You adopted a rescued Black Lab from the local shelter six weeks ago, and she is the sweetest, smartest, most affectionate dog you've ever owned. Unfortunately, she also sheds more than the other three dogs you've owned combined. You have never seen so much fur. There is black fur everywhere. You are vacuuming every day and still not keeping up.
You recognize, of course, that part of the problem is that it's spring, the previous owner kept her chained up outside over the winter, and she's shedding her winter coat. A friend told you last week, though, that labs are heavy shedders even at the best of times. Clearly you are going to need some strategies.
## Restricted bathing schedules
There is a natural inclination to want to step-up a shedding dog's bathing schedule but this, in fact, is not generally a good idea. Too much bathing and shampooing can strip the naturally occurring oil from your dog's skin and actually increase shedding. The truth is that a healthy dog doesn't need to be bathed even monthly. In fact, if your dog is an enthusiastic water dog (and most labs are) you may not really need to bathe him more than three or four times a year. When you bathe your dog, if you are using warm water, stop. Dog shedding is decreased when your dog is bathed in cool water.
## Diet
It is worth making sure that your dog's diet agrees with him. Sometimes a small dietary change can make a big impact on the health of his coat. Adding something rich in fatty acids (like salmon) can often be of benefit.
## Brushing
The most effective way to keep surplus fur from ending up on your carpets and furniture is to proactively remove it from the coat ahead of time through a regular brushing routine. There exist special grooming combs available at nearly all pets stores specifically designed to thin out coats. It is important not to brush too much or too often however as this can lead to drying out of the skin and increased shedding.
## Take the time to find an appropriate shampoo
If you can discover an excellent organic dog shampoo that's specially formulated to reduce shedding you might want to consider it. A shampoo that's formulated to target itchy dog skin will also help reduce the amount of fur ending up in the air. It's essential to read and follow all the instructions and recommendations on any pet product you use. Overuse of even the most beneficial shampoo will dry out your dog's skin and lead to an increase in shedding.
It is important to recognize that shedding is totally natural and not something you can hope to stop. Dog shedding is, however, something which can be brought under control. Just because you own a big healthy indoor dog does not mean you have to be shackled to your vacuum cleaner. It just means that you need to be mindful of how best to maintain your dog's coat.
You recognize, of course, that part of the problem is that it's spring, the previous owner kept her chained up outside over the winter, and she's shedding her winter coat. A friend told you last week, though, that labs are heavy shedders even at the best of times. Clearly you are going to need some strategies.
## Restricted bathing schedules
There is a natural inclination to want to step-up a shedding dog's bathing schedule but this, in fact, is not generally a good idea. Too much bathing and shampooing can strip the naturally occurring oil from your dog's skin and actually increase shedding. The truth is that a healthy dog doesn't need to be bathed even monthly. In fact, if your dog is an enthusiastic water dog (and most labs are) you may not really need to bathe him more than three or four times a year. When you bathe your dog, if you are using warm water, stop. Dog shedding is decreased when your dog is bathed in cool water.
## Diet
It is worth making sure that your dog's diet agrees with him. Sometimes a small dietary change can make a big impact on the health of his coat. Adding something rich in fatty acids (like salmon) can often be of benefit.
## Brushing
The most effective way to keep surplus fur from ending up on your carpets and furniture is to proactively remove it from the coat ahead of time through a regular brushing routine. There exist special grooming combs available at nearly all pets stores specifically designed to thin out coats. It is important not to brush too much or too often however as this can lead to drying out of the skin and increased shedding.
## Take the time to find an appropriate shampoo
If you can discover an excellent organic dog shampoo that's specially formulated to reduce shedding you might want to consider it. A shampoo that's formulated to target itchy dog skin will also help reduce the amount of fur ending up in the air. It's essential to read and follow all the instructions and recommendations on any pet product you use. Overuse of even the most beneficial shampoo will dry out your dog's skin and lead to an increase in shedding.
It is important to recognize that shedding is totally natural and not something you can hope to stop. Dog shedding is, however, something which can be brought under control. Just because you own a big healthy indoor dog does not mean you have to be shackled to your vacuum cleaner. It just means that you need to be mindful of how best to maintain your dog's coat.
About the Author:
Need an effective natural solution for dog dandruff or perhaps arthritis in dogs? Evolution Pets - Natural Pet Remedies for Dog Skin Problems, Hot Spots, Dandruff, and Dog Seizures. Visit EvolutionSupply.com for more information.
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