It’s Shedding Season!

Dear Mr. Smart T. Pants:

My dog used to shed a little bit, but all of a sudden there is an explosion of fur everywhere! I am wondering if there is something that I can do to control it or is this going to be my life every spring?

Covered in Fur

You can try covering it up but we will still shed

Dear Covered:

First if this is something that is sudden, you may want to check with your vet to be sure that it is not a medical issue. But if your furry friend is a Lab, a Husky, a Golden, an Akita, a Collie, a Pomeranian, a Corgi or a combination of any of those - welcome to the world of the double coated dog. We double coated dogs have a harsh topcoat and then a soft undercoat. This soft undercoat provides insulation from both the heat and the cold but is the biggest culprit when it comes to shedding. It grows much faster than the topcoat and during the spring (and for some of us all year long) it releases to prepare for the warmer weather.

Now what can you do about it? Brush, brush and brush again. But make it a special time between you and your dog. My Mom gives me belly rubs before we begin and tells me what a good dog I am while she is brushing me. And of course when we are done I get a treat! She began this practice when I was a puppy so I look forward to our special time together. You also can do it when your dog snuggles in with you to watch your favorite show.

Okay there will be lots of fur around the house - Mom bought this thing called a Roomba and she also uses a rubber broom on some days. But hey - isn’t a little fur worth it for all the love we are giving you? Take it from a double coat - it is! Oh and look forward to this again in the fall when we get ready to have a denser undercoat. Good luck.

Mr. Smart T. Pants