Adding a friendly, four-legged companion to your family can be one of the most pleasurable and rewarding things. However, like most good things in life, owning a dog comes with its own challenges and responsibilities. Dog moulting or shedding is one of the few challenges most dog owners face. Pet moulting is not a big problem in most cases and can be dealt with easily. However, for various reasons, some dogs may shed too much hair.
In general, heavy dog moulting is not a cause for concern. It’s a natural process through which dogs get rid of their old, damaged hair. However, in some cases, it can be caused by allergies or infections that should be investigated. Nevertheless, at times, a moulting dog can cause inconvenience to you and your family. If you’re one of those who like to keep your home clean and spotless at all times, you may find dog hfair scattered around your home unpleasant and irksome.
So, if it is a natural process, is there nothing you can do to stop dog moulting? Fortunately, there are ways to control and reduce dog shedding.
How to Stop Dog Moulting?
1) Choosing the Right Breed
Are you planning to buy a dog? Is the thought of having dog hair on your expensive furniture and upholstery stopping you from making your decision? If that’s the case, the coat type is an essential factor you should consider while buying a dog. Let’s take a look at some of the main types of coats that dogs have:
Smooth coats
Dogs with smooth coats have short hair that require low maintenance. These dogs shed a lot of light hair.
Examples: Beagle, Bulldog, Greyhound, Doberman, etc.
Double coats
Double-coated dogs have two layers of fur. The outer layer is long and coarse, and the underlayer is soft and dense. They shed their coats in dog moulting season (twice a year).
Examples: Pomeranians, Siberian Huskies, Newfoundlands, Chows, etc.
In case you’re wondering when do dogs moult in UK, it’s mainly in the spring and fall. In spring, they shed hair to make their coat lighter for the approaching warm weather. In fall, dogs moult so that they can replace their lighter coat with a thicker one.
Wire coats
Wire-coated dogs have an outer layer of rough and bristly hair. They shed less hair compared to average dogs.
Examples: Most breeds of terrier including Jack Russell Terrier, Kerry Blue Terrier, Wire Fox Terrier, etc.
Curly coats
Dogs with curly coats are known for their gorgeous wavy patterns. Just like wiry coats, they shed very less hair.
Examples: Poodle, Bichon Frise, Puli, Barbet, etc.
Long coats
Long-coated dogs have long, flowing locks. In some breeds, they can even reach the floor. Understandably, they are prone to tangling and matting and require a lot of maintenance.
Examples: Havanese, Maltese, Pekingese etc.
Combination Coats
Dogs with combination coats have short hair on their body and long hair on their ears, legs, and tail.
Examples: Brittany Dog, Tibetan Spaniel, Golden Retriever etc.
So, if dog moulting is a concern for you or if anyone in your home is allergic to dog hair, you should consider opting for dogs with curly coats, and wiry coats. Or you can also go for hairless dogs or non-moulting dogs in UK.
2) Choosing the Right Brush
There are ways to stop dog moulting if you already have a dog. Brushing your dog as and when required will go a long way when it comes to reducing dog shedding. With brushing, you can easily remove damaged and broken hair. The result? Less hair around your home.
The frequency with which you need to brush your dog depends on your dog’s breed. Some breeds that are susceptible to tangling and matting require daily brushing. Also, you need to select the right brush for your dog. While the bristle brush is ideal for long-coated dogs, wire-pin brush is suitable for dogs with curly coats. For short-haired dogs, you can use simple combs.
3) Good Diet and Hydration
If you have a moulting dog in your home, you should pay attention to its diet. A balanced diet can help in reducing dog shedding. You can also consult a veterinarian and include dietary supplements that nourish dog coats. Also, you should ensure that your dog drinks enough water daily, as dehydration can result in heavy dog moulting.
Unless you have an allergy, a moulting dog is not something that should worry you. In fact, dog shedding is a small price to pay for the unconditional love and companionship that our canine friends provide. Yet, if the dog moulting season is approaching and you’re worried about your dog shedding too much hair, you can always take the steps mentioned above to stop dog moulting.
