If you have a shedding dog, staying on top of its hair can feel relentless. One day you vacuum every corner of the house and the next day you find hair everywhere again. If you no longer want to face a mountain of hair at home then keep reading to learn how to control dog shedding.
How do I stop my dog from shedding so much?
As you research how to stop a dog from shedding, you’ll learn that you can’t really ‘stop’ shedding entirely. Besides, shedding is a normal and healthy process that helps get rid of old hairs so new hairs can take their place.
Before you learn how to control dog hair shedding, you first need to understand why your hairy hound sheds in the first place.
Dogs shed to get rid of old or damaged hair, and it also acts as a form of temperature control. Shedding helps make their coat thinner and reduce their body heat over the warmer months. In colder temperatures, a dog will grow back some of its lost hair to create a thicker coat for the approaching winter.
Excessive shedding can also be linked to health conditions or diet. The amount of hair that dogs shed will differ at different times of the year, and is also dependent on the breed of the dog. Shedding is a natural process – you can’t stop it but you can control it. Here’s how to stop a dog from shedding so much hair.
Groom and bathe regularly
It’s important to clean your dog and make sure your hound is happy with regular bathing. Make sure not to bathe them too often, as this can actually dry out their skin and coat (every few weeks is ideal).
Regular bathing means you’ll be able to loosen and remove old hair and skin cells before they have a chance to take over your home.
You also need to choose the right products for your furry friend’s coat. Make sure you use a good quality shampoo that doesn’t irritate their skin – Petbay has a great range of shampoo options to help retain the shine of your dog’s coat and keep their skin irritation-free.
How often you wash your dog depends on the breed. Short-hair dogs can be bathed less frequently than long-haired dogs, for example. The maximum amount of shedding typically occurs right after a bath, which is why you should give your dog a brush right after they’ve had a wash
Brush your dog with the right brush
Speaking of brushing your dog, you also need to make sure you’re using the right brush for your pup. Brushing is simple and effective if you’re looking at how to control dog hair shedding. If you’ve got a shaggy doggo dropping hair all over the house, it might be time to try a dog shedding brush. Deshedding tools are an excellent option to help remove loose dog hair, reducing the amount of dog hair flying around your home.
Most pets need more than one type of brush (the fussy things!). It’s also important to implement a regular brushing routine, as that’s the most effective way to keep your home hair free, while also making your dog’s coat softer and cleaner. Rid your dog of excess hair and spread natural oils evenly over the skin to help promote a stronger, healthier coat.
Look to the diet when it comes to deshedding
Diet is key to all parts of your dog’s health. While there’s no such thing as dog food that’ll prevent shedding completely, what you feed your dog has an impact on overall health, wellbeing and how much they shed.
A healthy and balanced diet helps keep your dog healthy and thriving, and prevents excessive shedding from poor nutrition. Nothing beats a balanced diet, but if you’re after dog food that’s delicious and nutritious then check out PetBay’s skin and coat treats. Just like we are what we eat, so are our four legged pals. Their coat is often a reflection of what they eat, so start feeding your dog with high quality food and watch the hair on the ground disappear.
Take control of fleas
Fleas aren't just annoying, they can also cause nasty skin irritations and lead to excessive shedding. Treat your dog with anti-flea remedies to help keep allergies and fleas away. This will help control itching and scratching, meaning less hair will be dislodged from your dog’s coat. Make sure as part of your regular vet checks up that the vet is giving proper allergy relief and checking for any skin conditions that may also be affecting the amount of hair your dog sheds.
Get out the vacuum cleaner
If you’re wondering how to control dog hair shedding, one of the best things you can do is to whip out the vacuum cleaner on a regular basis.
New hair is easier to remove than hair stuck in the upholstery and regular vacuuming will help keep you fit, too! Vacuum cleaners won’t impact how much hair your dog drops but the right vacuum can make a difference in how much time you spend cleaning up loose hair.
Grooming shouldn’t put tails between legs or raise hairs, your pal should be at ease. This all starts with a high-quality grooming tool and a hooman that knows how to use it (snacks help too). Try out one of Petbay’s deshedding tools today! They’re effective and could be just what you’re after.
