Some dogs shed heavily all year long like a Dalmatian for example, and some shed seasonally with a moderate amount of shedding.
The amount of shedding will determine the amount of hair you have lying around the house, the amount of cleaning you will have to do, and the amount of brushing that both the dog and your clothes will need.
It is impossible to keep a home completely free of small amounts of dog hair that accumulate under furniture and in corners, or to keep yourself and your furniture free of hair, this is especially true when you live with a heavily shedding dog.
There will always be some loose hair in your house no matter how much and how thoroughly you clean. Therefore, the amount of shedding should be considered in light of three personality traits:
- Your desire for personal cleanliness
- Your desire for a clean living space
- Your desire to groom your dog
Should I Get A Dog That Sheds Often?
To find out if you can live with a dog that sheds a lot, write down whether you agree or disagree with the following questions and statements:
- I do not like it when a dog gets hair all over me and my furniture
- I find it embarrassing if people came to my house clean and left with dog hair on their clothing
- I get very uneasy when my house is not meticulously clean
- I enjoy being neatly dressed
- I feel uncomfortable in casual clothes
- It annoys me when I always have to clean up after people
- It is hard for me to rest until all the rooms in my house were clean and orderly
- I am concerned about what people think and say about me
- I do not grow house plants because I do not have time to care for them properly
- I usually do not have enough time in my day to get done everything that I want to
- I do not enjoy repetitive tasks
- There is no convenient area in my living space where I could groom a dog easily
If you agree to at least 8 of the above12 statements, then it means that you should not get a dog that sheds a lot. The more the breed sheds, the more uncomfortable you will feel.
You will only find yourself disliking your dog for making it necessary to clean up after it all the time, brushing it and removing the hairs from your clothing. However, if you disagree with at least 4 out of the 12 questions, chances are you do not mind living with a dog that sheds often.
Which Dog Breeds Are Most Susceptible to Shedding
There are many dog breeds that are susceptible to shedding, so let's have a look at the most common culprits:
- Dalmatian
- German Shepherd
- Newfoundland
- Pug
- Rottweiler
- Border Collie
- Chow Chow
- Great Pyrenees
- Golden Retriever
- Labrador Retriever
- Pomeranian
- Old English Sheepdog
- Shetland Sheepdog
- Siberian Husky
- Chihuahua
- St. Bernard
Why Shedding Happens
There are various types of dog coats. Some are short, some are long, some are coarse or wiry, while others are silky.
Basically, when the hair stops growing, it needs to shed in order to make way for the new hair.
As mentioned earlier, some dogs shed heavily all year long and some shed seasonally with a moderate amount of shedding.
Also, dogs with skin conditions can cause your furry friend to shed hair, as there's often a link between skin conditions and shedding.
Whilst it's not possible to stop your dog from shedding, there are things that can help.
What Can Help With Shedding
Unfortunately, it's impossible to stop your furry friend from shedding.
However, regular brushing will help enormously with loosening and removing dead hair. For dogs that shed heavily, a daily groom is essential to help with shedding.
For dogs that suffer with skin conditions, giving them fish oil is usually of great help.
Choosing The Right Vacuum
Choosing the right vacuum is key if your dog is shedding all over the house.
There are many vacuums on the market, so how do you know what to choose with so many choices? Should it be an upright, cylinder, handheld, robotic, swivel, ultra light?
The list is endless, let's look at a few things to consider when choosing the perfect vacuum for your furry friend:
- Powerful suction
- Type of flooring, i.e., carpets, hard floors, etc.
- A turbo brush for upholstery
- Cable length
- Weight
- Run time
- Easy to empty
- Length of guarantee
Another good tip is to look at online reviews, and see what are the best selling vacuums on sites like Amazon for example.
Finest For Pets Recommended Fish Oil Products
As we've discussed in this article, fish oil can help with shedding if your dog suffers from skin conditions amongst the other many benefits that fish oil gives, please check out a couple of products that we recommend for your furry friend.
Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil
LESS SCRATCHING & SHEDDING: Nature’s Super Supplement is packed with powerful Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids proven to sooth dry, itchy skin and reduce allergies.
Treat your pet to all of the benefits of omega fatty acids. Finest For Pets offers the best fish oil, made from the finest wild caught Alaskan Salmon and produced to the highest possible quality standards.
Please find more information about our wild Alaskan salmon oil from the following link:
Finest For Pets Alaskan Salmon Oil
Omegease
LESS SCRATCHING & SHEDDING: Best Omega 3, 6 & 9 fish oil soothes dry itchy skin and reduces allergies.
Treat your pet to all of the benefits of omega 3, 6 & 9 fatty acids. Give them the best fish oil, made from the finest wild caught non-predatory fish and produced to the highest possible quality standards.
Please find more information about our wild Alaskan salmon oil from the following link:
One final note; when choosing the next pet for your family, it's important to take all of the above into account.
Further Reading...
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