It’s a pretty common question, isn’t it? Why do dogs shed and when does it happen, it it worse in a certain season? From the moment we hit go, we pull out the lint brush and expect the worst, but we can help our canine companions to shed a little less if we educate ourselves. Here are some facts on the subject:

• A dog will shed more fur when it is exposed to excessive amounts of sunlight. The amount of hours a dog is exposed to sunlight in a day (photo period) is what can trigger the shedding process.
• You will always see worse cases of shedding in dogs that spend alot of time outside in spring and fall, but dogs that spend alot of time inside naturally would shed less.
• If your dog is shedding more than normal and you are concerned, see a vet, there could be some sort of lingering illness that is causing it. Shedding can also be caused by excessive stress to your pet.

There are also things that you can do to help your dog from shedding excessively. You can make sure the dogs food is high in Omega 3 acids, it promotes a shiny and healthy coat. Also, giving your dog regular exercise is a good key to healthy skin and coat for you pet, plus it keeps them from gaining weight. A overweight dog is unable to properly groom itself, and fact is a dog that grooms itself effectively(licking) can help save you alot of brushing. The final one is to make sure you brush your dog daily, I find that brushing my dog is also relaxing to me. I know he enjoys the attention he is getting and quite frankly it relaxes me too! For those of us that love dogs, we understand that dealing with shedding is a part of ownership, but with proper care and the implementation of a routine, it is easily controlled! If you are looking for breeds that are “low shed” I will recommend a few. For people who love smaller dogs(under 20 pounds), you can’t go wrong with the Bichon or the Jack Russell Terrier. For those of you looking for a dog in the medium size range(20-80 pounds), I recommend the Boxer or the Labradoodle. And lastly, if you like a larger breed(80 plus lbs), take a look at the American Bulldog. Well, I hope this helps answer some of your questions about shedding. Thanks for stopping by!