between red and light brown and it has a black face mask. The Belgian Tervueren also has a double coat that is long and smooth. Its colors range from beige to mahogany or a black mask on grey. While the Laekenois has a light brown coat that is medium in length. The texture varies from rough to curly.

Collies
Among the more popular of the breed of herding dogs, the Collie comes in two varieties. There is one with a rough coat and one with a smooth coat. The rough coated variety has a long, straight, rough and thick outer coat. Its mane is dense and its hindquarters are feathered. Its undercoat is soft and fluffy. It needs to be brushed at least once a week, using a pin brush in order to reach it’s under coat. It needs to be brushed more often when it’s shedding because it shed profusely. The smooth coated variety has a shorter outer coat which is also harsh in texture. But it sheds less than the rough coated variety and requires less grooming.
The Collie’s head is flat, eyes are almond in shape, its ears are small and its muzzle is tapering. Its coat can be in different shades of merle, sable, white or tricolor.

Akita
The Akita Inu is a Japanese breed and is among the largest of the Spitz dog breeds found there. The Akita is a powerful dog with heavy bones and muscles. It has a large head and its muzzle is short and powerful. It has small eyes and triangular upright ears which give it a hooded look. And also has a curly tail set high on its back. The Akita’s outer coat is coarse and straight and is water-proof in nature to protect it from the extreme temperatures in Japan. Its undercoat is thick and soft. And it sheds twice every year.

Heavy Shedding Dog Breeds: Part III

While all breeds of dogs shed fur to some extent, some breeds are particularly prone to heavy shedding. Dogs that have a heavy double coat of fur to protect them from the cold and harsh winter conditions become heavy shedders during summer as the temperatures go up and the heavy coat becomes a source of discomfort. Additionally, shedding is the method of shedding dead skin for a dog. The heavier the coat of fur is, heavier will be the shedding required for the dog to discard dead skin and turn out a new coat.

Some of the breeds that shed very heavily include:

German Shepherd
The German Shepherd, or the Alsatian, is among the most popular breeds of dogs. Its skull is wide and muzzle shaped like a wedge. Its ears are erect and set high. Its body is strong and long, while its tail is low and bushy. The Shepherds coat varies in texture from dog to dog:
• Straight, rough and short
• Straight, rough and long
• Long and wavy

However, they all have thick coats which are resistant to weather and have double coats. Their colors usually vary from black to grey with brown/yellow marks. They usually have a black upper layer. They need to be brushed every week. But when they are shedding, they should be brushed every day. The one’s with a longer coat need to be groomed more.

Great Pyrenees
The Great Pyrenees is probably the largest and strongest among all breeds of dogs. It is remarkably good looking and very lovable as a puppy. Possessing a double coat, the Pyr also has a lush, fine-haired under coat. Its outer coat is coarse, and it has thick hair which ranges from medium to long. The hair on its hind legs, tail and neck is longer. It sheds heavily and will require brushing every day or twice a day.

Keeshond
The Keeshond is the mildest and most unassuming of all Spitz breeds. Of medium size, it has a compact build and its body is powerful. It has an outer coat that is dense, quite long and fairly rough. It also tends to stick out from its body. Its soft under coat is also quite thick. It has a lush ruff-like collar around its neck, and its head has a shape similar to a fox. It’s under coat is usually cream, while its outer coat is grey or black.
The Keeshond normally does not require brushing more than once a week. However, it needs to be brushed daily during it’s twice a year shedding.

Newfoundland
The Newfoundland, also known as the Newf, is a giant breed of dog that has endeared itself to families with its soft and gentle nature. It weighs any where between 120 and 160 lbs. It has a double coat that is thick and lush. Its coarse outer coat is straight and flat, and its texture is a bit oily and resistant to water. It has a dense and soft under coat. Overall, its coat is a bit wavy.

Dog Shedding: An Introduction

If you are a dog owner, one of the many facts about your dog that you are simply going to have to live with is that your dog sheds. Almost every variety of dog sheds hair, unless it is a completely hairless dog, much like the American Hairless terrier. The shedding may vary from light to heavy depending upon the breed of the dog and the kind of coat he has.

Dogs shed hair for two reasons primarily. One is the temperature. The fur on the body of the dog is meant to insulate him. When the temperature is cold, the dog needs a heavier coat to protect himself against the cold and as a result, his coat is thicker when the weather is cold. When the temperature rises, however, a heavy coat of fur becomes a liability and a source of discomfort for the dog. It needs to shed the excess hair on his body to allow the skin to breath and to prevent his body from overheating, which can lead to other problems like dehydration.

The other reasons dog shed hair is to remove dead and unwanted skin cells from their bodies, just like all other creatures, including humans. In the case of humans, dead skin cells ret removed from the body in the form of nails and hair on the head or face, in the case of men, which grows in length. The fur of the dog cannot grow beyond a certain length depending upon the breed of the dog. Since dead skin cells cannot be removed through growing length of hair, it happens by complete replacement of their hair. As your dog sheds hair, it is removing the excessive dead skin cells on his body and it soon gets replaced by a fresh coat for the new season.

Some breeds of dog, especially those found in colder parts of the world, are known to have double coats of fur. They have a much softer undercoat and on top of that, there is a much coarser overcoat. This overcoat is thick and has relatively longer hair and its primary purpose is to protect the dog from cold weather and snow. These breeds of dogs, most notably, the Siberian Husky or the Great Pyrenees, are known to shed profusely and regularly. They shed their coats twice a year, once in spring and then again in fall. Such excessive shedding that occurs twice a year is known as ‘blowing coat.’

Some other breeds of dogs seem to shed hair all year long. This phenomenon is caused by the domestication of dogs. Dogs that spend most of their time indoors get acclimatized to the more insulated temperature indoor and their bodies have the right amount of fur to suit that temperature. However, every time the dog goes in and out of the house, there is huge gap in the temperature and the body of the dog has to readjust to this temperature change constantly. This is the most common cause that leads to dog shedding all year long.