5 Tips To Reduce Shedding

Dog hair everywhere? Do you feel like you’re vacuuming unending tumbleweeds? There are dog owners everywhere that can sympathize with you so we wanted to provide you with a few tips that can help cut down on the flying fur!

1. Brushing, Brushing, Brushing!

If the fur is outdoors (or in a bag, or in the tub…), less will be on your floors and furniture! While there is not one single brush that will work for every dog, we highly recommend the Furminator line of deshedding tools. With the amount of fur you remove from your pet, you’ll think you made a new one! Another great tool is the Kong Zoom and Groom – it’s a rubber brush that seems like it almost has magnetic properties when it comes to hair! Work it in circles around your dog’s coat and he’ll feel like he’s getting a massage. Remember, grooming is also a bonding and relaxing experience for most dogs. Keep it pleasant and low pressure and provide lots of treats for dogs that aren’t used to the process.

2. Mega Omegas!

Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are extremely useful in improving your dog’s skin and coat health. While many dog foods claim to supplement their formulas with these already, the amounts are usually negligible. Omega -3’s include Alpha-liolenic acid (ALA), Elcosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), Omega-6’s include: Linoleic acid (LA), Gamma lionlenic acid (GLA), Dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA) and Arachidonic acid (AA). High Quality fish oils and premium canine skin supplements should contain a combination of both Omega-3’s and 6’s. Dogs usually find these extremely palatable and you’ll start to see a difference in 4-6 weeks (though you need to continue supplementation to keep up the improvement!).

3. Diet Matters

If your dog is eating a food with “junk” ingredients (corn, wheat, soy or byproducts), it’s likely that some of the excess fur is due to his diet. Think about switching him to a premium food (the first ingredient should be a protein, not a grain) and you’ll not only see improvement in his coat, but you’ll have to feed less as well! If you’re really feeling ambitious you may want to check out our articles on raw feeding!

4. See The Doc

Canine allergies can manifest in a number of ways, but often they are seen as skin irritations. Keeping up with regular veterinary checkups will help keep you aware of any underlying issues your pet may be experiencing that could contribute to the shedding issues.

5. Get A Good Vacuum!

No matter how many tips we can give you, your dog is still going to shed (but hopefully not as much). So our final tip is to invest in a good vacuum if you have a dog that sheds a great deal. While many of the companies are aiming their marketing at dog owners, we’ve found that the Dyson stands up exceptionally well to heavy dog hair pickup (and it’s lasted for years). We know there are other models out there that can live up to the job as well, so just make sure you choose one that will make the process as easy as possible and won’t have you sweating away as you wrestle with the vac!