Spring is here, and the hot summer months are not far behind. It’s time to help your favorite canine shed their winter coat. Dogs shed their winter coat naturally over time, but it’s good to help them with the process. Most likely, if you have a dog, you know all about shedding. You can help reduce hairballs and fur all over the house and do your dog a big favor by helping them shed their winter coat.

If you aren’t sure what to do to help speed up this process, we will give you a guide on how to help your dog shed their winter coat.

 

Help Your Dog Shed Their Winter Coat By Brushing Them

As soon as your dog begins to molt, it is time to take up daily combing and brushing. Molting is when your dogs’ fur begins to start falling off of them. If you were to pull some hair off your dog, it would come off in big clumps.

Molting is a natural process that a dog goes through. It is either seasonal or cyclical. Some dogs shed more than others due to their coat type. Some dogs don’t shed at all! If you have an active dog is very important to help them with the shedding process, or they could quickly overheat. 

You would never go for a run in the spring or summer with your winter coat on. and it’s no different for your active dog, but they need help taking that coat off.

You can grab a brush from your local pet supply store to groom your dog at home. The most popular brush that many pet owners reach for is a Furminator. The Furminator comes in many different styles and types. There are brushes for de-shedding and others to brush out your dog to prevent matting and keep your dog’s fur in place. 

 

Be Cautious When Your Dog’s Fur Becomes Matted

If you have a dog like a Golden Doodle, you know that they require regular grooming to keep their fur in good condition. If you don’t groom your dog regularly, there is potential for their fur to become matted and tangled. When fur becomes matted and tangled, it is harder to brush out your dog. You can use a conditioning spray to help soften your dog’s fur and then brush it out. Without conditioning the hair first, you can make grooming painful for your pet. 

If you find the matting has gotten out of control, always call your groomer for help. They have the proper tools to deal with these problems and do it in the most comfortable way for your dog. 

Get Rid of Your Dog’s Undercoat

Some dogs have two coats of fur. A double coat protects your dog from both the cold and the heat. Some examples of double-coated breeds are: 

• Golden and Labrador Retrievers
• German and Australian Shepherds
• Pomeranians
• Siberian Huskies
• Great Pyrenees
• Chows
• Border Collies
• Newfoundlands
• Corgis
• Cavalier King Charles

You may be tempted to shave your dog down in the summer months in an effort to keep them cool. However, you can end up making them very uncomfortable and ruining their undercoat when it tries to grow back. Dogs need their undercoat in order to protect them from the snow and the harmful UV rays from the sun. 

Grooming is something your dog should enjoy and look forward to! Don’t ever brush your dog too hard during regular at-home grooming. You need to keep the experience positive and pleasant for your pet. As long as you bathe and brush your dog out regularly, you can maintain their double coat and keep them comfortable all year round. 

 

Try a Shed Control Shampoo

Deshedding shampoos claim to restore coat health and alleviate excess shedding. Since many of these shampoos contain omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids, which are known to reduce excess shedding in dogs, they will be effective. 

Deshedding shampoos should not take the place of regular brushing. You still need to brush your dog regularly to prevent matting and tangles. 

You may give your dog a fish oil pill containing omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids as an alternative to regular baths. A healthy dog can have up to 150 pounds of omega-3 fatty acids per day per 10 pounds of body weight. High-quality dog foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids also alleviate excess shedding.

You can save yourself plenty in grooming costs by taking up these grooming practices. You will be amazed as fist fulls of fur are easily removed. Also, instead of throwing away all of your pets’ excess hair, leave some of it on the ground. The spring birds will use it to construct their nests and help their spring babies stay comfy on cool spring nights. 

Enjoy a happy, CONTENT pet this spring and summer.