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Dog Hair Everywhere! Is It Normal That My Dog Sheds So Much More in the Springtime?

Seasonal shedding is a real thing.

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Dogs are woman’s best friends for a reason. They love unconditionally, give us comfort, and keep us laughing when we need it most. One thing they’re not known for, however, is their cleanliness. From muddy paws to shredded toys, pups tend to make messes. And they can make messes without even moving: Dogs may call that skill, but we call it shedding. Shedding dogs leave hair all over your floors and furniture on an average day… but in the springtime, it may get even worse. Is excessive seasonal dog shedding something to worry about? Keep reading to learn more, and find out how you can manage it. 

Why do dogs shed, anyway?

All dogs shed. That’s right, even the “non-shedding” breeds — they just shed less. They don’t do it to make a mess or keep vacuum companies in business. Shedding is simply a part of hair’s natural life cycle. It grows, it sheds, it grows again, and it sheds again. When you think about it like that, it doesn’t seem so different from the way human hair works. I don’t know about you, but I shed more than I’d like, too!

Why does my dog shed more in the spring?

If you’ve noticed more dog-hair-tumbleweeds rolling across your living room floor this season, you aren’t going crazy. Even though all dogs shed, not all dogs shed more seasonally. Excessive seasonal shedding is unique to double-coated dog breeds.

Breeds like Golden and Labrador Retrievers, Huskies, Corgis, Border Collies, Pomeranians, German and Australian Shepherds, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, all have double coats. This means that they have an undercoat of soft, fast-growing fur, and a coarser, longer topcoat. 

Seasonal weather changes will trigger double-coated dogs to shed to prepare for the upcoming season. This change, called “blowing coat,” happens in the spring and fall, and it lasts from two weeks to about a month. In the spring, double-coated dogs shed their dense undercoat to stay cool in the summer; in the fall, they shed their lighter summer coat to make way for a fresh, thick winter one. 

While blowing coat is an amazing phenomenon from a biological standpoint, it’s also a bit of a pain for dogs’ human roommates. Coat blow results in seemingly endless, thick, fuzzy clumps of fur floating around the house. And because so much hair is coming out at once, dogs experiencing coat blow can look unkempt and uneven, regardless of how well they’re groomed.

How To Help Your Pup Manage Excessive Springtime Shedding

Want to make blowing coat a little easier for your dog? Chances are, by the time they’re shedding like crazy, it’s already warm out. Fido is probably feeling hot, and is probably just as ready for coat blowing season to be over as you are. Here are some ways to expedite the process and keep your pup comfortable. 

Brush, brush, brush. 

Establish a regular brushing routine to help your dog through shedding season, recommends The Spruce Pets. Brushing, especially with special tools for shedders like the FURminator (Buy from Amazon, $15.47), makes the seasonal shed easier for both of you by expediting the process and getting those clumps of hair out in one fell swoop. It also helps distribute natural oils throughout your dog’s coat, keeping it healthy, and prevents matting, which can damage your dog’s skin. 

Whatever you do, don’t shave! 

Shaving all your dog’s fur off to stop the shedding altogether may sound tempting, but it’s ineffective, and even worse, not good for your dog. The pet pros at Fur-Ever Loved Pet Salon explain that a dog’s double coat helps with temperature regulation by keeping your pup warm in the winter, keeping UV rays from their skin in the summer, and insulating their bodies against all extremes. Shaving a double-coated dog can be harmful in multiple ways: 

  • It increases the risk of sunburn, skin cancer, and overheating
  • It reduces protection against insects and other biting pests
  • It permanently damages the coat, and may grow back patchy, coarse, or too thin

How To Help Yourself Manage Excessive Springtime Shedding

Even though you can’t look at your dog’s sweet face and be upset for long, the heaps of hair around your house are driving you up the wall. Yes, you can vacuum daily, but even that doesn’t seem to be enough. The hair keeps multiplying. Here are some ways to restore your sanity until seasonal shedding stops.

  • Tired of your couch being covered in more dog hair than fabric? Try rolls of tape, rubber gloves, and lint brushes to get clingy hair off soft surfaces like upholstery. 
  • Rake your carpet instead. Seriously. This soft-bristled broom has gone viral for getting pet hair out of the carpet better than a vacuum (Buy from Walmart, $32.46).
  • Get creative. If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. The dog lovers at My Brown Newfies say if you just can’t get rid of all the hair, and it’s free of chemicals like flea medications, you can use it in your yard as a deer deterrent, or set it out for birds to use as nesting material. You could also send it off to be processed and turned into mittens. Talk about recycling!

Is your dog going through shedding season? Don’t worry — even though the fur seems endless, it won’t last forever. 

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