Why do dogs shed?

We all love our dogs. But ask any pet-parent, and they will tell you what they don’t like- picking dog hair out of their food, floor, clothes…pretty much everywhere!  Shedding is a never ending battle but we are happy to continue to fight since we love our furry friends.  So, why do pets shed?

Shedding is part of a dogs natural cycle. Many breeds have  seasonal shedding in the spring, as they lose their winter coats. If your dog is an indoor pet, he or she may not be outside enough to register the change of season, and as a result, they shed year round.

How do you take care of this pesky problem? Being proactive is always the best approach. Make sure to groom your pet regularly. The more hair you remove with a brush, the less hair will be found around the house. Make brushing your dog a fun, “bonding” activity and your dog will grow to enjoy it too!

Dogs may shed for other reasons too. An abnormal amount of shedding can be the result of more serious issues such as ringworm, skin infections, stress, and mange! Your dogs coat should not get thinner as he or she gets older, so if you see that happening, make sure to bring him or her to the vet ASAP.

Here is a list of some dogs that do a lot of shedding:

• Golden Retriever

• German Shepherd

• Collie

• Great Pyrenees

• Sheltie

• Dalmatian

• Beagle

• Labrador Retriever

• Rottweiler

• Husky

And here is the list of Non-shedding Doggies:

• West highland terrier

• Chinese crested

• American hairless terrier

• Redbone coonhound

• Havanese

• Portuguese Water Dog

• Bichon frise

• Poodle

• Barbet