Grooming Requirements for Shedding Dogs

The fact of the matter is that no matter what breed of dog you own, they are likely to shed some hair periodically. While there are breeds of dogs that have so little hair and their shedding is so minimal, they are called non-shedding dogs and they require minimal grooming. However, dogs with moderate or heavy coats of fur can present a huge problem to their owners when they shed. Proper grooming techniques can be very useful in reducing the problems caused by shedding dogs. Here are some tips to help you cope with the problem:

• Breed of dogs with thick, long fur require regular grooming to prevent excessive shedding. Dogs like Newfoundlands and Akitas have very long thick coats and require daily brushing all year round. When these breeds of dogs begin to shed, they often require two, even three rounds of brushing with a firm bristle brush on a daily basis. It is also recommended that these dogs are not bathed very often, even when they are shedding, as it depletes the levels of essential oils on their skin and coat. They do not require to be bathed once every few months unless they get very dirty.

• Some breeds of dogs have a relatively thick coat of fur, but are not very prone to shedding. For instance, breeds like Poodles and Bedlington Terriers. In such cases, it is advisable to run your fingers through their fur on a regular basis and pull out loose clumps of hair instead of using a brush on their coats. These breeds of dogs can also be bathed on a regular basis, like once in two months, and can be bathed more often when they are shedding. This will help keep their skin moist and reduce shedding.

• Breeds of dogs that have long and silky hair need even more regular grooming, to prevent excessive shedding. Dogs like Lhasa Apso, Setters, Afghan Hound, Spaniels and Maltese fall under the category of such dogs. They are required to be bathed on a weekly basis. After every bath, their coats need to be brushed with a pin brush. Every two months or so, their fur needs to receive a trim to prevent it from growing excessively long. The hair that is being shed by them needs to be removed by plucking it from their fur or by ‘stripping’ it.

• Some breeds of dogs like most terriers, including the West Highland white terrier, Schnauzers and Dachshunds have a wiry coat. These dogs need to be brushed at least thrice weekly. The shed fur on their bodies needs to be ‘stripped’ or ‘plucked’ by finger brushing. While they should normally be bathed once every three months, they can be bathed more often when they are shedding.

• Some breeds of dogs have a very smooth coat. Dogs like Labradors, Boxers and Whippets need very little grooming whether they are shedding or not. Especially when they are shedding, it is useful to run a stripping knife over their coats once everyday to remove all excess shed hair.