Keeping Shedding under control

[*LabLoverKEB*]

Does anyone know how I can keep shedding under control? We have hardwood floors, and I find big ole' clumps of dog hair and dust everywhere! I lreally do not mind vacumming at all, I'd do it every day if I had to! Thanks!

[Cookiebaker]

Lablover, I am having the same exact dilemma here. I have brushed both the cat & dog every night since Sunday, and every night I vaccuum up a TON of dog hair. But still if we pet them, we are covered in hair...my kitchen counters are covered *ewwww*...and I'm wondering if there is anything else I can do to control it?!?

[KYS]

LOL! Well if anybody finds out the answer they
would be rich!!!

I just got one of those vacuum cleaners that are bagless.
I have to empty the stupid container after the
2nd vacuuming.
When I wear my black pants to work, the
first thing I do when I get to work is grab the packing
tape and start using it on my pants.

[anna_66]

Originally posted by KYS
LOL! Well if anybody finds out the answer they
would be rich!!!

I just got one of those vacuum cleaners that are bagless.
I have to empty the stupid container after the
2nd vacuuming.
When I wear my black pants to work, the
first thing I do when I get to work is grab the packing
tape and start using it on my pants.

I know EXACTLY what your all going through! Huney is loosing clumps of fur and Roxey, her hair is EVERYWHERE!! I also have to wear black pants to work, what a joke they aren't too black by the time I get to work!
I have one of those bagless vacums too, I can't believe how fast it's getting filled up now
I'm sure it will get back to normal soon though (at least I hope so!)

[Brie]

Remember, were getting into shedding season here. Dogs should really only shed twice a year.

If your dogs are shedding more than that, seriously consider a food without corn, wheat or soy, animal by products. Read the ingredient listings!

Tips for shedding season:

brush daily, twice a day if necsessary. I recommend using a rake (oh another forum had a picture of one... I'll find it and come back with the pic) I like these because they pick up the under coat as well as the top coat in long and thick coated animals (think husky's and Newfie's). Where as wire pin brushes only pick up the top coat. Shed blades are good for dogs wth shorter coats, like labs.

This is a good article I found at PetPalace.com

If you read or hear about how some breeds of dogs don't shed, you can discount it. Every dog sheds ? some more than others ? but they all shed.

So why then do some dogs appear not to shed while others shed so much you could weave a thick blanket out of the discarded fur? The answer lies in the growth rate of the hair, which is based on genetics, nutrition and environment.

Shedding is the process by which old hair naturally falls out and new hair begins to grow in its place. The new hair does not ?push out? the old hair. Since hair growth and loss is a continual cycle, there is no true starting point.

When dogs run free in the wild, they brush up against bushes, trees and other flora. This action removes old hair naturally. Our house pets need brushing to accomplish this same goal and to prevent large amounts of hair from accumulating in the coat. But brushing is also good for your dog. It not only decreases the amount of hair on your clothes and furniture; it also stimulates the blood supply to the skin. And brushing your dog?s hair helps to prevent skin parasites, such as mites, fleas and ticks, from infesting your pet and your home and keeps unsightly and sometimes painful mats from forming.

Once the individual old hair has been removed, new hair can form. The growth of hair occurs in three cycles:

  Anagen. This is the initial hair-growing phase, the period of active production by the hair follicle.

  Catagen. After the hair has grown to a specific length, determined by genetics, the hair enters this temporary transitional state.

  Telogen. After a brief time, the hair then enters the final resting phase or non-growing state.

Exactly when the hair falls from the follicle and sheds depends on environment, heredity and nutrition. For ?non-shedding? dogs, the hair growth is much slower and few hairs are shed at a time, giving the false impression that the dog does not shed.

At any point, approximately 90 percent of a dog?s hair is in the growth stage. The remaining hair is in either the resting or transitional phase. The growing phase occurs in patterns and is not synchronized all over the body.

Shedding in dogs is influenced by the amount of time spent in the sunlight and by temperature fluctuations. Outdoor dogs usually shed their thick undercoat in the spring to prepare for warmer weather. Indoor dogs shed all year long but in smaller amounts, since they are exposed to a more constant temperature and consistent light source. A dog?s shedding cycle may also change as the pet ages or becomes ill.

Some female dogs shed more hair than usual after they have been in heat. This usually occurs around 3 to 4 years of age, if at all. Some breeders refer to this as ?blowing their coat.?

Puppies? coats are usually fuzzy with short, downy hair. In some breeds this hair may not change to the adult coat until the age of 5 months. The best time to begin grooming is when your pet is still a puppy. By spending a few minutes every day gently brushing your puppy, you are creating a close, trusting bond. Eventually, your dog may look forward to this time every day.

Adequate grooming, proper diet and exercise all contribute to a shiny, healthy-looking coat and a happy pet. If your dog appears to be losing a large amount of hair and/or if the coat is dull and dry, see your veterinarian.

[*LabLoverKEB*]

Thanks everyone! Next time we go to Petco to get dog food, (which I am switching to Eukanuba, because Sadie has some really bad gas ), I will be getting her a shedding blade.

[lovemyshiba]

Abbey is shedding right now, and her hair is gross--it sticks to everything--she likes to rub along the back of the couch,and it is hairy, and hard to get off!! I comb her every day, but she still sheds. I'm sure Kito will be starting again soon, and that's a mess--his hair comes out in big clumps--enough to make another doggie!!!!!

[*LabLoverKEB*]

Thanks everyone! I actually kinds like vacumming, but now when it's really bad!

[Karen]

Aside from brushing morning, noon, and night, the best solution to the problem of dog hair on clothing was posited by a blind woman with her Labrador guide dog whom I met at jury duty once.

She said, "I brush her every morning, and we both enjoy that. Then, I make sure my wardrobe matches my dog! When I had a black Lab, I wore grey and black a lot, but now that I have a yellow girl, my wardrobe is mostly khaki! It's easier on me, and on her!"

Of course, by that point, Emma's harness was off (we were in the waiting around to be called part of jury duty) and I, in my navy-blue skirt, was sitting on the floor with a yellow lab in my lap! It wasn't Emma, or her owner's fault that I hadn't dressed to match!