All the people who fortunately can enjoy the company of one or several dogs, we know what the change of hair means in certain seasons. Not that it is really a big problem, but it is advisable to follow certain tips to make the move more bearable and prevent the floor of our home from looking like a carpet.
Index of contents
- 1 How many times does a dog shed its hair?
- 2 What should I do when my dog is shedding hair?
- 3 How should I brush my puppy?
How many times does a dog shed its hair?
At general levels, dogs make two notable molts throughout the year, these molts usually coincide with the change of time. So with few exceptions, the most notable changes are made in spring and autumn.
Dogs shed their hair in the spring to get rid of excess hair and prepare for the summer heat. In this way they can better withstand the high summer temperatures being cooler. Some breeds need to go to the dog groomer in spring and summer, don’t forget.
In the opposite, the opposite happens, the dogs loose / pull the fine hair they took out in the spring to replace it with a more compact and cold-resistant coat. In this way they can better withstand the ideal cold temperatures.
Those are the two most powerful molts a dog makes throughout the year, but that doesn’t mean they are the only ones. The change of hair in dogs can occur throughout the year, they regenerate their coat little by little, with less intensity than in the previously mentioned seasons, but continuously.
In addition, the dogs that live inside the houses, with their humans, tend to throw more hair even since inside the house they are warm thanks to the heating, something that causes a great contrast with the outside if we are in winter. This causes the dog’s hair regeneration system to go “a little crazy” and continually shed hair.
What should I do when my dog is shedding hair?
There are a series of steps to follow to make the change of hair in dogs more bearable both for the dog and for you. The molt can last a few weeks or a few months…. depending on each dog and the weather conditions, so the main thing is to be patient and then follow these steps:
- Keep your house clean: A good vacuum cleaner is our best ally. During the period of hair shedding, it is necessary to vacuum our house daily, to eliminate the hair that our dog has thrown away and maintain an acceptable hygienic state. We all know that excess hair can lead to different types of allergies, so we must keep the home clean.
- Brush your dog daily: A daily brushing is essential to remove the dead hair from our dog. We recommend doing it during the walk, away from home, to prevent hair residues from spreading throughout our home. Remember that not all brushes are the same, there are brushes for dogs with long, short, hard, soft hair, etc … You must choose the most appropriate one or consult your vet.
- Bathe your puppy more frequently: To help you get rid of dead hair, we can bathe our dog a little more frequently than usual, for example once a week during hair shedding. Before bathing we should brush it, and after the bath when it is dry (or the next day) brush it again.
- Feed it with Omega fatty acids: They are very beneficial for any healthy dog and will also add extra shine to your dog’s hair. Dogs fed these beneficial fatty acids shed less hair on their molts and are shorter. Salmon oil is an excellent supplement rich in beneficial Omega fatty acids, we can add a little once a day to your food.
- If you have rashes or bald spots, go to the vet: Many times we confuse a health problem with an allergy or illness. There are many diseases and allergies that cause the hair loss of the dog, if your dog throws more hair than usual in the molts, if he has hairless areas, skin rashes or something that could make you suspect that he is sick…. do not hesitate to consult your vet.
How should I brush my puppy?
There is only one way to properly brush a puppy, if you do it wrong you can damage its skin, irritate it and hurt it. Just follow these steps and your puppy will thank you for brushing. Remember that the change of hair in dogs is something completely natural, so do not despair if it seems to never end.
- Buy a brush suitable for your dog We insist that not all brushes are valid. Each dog has a different hair type and therefore needs a different brush. If you use the wrong brush, not only will you not brush it well, but you can also hurt it.
- Always brush it gently and in the direction of the hair Do not brush against the grain or press the brush too hard. It is not necessary to leave the dog bald … it is only necessary to eliminate the dead excess hair, not to pluck the live hair that remains.
- Pamper your dog while you brush him and give him a treat later, this way your dog will want you to brush it every day. Say nice things to her, sing to her, give yourself while you brush to create a positive atmosphere, which is known as positive reinforcement in dogs. Once you finish brushing, give him a prize (a cookie breaks dogs for example) and congratulate him for allowing himself to brush.
- Always brush after walking and playing When a puppy leaves the house he wants to relieve himself, smell things, play…. Let it vent and before you go home, brush it. This is the best time for you to be calmer.
- Once a day is enough Do not think that by brushing it ten times on the same day your move will end sooner…. hair loss has its progress … you cannot speed it up in any way. Once a day is more than enough when you are moving, and once a week the rest of the year.
And that’s it, hair shedding is a natural process in all dogs (or at least in most). There are some breeds that loose very little or do not loose, but they are few and unless we want that particular breed for some other reason, that a dog will lose hair should not condition us at all.
Just be patient, follow the tips explained and enjoy your puppy the way you always do. Remember that there are people who wear brand clothes and people who wear clothes with hairs lol, we have always preferred and will continue to prefer wearing clothes with hairs 😉