With most dogs, it’s a fact of life: Man’s best friend sheds—sometimes a lot. I know from experience. I have a corgi, one of the most prolifically shedding breeds, and we constantly have to keep up with the hair that lands around our house in tumbleweeds.
“Dogs can shed or lose their hair for many reasons,” says Dr. Rose Miller, founder and board-certified veterinary dermatologist at Thrive Pet Healthcare’s Dermatology for Animals in Liberty Lake, Washington. “Some of the most common causes include seasonal changes, hormonal changes and imbalances, environmental allergies, food allergies, external parasites, autoimmune diseases, and skin cancer.”
And although there can certainly be a cause, most dogs just shed, no matter what.
While it can be easy to overlook shedding because of the love we have for our dogs, it can become problematic if you can’t keep up with the cleaning or if you have a loved one or friend who’s allergic to dogs. That’s why it can help to learn more about shedding and the best ways to manage it.
Even though it might seem as if shedding is a mountain that you simply can’t stay on top of, no matter what you do, managing it is more straightforward than you think. It’s actually all about consistency.
Miller says that weekly to monthly consistent grooming will greatly reduce shedding. That includes regular bathing and possibly trimming and brushing your dog’s coat. Tools designed to clean up shedding, such as vacuums effective on pet hair, washable couch covers, and rubber scrapers, can also help keep your home clean.
Lessening your dog’s shedding offers benefits beyond keeping your clothes and couch fur-free.
“Managing your dog’s shedding will help you keep your pet healthy because you will be able to evaluate their skin and hair coat for any abnormalities,” Miller points out. “Also, if mats develop in your dog's hair coat, they can irritate the skin and eventually cause discomfort if not removed.”
With that said, Miller says that if you feel like your dog is shedding more than normal, especially if you see bald patches, you should contact your veterinarian for an evaluation.
Miller says that dogs can shed more during seasonal changes, for example, in the spring and fall. Some dog breeds also consistently shed year-round.
How do you know if your dog is shedding a normal amount, or if too much fur is flying? “Dogs with excessive shedding will typically develop bald (alopecic) patches,” Miller notes. “However, if the amount of shedding has greatly increased with your pet, this can be abnormal and should be discussed with your veterinarian.”
As I mentioned, corgis indeed shed heavily (thanks to their double coats). Other dog breeds are also notorious for shedding quite a bit.
For instance, Miller says that Arctic breeds often shed more than other breeds. “Commonly owned Arctic breeds include Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes,” she says. Their heavy coats help keep them warm in freezing temperatures but can make a mess when it comes to shedding.
In addition, Miller says Labrador retrievers and German shepherds are common breeds that shed a lot.
Conversely, hypoallergenic dog breeds like poodles or bichons frises are known for being low-shedding—and hairless dogs like the American hairless terrier have next to nothing to shed at all!
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