Wondering how to minimize dog shedding?
We’ve got you covered!
Shedding is a natural process that all dogs go through when they lose their old or damaged hair.
However, some dogs shed more than others.
Breed, health, nutrition, and even season, can all affect the frequency and amount of hair that is shed.
Even though you can’t stop a dog from shedding, you can minimize it.
We can help you do it with a few useful tips. Don’t forget to take a look at this list: Top 7 Best Shed-Control Products.
Related: Is The FURminator Worth the Money?
How to Minimize Dog Shedding
Affiliate links included below. If you make a purchase, we earn a small commission.
1. Brush Your Dog Regularly
Regular brushing is the best way to remove all excess hair that your dog has and thus minimize shedding. This is especially important to do in fall and spring since that is the shedding season.
You should brush your dog twice a week, at least. If you have enough time, do it as often as you can.
If you have a dog that has a double coat, like Siberian Huskies, Corgis, Pomeranians or Shetland Sheepdogs, among many others, you need to use a special grooming tool designed for removing shedding hair.
2. Bathe Your Dog Often
Bathing your dog often will also help you get rid of excess hair. If your dog sheds a lot, bathe him at least two times a month.
However, you should brush your dog’s hair thoroughly before you give him a bath in order to remove as much hair as possible before you get your dog wet.
Use soothing shampoos and conditioners.
Oatmeal shampoos like this one are particularly effective.
Towel dry your dog first before you blow dry him after you give him a bath. When you blow dry his coat, use warm air option on your hair dryer, not hot.
Use a brush when your dog’s hair becomes a bit drier to remove any loose parts while you dry him. Keep drying and brushing until his coat is not wet anymore.
When you are done, brush your dog thoroughly one more time since a lot of hair will still come out at this stage.
This is a very important step if you don’t want to find that hair on your couch.
3. Think About Clipping
If your dog has a thick coat and sheds often, you should consider clipping him, especially if you live in a warm climate with hot summers.
Take your pooch to a professional groomer and ask him to shorten his coat. That will certainly reduce the shedding.
4. Change Your Dog’s Diet
If your dog is shedding a lot, his nutrition could be the reason for it.
Many dog foods, especially cheap ones, are made with a lot of fillers that have no nutritional value.
They are also hard to digest, making it a lot similar to human fast food.
It is much better to spend a bit more to buy healthy, nutritious food for your dog.
Avoid dog food that has a lot of corn and grains in it.
Make sure that meat is listed as the first ingredient, especially healthy protein sources like chicken, turkey, beef, lamb or fish, and not some unhealthy byproduct.
5. Use Supplements
Omega-3 fatty acids are good for the coat, so try to include these supplements in your dog’s diet.
You should talk to your vet about it since he can probably recommend the best supplements for your pooch, or you can choose this brand and order it online.
These acids reduce shedding, but they also contribute to healthy skin and have other health benefits.
6. Keep Your Pooch Hydrated
Make sure that your dog has constant access to clean water.
Even a mild dehydration can cause his skin to dry out, which in turn can cause your dog to shed more.
Give your dog moist treats or foods to help him stay hydrated.
7. Take Your Dog to the Vet
There are many health conditions that affect your dog’s coat or skin and cause excessive shedding.
Taking your dog to the vet regularly can help you find out if something is wrong early and get the appropriate treatment for the condition.
Schedule regular checkups with your vet, at least once a year, but preferably two times a year.
As your dog gets older, these regular checkups should become even more frequent.
Also, if your dog is shedding excessively and nothing seems to help, you should take him to the vet to make sure that he isn’t suffering from a skin infection, allergy or something more serious.
8. Keep Your Home Clean
As we said at the beginning, you can’t stop your pooch from shedding completely. That is why you should be as diligent as possible with dog’s hair in your house.
Vacuum your house often and try to remove newly shed hair often as well because it is much easier to do it before it gets tangled up in upholstery fabric.
You can also cover your furniture, and even car seats if your dog is often driving in it.
Upholstery is like a magnet for dog hair, so keep it covered unless you want to spend a lot of time getting the hair out.
With all these things, you can keep the shedding to a minimum and your house clean of dog hair.
