Getting Ready for Dog Shedding

When you brought your dog Alexis home, did you realize how much she was going to litter your home with fur? Most likely not. No amount of research can prepare you for the flying fur that you get with a dog in the house. Unless you had the good fortune to select a dog with minimal to no shedding, you are probably fighting a daily battle against Alexis’s dust bunnies.

What’s With All the Shedding?

Alexis needs to shed her fur at different time of the year to adjust to changing conditions. Most likely she sheds most in the fall and spring. In the fall, she needs to make room for a thicker winter coat, while in the spring, she needs to ditch that coat and grow in a lighter one for summer.

Why Do Some Dogs Shed More Than Others?

There are two main types of coat that a dog can wear, which depends upon its breed.

If Alexis sheds a lot, chances are she has a double coat. The other option is a single coat. Double-coated dogs have a top coat and an undercoat. The undercoat protects them from cold or water or both and tends to fall out with the season. A single coat lacks that undercoat. Typically, these dogs shed less.

Double-coated breeds, and those that shed frequently include Shetland sheepdogs, German shepherds, huskies, akitas, labs, and golden retrievers. Some single-coated breeds shed a lot, while others only do so minimally. Examples of the former include Dalmatians, and pugs. Those that don’t shed very much are poodles, maltese, bichon frises, and shih tzus.

How Can I Stop the Madness?

If your adorable Alexis has the dreaded double coat and is creating a fur storm in your house, there are things you can do minimize the madness.

You cannot actually stop Alexis from shedding. Getting rid of her coat is a natural and necessary process, but you can stop the fur from hitting the floor by brushing her. There are numerous types of brushes and de-shedding tools on the market that you can use to manage Alexis’s fur. 

For the best results, try different types of brushes and decide which works best for you and Alexis. You can even try using a human hair brush or comb. A furminator is a great tool as well. If you never brush her, she will probably not be thrilled at the first few or several attempts. So, don’t give up on a brush if she immediately yelps and runs away. Try combining brushing with giving her a treat to form a positive association. If she just won’t sit still for a marathon brushing session, do a few strokes at intervals. The more brushing you can get in, the less fur you will need to pick up from the floor and furniture.

Also look into the type of food you give Alexis. Higher quality foods tend to produce a nicer coat that sheds less. Talk to your veterinarian about what type of food you might try and even supplements that might help.

How Do I Clean Up All The Fur I Missed?

If you have carpet, or even just for upholstery, you may want to consider investing in a really good vacuum cleaner. Having a nice vacuum that is designed to pick up pet hair can make a huge difference in the appearance of your carpet and couches. The same goes for the car, although you can also get seat covers to avoid the hassle of vacuuming out the seats.

If you have hard floors, you are familiar with the sight of Alexis’s fur collecting in the corners of your rooms, little dust puppies lurking around every turn. Invest in a good dusting mop for the floors. Get the biggest one you can find, as it will make the job go by much more quickly and easily.

Remember, Alexis can’t help ditching her fur. Don’t get frustrated with her, but do tackle the problem and take back your home.

Dog Shedding Prevention

Being a dog owner, one of the few issues you will have to face is Dog Shedding! Just about every kind of dog will shed, however you can opt to go with a completely hairless dog like the American Hairless Terrier. On the bright side, different dogs will shed at different rates, so your dog may either shed heavily or lightly. This all depends on quite a few factors, one being your dogs breed.

Two main reasons why Dog Shedding occurs are the actual temperate. For instance, during cool whether, the winter season dogs need as much fur as possible to keep themselves warm, and so little shedding happens during these months. However, when summer approaches, dogs tend to shed there hair as they no longer need it and it actually over heats them. Shedding the hair allows the dog to cool its body easier, as well as allow their skin to get air through it. If it is unable to shed hair and becomes overheated, it can at that point lead to dehydration.

The other main reason is that a dog just like any other animal, wants to get rid of the dead skin cells it is carrying around.

Humans lose dead skin cells on their face, fingernails and so on in order for the new to grow back in. On a dog however, fur can only go to a certain length dependent on the breed. They get rid of dead skin cells and in turn shed their hair; this allows newer hair to be grown back in. Once all the dead skin cells are removed, your dog is finally able to grown new fur back in for the new season of winter. This is quite similar to a life cycle, only with hair!

Few breeds of dog have an interesting characteristic; these dogs are mainly found in colder areas and have a double coat of fur. The fur belief the upper fur is soft; however the top fur is generally harder and not as ‘silky’.

The main reason for the second coat of fur is to make sure the dog is protected from freezing whether and ice/snow. Siberian Huskies are a prime example of this; they shed quite a lot at a time and do it regularly!

Other dogs however cause further problems, they don’t just shed in summer and autumn, they shed all year round! These dogs are usually domestic. They are used to the warmness of a house and so don’t need extra fur to keep them warm. The biggest cause of a domestic dog shedding is caused by different whether of the house on the inside and out. For example, a dog is usually suited to it being warm inside the house during winter, however if it goes outside it needs to try and get its body temperature at a normal rate. This causes the dog to shed more than anything.

Espree’s Simple Shed Programs with hellp maintain your pet healthy coat and keep your dogs shedding under control.

Nine Non-Shedding Dogs

Bo Obama, the 6-month old Portuguese Water Dog recently adopted by the First Family, was selected in-part for his hypo-allergenic fur. Bo’s adoption created new-found interest in a group of dogs known for their non-shedding fur. Following is a list of nine other non-shedding dogs and their basic characteristics.

1. Maltese – Maltese a dog in the toy group is a breed known for its long, white, fine fur. This coat is uncharacteristic of most non-shedding dogs that have course, curly hair. The Maltese coat requires regular grooming because of its tendency to matte.

2. Bedlington Terrier – Bedlington Terriers are bright, clownish characters that love their families and being the center of attention. Their coat is soft and requires little maintenance.

3. Irish Water Spaniel – The Irish Water Spaniel (IWS) is considered to be the clown of the spaniel family.

Bred for accompanying bird hunters, the Irish water Spaniel has a dense, double coat. The inner coat consists of thick ringlets covered by the long and wavy outer coat. This coat requires brushing every 2-3 weeks and needs an all-over trim every few months.

4. Chinese Crested – The Chinese Crested comes in two varieties, the Powder Puff which has hair on its head, feet, and tail and the Hairless, which as the name suggests, has no hair. The Crested has soft, smooth skin that is more prone to irritation and sunburn. They are recommended by the American Kennel Club for people with dog allergies. They are alert and good with children.

5. Labradoodle – One of the most popular of the “designer breeds”, the Labradoodle is a cross between a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle.

The coat of these hybrid animals varies from animal to animal but generally those that most resemble Poodles are safe for allergy sufferers.

6. Schnauzer (Miniature, Standard, and Giant) – Schnauzers are energetic, intelligent dogs of the Terrier group. Although the three size varieties are unique and separate breeds, all are double-coated with a wiry topcoat and a soft undercoat. The topcoat can be maintained with regular clipper-trims or by a method called hand-stripping which helps to preserve the wiry-nature of the fur.

7. Poodle (Toy, Miniature, Standard) – Similar to Schnauzers, Poodles come in three size varieties. The dense, curly coat of all three sizes requires regular professional grooming. Poodles were originally bred to accompany hunters and still maintain that high activity level. As such, they need rigorous, daily exercise and intellectual stimulation.

8. Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier – The Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier is prized for its soft, wavy, wheat-colored, non-allergenic coat. The Wheaton coat requires minimal but regular maintenance. Wheaton’s are less headstrong than most terrier breeds but they require daily exercise to maintain their role as an endearing family pet.

9. Bichon Frise – The Bichon Frise is a cheerful, sturdy little dog. It has a thick double coat that consists of a curly outer coat and a silky inner coat. The Bichons hair grows continually and he does not shed so he requires frequent brushing to prevent it from matting. While no dog is 100 percent hypoallergenic, all of the breeds listed above have non-shedding coats, which produce less skin dander, the cause of most allergies symptoms.

Best Cures For Dogs Shedding Hair

Do you find that your pet dog seems to shed hair all over?  Is your home constantly becoming messy with dog hair on the stairs, flooring, carpets, and furniture?  This is a sure sign that your dog has a shedding problem, and it only adds more work to your usual housework. Some dogs shed a lot more than others, greatly increasing the amounts of hair you find all over your home.  Read on to find out some of the best ways to cure your dog’s hair shedding problem.

Dogs commonly shed in springtime but it can be a year round issue.  Dog’s shed their hair naturally, so there’s no way to prevent it from falling out, other than completely shaving your dog!  While a clean shaven dog will shed less and have less fleas, that’s probably not suitable for your pet or the look you want it to have.  The best cure for a dog shedding hair constantly is to brush their coats out on a regular basis.  Regular grooming is the real key to get control of your dog’s shedding issues.  It’s best for you to personally remove that hair before it falls off everywhere else.  Some pet dog owners must really keep on top of brushing their dog.  In the cases of dogs that shed a lot, a brushing daily will greatly help you cut down on the shedding issue.

In addition to brushing, considering using a special shampoo that is properly PH balanced for dogs.  Also, make sure you’re using warm water rather than cold or hot water when you wash your dog.  Beyond just bathing and brushing your dog, you can pick up some great tools to really reduce shedding such as special brushes and rakes designed to cut down your dog’s shedding.  One particularly useful and recommended tool is the Furminator deshedding tool.  No matter what tool you might choose though, you’ll probably want to make brushing your dog a daily habit.

You can also try some natural cures for dog shedding such as giving them small amounts of olive oil or even Omega 3 fatty acid supplements.  These will help to condition the dog’s skin properly to make their coat’s shiny and healthy, reducing shedding of hair.  Keep in mind that if your dog is continually experiencing large amounts of shedding, and even bald spots, it may be a sign of a more serious physical problem including skin infection, stress, ringworm or cancer.  In these instances take your dog to the local veterinarian if you suspect they have an issue beyond just shedding or hair loss.

Getting Ready for Dog Shedding

When you brought your dog Alexis home, did you realize how much she was going to litter your home with fur? Most likely not. No amount of research can prepare you for the flying fur that you get with a dog in the house. Unless you had the good fortune to select a dog with minimal to no shedding, you are probably fighting a daily battle against Alexis’s dust bunnies.

What’s With All the Shedding?

Alexis needs to shed her fur at different time of the year to adjust to changing conditions. Most likely she sheds most in the fall and spring. In the fall, she needs to make room for a thicker winter coat, while in the spring, she needs to ditch that coat and grow in a lighter one for summer.

Why Do Some Dogs Shed More Than Others?

There are two main types of coat that a dog can wear, which depends upon its breed.

If Alexis sheds a lot, chances are she has a double coat. The other option is a single coat. Double-coated dogs have a top coat and an undercoat. The undercoat protects them from cold or water or both and tends to fall out with the season. A single coat lacks that undercoat. Typically, these dogs shed less.

Double-coated breeds, and those that shed frequently include Shetland sheepdogs, German shepherds, huskies, akitas, labs, and golden retrievers. Some single-coated breeds shed a lot, while others only do so minimally. Examples of the former include Dalmatians, and pugs. Those that don’t shed very much are poodles, maltese, bichon frises, and shih tzus.

How Can I Stop the Madness?

If your adorable Alexis has the dreaded double coat and is creating a fur storm in your house, there are things you can do minimize the madness.

You cannot actually stop Alexis from shedding. Getting rid of her coat is a natural and necessary process, but you can stop the fur from hitting the floor by brushing her. There are numerous types of brushes and de-shedding tools on the market that you can use to manage Alexis’s fur. 

For the best results, try different types of brushes and decide which works best for you and Alexis. You can even try using a human hair brush or comb. A furminator is a great tool as well. If you never brush her, she will probably not be thrilled at the first few or several attempts. So, don’t give up on a brush if she immediately yelps and runs away. Try combining brushing with giving her a treat to form a positive association. If she just won’t sit still for a marathon brushing session, do a few strokes at intervals. The more brushing you can get in, the less fur you will need to pick up from the floor and furniture.

Also look into the type of food you give Alexis. Higher quality foods tend to produce a nicer coat that sheds less. Talk to your veterinarian about what type of food you might try and even supplements that might help.

How Do I Clean Up All The Fur I Missed?

If you have carpet, or even just for upholstery, you may want to consider investing in a really good vacuum cleaner. Having a nice vacuum that is designed to pick up pet hair can make a huge difference in the appearance of your carpet and couches. The same goes for the car, although you can also get seat covers to avoid the hassle of vacuuming out the seats.

If you have hard floors, you are familiar with the sight of Alexis’s fur collecting in the corners of your rooms, little dust puppies lurking around every turn. Invest in a good dusting mop for the floors. Get the biggest one you can find, as it will make the job go by much more quickly and easily.

Remember, Alexis can’t help ditching her fur. Don’t get frustrated with her, but do tackle the problem and take back your home.

Help! My Dog is Shedding Like Crazy!

It’s shedding season, and all of you with dogs that shed know it, because there is dog hair everywhere in your home! It seems to happen suddenly and with no warning. You find yourself vacuuming and sweeping up after your dog nonstop, with no end in sight. So what can you do? Well first lets talk about why and when your dog sheds. Then we’ll talk about how you can manage it.

Why a Dog Sheds

You all know the most common reason for shedding, and that’s when your dog’s sheds his/her heavy winter coat in the spring. There are a few other reasons dogs shed:

Adult females that are unaltered shed when in heat.
Puppies shed their puppy coat for their adult coat.
Stress. Yes, just as humans can lose hair when stressed, so too, do dogs.
Dry skin or a damaged coat. Dogs that are bathed frequently or with a heavy detergent-based shampoo may get dried out and lose the natural fatty acids that help maintain a healthy and conditioned coat.
Dogs with a medical condition, such as sarcoptic mange or a yeast infection will lose hair.

Keeping Your Dogs Shedding in Check

Lets focus on the common causes of shedding, as they are can all be treated at home using similar methods without the aid of a vet or dog groomer.

Keep in mind that seasonal shedding cannot be eliminated – it’s a natural process that no drug or treatment can stop. But you can do a few things to keep it to a minimum so that you and your dog can live harmoniously during his/her shedding period.
Mark your calendar! Shedding is much easier to control when you know its coming and you are prepared. Think of it like preparing for any season. A snowstorm is much less stressful if you’ve got everything you need should you be snowed in, right? So start checking for the signs of shedding by giving your pup a good coat rub. You will know by the amount of fall out that the glorious season of shedding has begun.
Carve time out everyday to brush your dogs coat. 5 minutes or less should do it for most dogs. Concentrate on the back, sides, chest and particularly the hindquarters. No time for brushing? Give your kids (or the neighborhood kids) an incentive by giving them extra Xbox or TV time for the one who can brush out the most hair. But by all means, do it outdoors – after all, its the indoor hair that’s driving you nuts!
Use the proper brush. A bristle brush is not going to do much good on a dog with an undercoat. Bristle brushes are best for use on short coats. Use a coat rake on really long coats (but be careful of the pressure you use), or a pin head brush (your dog groomer can recommend one that will work best on your dog’s coat).
Give your dog a good massage using a rubber curry brush at least once a week. The rubbing will not only relax your dog, it will remove a lot of the hair without the risk of over-brushing and damaging the skin.
Bath and condition your dogs coat once a week before and during shedding season. Note: be sure to use a conditioning shampoo in addition to a conditioning treatment following the shampoo. Those that are best are the ones that contain Omega3 and 6 Fatty acids. There are also supplements on the market that can be added to your dogs food that contain these acids and vitamins A and E are good for promoting a healthy coat.
Use a de-shedding treatment. There are many on the market that make it easier remove dead hair.
Step up your visits to the groomer. If you don’t have time to bath & brush your dog, cutting the coat very short will lesson a lot of the shedding. Your groomer can also provide a good de-shedding treatment along with your regular groom at a minimal charge.

Nine Non-Shedding Dogs

Bo Obama, the 6-month old Portuguese Water Dog recently adopted by the First Family, was selected in-part for his hypo-allergenic fur. Bo’s adoption created new-found interest in a group of dogs known for their non-shedding fur. Following is a list of nine other non-shedding dogs and their basic characteristics.

1. Maltese – Maltese a dog in the toy group is a breed known for its long, white, fine fur. This coat is uncharacteristic of most non-shedding dogs that have course, curly hair. The Maltese coat requires regular grooming because of its tendency to matte.

2. Bedlington Terrier – Bedlington Terriers are bright, clownish characters that love their families and being the center of attention. Their coat is soft and requires little maintenance.

3. Irish Water Spaniel – The Irish Water Spaniel (IWS) is considered to be the clown of the spaniel family.

Bred for accompanying bird hunters, the Irish water Spaniel has a dense, double coat. The inner coat consists of thick ringlets covered by the long and wavy outer coat. This coat requires brushing every 2-3 weeks and needs an all-over trim every few months.

4. Chinese Crested – The Chinese Crested comes in two varieties, the Powder Puff which has hair on its head, feet, and tail and the Hairless, which as the name suggests, has no hair. The Crested has soft, smooth skin that is more prone to irritation and sunburn. They are recommended by the American Kennel Club for people with dog allergies. They are alert and good with children.

5. Labradoodle – One of the most popular of the “designer breeds”, the Labradoodle is a cross between a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle.

The coat of these hybrid animals varies from animal to animal but generally those that most resemble Poodles are safe for allergy sufferers.

6. Schnauzer (Miniature, Standard, and Giant) – Schnauzers are energetic, intelligent dogs of the Terrier group. Although the three size varieties are unique and separate breeds, all are double-coated with a wiry topcoat and a soft undercoat. The topcoat can be maintained with regular clipper-trims or by a method called hand-stripping which helps to preserve the wiry-nature of the fur.

7. Poodle (Toy, Miniature, Standard) – Similar to Schnauzers, Poodles come in three size varieties. The dense, curly coat of all three sizes requires regular professional grooming. Poodles were originally bred to accompany hunters and still maintain that high activity level. As such, they need rigorous, daily exercise and intellectual stimulation.

8. Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier – The Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier is prized for its soft, wavy, wheat-colored, non-allergenic coat. The Wheaton coat requires minimal but regular maintenance. Wheaton’s are less headstrong than most terrier breeds but they require daily exercise to maintain their role as an endearing family pet.

9. Bichon Frise – The Bichon Frise is a cheerful, sturdy little dog. It has a thick double coat that consists of a curly outer coat and a silky inner coat. The Bichons hair grows continually and he does not shed so he requires frequent brushing to prevent it from matting. While no dog is 100 percent hypoallergenic, all of the breeds listed above have non-shedding coats, which produce less skin dander, the cause of most allergies symptoms.

Related Help With Dog Shedding Articles

Dog Shedding Prevention

Being a dog owner, one of the few issues you will have to face is Dog Shedding! Just about every kind of dog will shed, however you can opt to go with a completely hairless dog like the American Hairless Terrier. On the bright side, different dogs will shed at different rates, so your dog may either shed heavily or lightly. This all depends on quite a few factors, one being your dogs breed.

Two main reasons why Dog Shedding occurs are the actual temperate. For instance, during cool whether, the winter season dogs need as much fur as possible to keep themselves warm, and so little shedding happens during these months. However, when summer approaches, dogs tend to shed there hair as they no longer need it and it actually over heats them. Shedding the hair allows the dog to cool its body easier, as well as allow their skin to get air through it. If it is unable to shed hair and becomes overheated, it can at that point lead to dehydration.

The other main reason is that a dog just like any other animal, wants to get rid of the dead skin cells it is carrying around.

Humans lose dead skin cells on their face, fingernails and so on in order for the new to grow back in. On a dog however, fur can only go to a certain length dependent on the breed. They get rid of dead skin cells and in turn shed their hair; this allows newer hair to be grown back in. Once all the dead skin cells are removed, your dog is finally able to grown new fur back in for the new season of winter. This is quite similar to a life cycle, only with hair!

Few breeds of dog have an interesting characteristic; these dogs are mainly found in colder areas and have a double coat of fur. The fur belief the upper fur is soft; however the top fur is generally harder and not as ‘silky’.

The main reason for the second coat of fur is to make sure the dog is protected from freezing whether and ice/snow. Siberian Huskies are a prime example of this; they shed quite a lot at a time and do it regularly!

Other dogs however cause further problems, they don’t just shed in summer and autumn, they shed all year round! These dogs are usually domestic. They are used to the warmness of a house and so don’t need extra fur to keep them warm. The biggest cause of a domestic dog shedding is caused by different whether of the house on the inside and out. For example, a dog is usually suited to it being warm inside the house during winter, however if it goes outside it needs to try and get its body temperature at a normal rate. This causes the dog to shed more than anything.

This video is an instructional one about the need to groom even smooth coated breeds such as Lola the Rottweiler / Bulldog mix. Now usually these breeds will shed lightly all year(depending on diet) and dump coat in fall and spring and also at times of unusual warm weather such as Alberta has been having this Feb. This Girl was just done last month, but it has been warm/cold/warm/cold and that causes more shedding. The tool used on her is a Kong Zoom Groom, specifically the kitty version. We also use Furminator tool and product. Just think! all that hair in your house!!!!!!
Video Rating: 5 / 5

Sheds – The Amazing Versatility of Storage Sheds

If you own your own home – particularly if you don’t have a garage – then you know that a storage shed is almost essential. Most people use their sheds to store lawnmowers and other outdoor equipment, but storage sheds are used put to a wide variety of uses. They can be pretty much whatever you want or need them to be. Here are some of the great ways you can use storage sheds.

Right behind storage in terms of popularity is the use of a shed as a workshop. If you do wood working, metal working, pottery, or other crafts where you need room for your tools, equipment, and supplies, then a storage shed is tops.

Some people use storage sheds as playhouses for kids. With a little paint, maybe some shutters, and some basic landscaping, you may find yourself jealous of their little hideout. And once your children outgrow it, it can easily turn into storage space, or even a guest room.

People with pools will often have customized storage sheds made for use as pool houses.

They’re perfect for storing pool chemicals, pool toys, and accessories, and deck furniture.

A storage shed with generous shelving and skylights can become a very handy potting garden shed for those who love gardening. If it’s large enough, it can also serve as storage for gardening tools.

Storage sheds work great for keeping your firewood dry – a necessity for those who heat their houses with wood stoves in the winter. People with vintage cars that are only taken out a few times a year find storage sheds (fitted with large doors) to be the perfect storage solution.

They can also make terrific mini-barns for your menagerie. They can be divided up as kennels, and with some kennel fencing, can be a great way to give your dogs indoor and outdoor space. Urban and suburban homesteaders find that generously sized storage sheds can be used not only for dogs, but also for goats, llamas, alpacas, and emus. A small storage shed with strategically placed shelving makes a terrific chicken coop, particularly if you get one with a floor that can be easily hosed off.

If you upgrade the framing, put in some insulation and wall coverings, pop in a heat / air conditioning unit, you can turn a backyard storage shed into a home office and get your dining room (or guest room) back.

Some people use storage sheds on their hunting property either as duck blinds or, when upgraded with bunks and a wood stove, as a rustic camping cabin.

If you plan to use your storage shed for storage, consider having two sets of doors, particularly with a larger shed. No doubt the item you want to retrieve will be behind other stuff, and if you have two access points, you’ll make it easier to get to.

And don’t forget, if you plan to store propane for your grill, paint, turpentine, or other flammable things, make sure you provide plenty of ventilation in the form of ridge vents and end vents. These will greatly increase air circulation inside the structure.

AMAZING! Reduce shed fur by up to 90%! Available at www.shedmonster.com.
Video Rating: 4 / 5