Dogs are our cute cuddle buddies.Caring for a dog takes effort, the same as a baby. You need to know all about your pet dog in detail.All breeds of dogs shed. It is a very natural process for them. Dog sheds can be seasonal or not but it is quite annoying. But, this is something you have to be prepared for when you keep a dog as a pet. If you get to know about this process in detail, then you can manage the mess it creates.Some breeds of dogs, like Newfoundlands, Labrador retrievers, and Pekingese, shed a lot of hair. While a few, like poodles, Dachshunds, and Border Terriers, appear to be shed less. There are certain reasons for dogs to shed this hair. There are ways to deal with this shedding, such as grooming and brushing on regular basis.Few dogs shed all year round, while a few shed only seasonally. Dogs with a thick coat tend to shed more than others. For a double-coated golden retriever, you will notice that there is shedding throughout the year.With dogs who shed seasonally, you will notice that dog shedding occurs in the spring and fall seasons. When the winter is gone, in the spring, you will see dog shedding in preparation for the summer ahead. While in the fall season you will notice that the hair texture changes in preparation for winter.For those dogs who shed quite often, you can brush them regularly. Brushing them more frequently in the shedding season helps so that you can manage the hair that falls on the floor. Even for those who do not shed, you need to brush them at regular intervals. Groom them well to keep your dog healthy and fit.If you enjoy this article, why not also read about why do dogs lick each other or why do dogs like to be pet here at Kidadl?When do dogs shed the most?Dog shedding season is in the fall and spring.Many breeds of dog shed the whole year round but a dog’s shedding increases in spring and fall. The summer coat of a dog is made of thin hair. So, these are shed off and thicker hair is grown in preparation for the winter season.A winter coat has thicker hair that will not be comfortable for summers, so, in the spring season, dogs’ shed to stay healthy.It is interesting to know that, through the whole year, dog hair that keeps falling year-round is dead hair. This is not avoidable. You can always try and manage it by grooming and brushing your dog regularly. For dogs like a double-coated golden retriever, you will notice shedding the whole year. They have so much hair growth that the dead hair is too much, so it keeps shedding throughout the year.When do dogs shed their puppy coat?A dog’s hair is shed mostly in the spring and fall seasons.Puppies are so cute and soft. So, when they start to grow, in this process, they lose their soft puppy coat. They lose this puppy coat between the age of 4-6 months. The time is different for different dog breeds. This may also happen after a dog reaches one year old. The Pomeranian breed may take up to two years before a puppy actually gets its adult coat or double coat. Dog shedding is common after that.It is interesting to know that you may not notice shedding in a short-hair breed. While, for the long hair breed, there is a time when the puppies are called uglies. Actually, they lose their cute soft hair and the top coat becomes ruffled, shaggy, patchy, and so on. When the adult coat comes in, they look good again. This transition time is a little tough on their cuteness factor. It is not in control of anyone, just time.What To Do When Dogs Shed ExcessivelyDog sheds happen in the spring season and fall season mostly to get a lighter coat.Dogs shed the whole year-round but you can expect excessive shedding in the fall and spring seasons. Dogs lose hair from their whole body. You cannot stop this natural process but you can manage it. Get the dog to a groomer regularly to maintain the length of the hair. Also, regular brushing is a must for keeping dead hair from falling here and there the whole day.If you notice that there is excessive hair loss and you find patches of red inflamed skin, you must contact a veterinarian. This could be related to an underlying problem.When puppies lose their puppy hair, they appear scruffy. You may also note that there is a change in the color of the dog’s coat. You must use a proper tool to get rid of the sheds.When do dogs shed their undercoat?Dogs shed during the change of seasons in spring and fall.You may not have known that dogs have a double coat. The undercoat is for warmth while what we see is the top coat. So, the shiny and cool look that a dog has is due to its good quality hair in the top coat. The undercoat is secondary hair. These grow under the top coat. Dogs shed this undercoat mainly to bear with summers after the winter season.If you want to be in control of the sheds of your pet, you can try out a method called de-shedding. First, consult with a veterinarian. There are special tools for this process. The tool must be good enough to reach the hairs that are low and below the upper coat. You can get these in a pet store close to you.A furminator is one such tool. It combs right through the top coat and reaches below to the hairs that sit there. They are pulled out and this can reduce sheds. Another tool is a de-shedding blade. It may look tedious, but it is very easy to use. This is generally used by the groomer to keep a dog’s coat at a good length.But, you must not de-shed a dog the whole year round; it may not be good for the health of your pet dog. There is different growth in different seasons. First, consult the veterinarian before you intervene in the natural process.Do dogs shed more when stressed?Seasonal heavy shedding for most dogs happens in the spring as well as the fall season. This is the time when a dog’s whole body loses hair.Yes, it is true that dogs shed more hair when they are under stress. They tend to shed more hair when they visit a vet or they have to perform a stunt. There is a release of adrenaline that causes this to happen.Apart from seasonal shedding, this is also a major problem you may have to deal with. You can learn ways to calm down your dog so that it is not anxious. This will help to lessen hair fall in your car or other places.To manage loose hair, you can use brushing. This will help to loosen the dead hair and make them fall in one place. You can clean this single place rather than get the dog’s hair around the whole house. This also affects the fur of the dog. The fur becomes shiny and soft.Dogs are often out in the open, so they tend to be affected by the weather. Even if you make clothes for them, they still have to deal with the winter with their body fur. Vice versa you may remove clothes in summer but the body has to stay cool in itself. This is when you may see them hang their tongue more often.It is very interesting to note that curly hair dogs tend to shed less than straight hair dogs. Actually, curly fur is warm for a dog, so you may groom it in the summers but let it be there for the dog in winters.Nature has its ways to take care of animals as well. We must just support that process and not hamper it. Do not cut the coat of your dog too small in the winter season. This can be bad for the health of your pet dog.When you keep a pet, you must be prepared to have dog hair on the floor. You can opt for a hairless breed. Then you can also go in for the lighter hair dogs. These are better as pets as there is less to clean up after them. Look for more articles about all the different breeds.The Chihuahua is the most popular hairless breed. Some of them have a little hair here and there. They vary in hair texture. The color may also vary, so decide on a breed of dog as a pet, keeping in mind that you will need to care for it.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for ‘When do dogs shed?’, then ‘Why not take a look at why do dogs scratch?’, or ‘Newfoundland dog facts’?
Dogs are our cute cuddle buddies.
