Posted on July 12, 2010 by: WayCoolDogs

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Dog shedding is a subject that influences the buying power of prospective dog owners or the lives of people like you who own dogs. Dog shedding facts sometimes get mixed up with bits of fiction that have been passed down over the years as the absolute truth – but in reality it is not. What is true is that all dogs are mammals that shed hair but not all mammals shed hair. Clear as mud, right?

Dog hair is vital for a dog’s survival. It is used for their insulation, sensory perception and skin protection – with dog shedding meant to keep the dog’s hair under control. Dog shedding is misery only to dog owners who do not understand its purpose . We need to understand why shedding  is important to the dog – finding out it is as necessary as the hair on our own head.

Human follicles grow one strand of hair, while dogs have several hairs growing from one follicle – with each hair diameter decreasing as the amount of hair growing in each follicle increases. Meanwhile, some mammals have densely packed hairs that grow into very fibrous and stiff outgrowth – horns, toenails and fingernails – depending on the species of animal and its location. The follicles in dogs have a high oil content to keep their skin and hair very smooth and elastic, developed to work in water so it runs off their guard hairs and does not penetrate into their skin.

Facts about dog shedding

When the old hair of the dog quits growing, it is shed out to make room for new hair that comes in. How and when this occurs depends on several things: the breed of dog, its health, and its genetic makeup. Of the three, genetics is the most important because it affects how and when the dog will shed and how often the new hair will begin to grow.

There are three types of dog hair:

1. Undercoat -  a soft, downy, heavy and thick form of hair used as insulation;  usually grown on the Northern breeds or dogs that live in extremely cold or wet climates of northern areas; also grown on most dogs who are used to temperate climates but are adapting to colder climates; and the undercoat is shed in the spring to prepare for summer.
2. Guard hairs – this type of dog hair is an outer stiff and longer guard hair to protect the undercoat and skin of the dog from the elements, and also to protect the dog from water soakage.
3. Whiskers which grow around the dog’s face are used as a sensory stimulation.

What makes dogs unique is that they shed hair differently from breed to breed, but there are some hard and fast rules that apply to non shedding dogs, shedding dog breeds, and low shedding dogs. One is that poor nutrition in a dog will cause excessive, continuous shedding.

Another are dogs that typically will “blow their undercoat,” usually losing it in the spring and fall. Supplements help dogs in their coat structure, with Omega 3 and Zinc considered important building blocks for healthy dog coats and cell structure. Dog owners need to understand that dog shedding is normal, necessary for new coats to grow in, with all dogs going through this process to some extent for about 30 days.

Non-shedding dogs

Two breeds – the American Hairless Terrier and Chinese Crested – are thought to be totally hypoallergenic by pet allergies sufferers as they are hairless. However, there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog. All dogs produce urine, dander and saliva which produce allergenic proteins in abundance in these secretions. The only hypoallergenic dog is not a real dog, but a stuffed dog or one in virtual reality.

However, both hairless breeds are considered low maintenance dogs with the sweetest personalities of any dog there is. The main priority of care for these dogs are providing moisturizers and sun protection lotions to protect their hairless bare skin. Another noticeable thing about the Chinese Crested dog is that eventually they will lose their teeth, with the tongue hanging out the side, adding to their “adorable” look they are so famous for. The Chinese

Crested Dog comes in two varieties—the hairless and the powderpuff. The hairless crested dog has hair on its head, feet , and tail while the powderpuff crested dog has a long, silky coat which looks very similar to silky terrier. The American Hairless Terrier originates from the Rat Terrier breed with the same type of energetic personality.

Heavy shedding dogs

The worst heavy shedding dogs are the northern dogs with double coats – their undercoat and guard coats.  Important for their protection from the cold in colder climates, when the weather begins to warm up their natural body processes will shed or remove the undercoat as fast as possible in huge chunks for about 30 days.

Certain breeds are part of this group, each one shedding in specific ways:

• Belgian Sheepdogs – four different breeds each shedding uniquely (Belgian Sheepdog or Groenendaels; Belgian Malinois; Belgian Tervuerenl; and Belgian Laekenois)
• Collies – two different varieties, the double-coated rough coat that sheds heavily and the smooth coat with less shedding.
• Akita - a Japanese breed and is among the largest of the Spitz dog breeds.
• Shiba Inu - a Japanese breed and sheds heavily twice a year.
• American Eskimo – a Spitz breed that sheds heavily twice a year.

Control dog shedding

Preventing dog shedding is impossible, but to control and reduce the hair that accumulates from dog shedding can easily be done with a few rules. What most of us think when a dog scratches is fleas, but they are helping to facilitate the loosening and removal of dead hairs on their body. The thing to do is brush this hair daily before it can land on the furniture or floor through the dog’s vigorous scratching.

Dogs that are northern based and either live in the southern areas or are kept inside inside overly warm houses will shed more than normal, in an attempt to cool down. The undercoat is an insulation coat that provides an external heat only needed during the cold.

Another time that dogs shed more than usual is when they are stressed – surgery, when they become ill, giving birth, staying at a boarding kennel or when they are moved to a new environment.

Shaving dogs to control dog shedding and dog hair

Many dog owners take their dogs to groomers and vets during the summer to shave them down, thinking it will make them much cooler.

Many people have their dogs shaved in preparation for the winter and to remove matted hair from the winter. They mistakenly believe shaving the dog will help keep their dogs cooler and that it will prevent shedding. Unfortunately, shaving will harm the dog more than doing it any good, even though it will minimize the amount of hair that is shed.

Why shaving dogs is not good for them . . .

• Dogs who have their coats shaved off will become more hot than cooler, as they have no insulation to protect them anymore.
• Dogs who live inside and have their coats shaved off or trimmed closely can become chilled in air-conditioned homes.
• Conditioning a dog to a cool inside home  will cause their hair to grow faster as their system thinks it is in a cooler location, such as up north.
• Many people keep their dogs shaved throughout the entire summer, ill preparing them for the coolness of the fall as their hair will not grow back in time.
• Dogs who are shaved have a tendency to become sunburned.
• More bugs and insects will attack a dog who is shaved, as it has no hair to protect it from the bites.
• A dog’s hair protects it from injuries when roughing with another animal or in a dog fight.

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MORE CUTE STUFF . . .

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Grandmother’s Corner

I didn’t know if my granddaughter had learned her colors yet, so I decided to test her. I would point out something and ask what color it was.. She would tell me and was always correct. It was fun for me, so I continued. At last, she headed for the door, saying, “Grandma, I think you should try to figure out some of these, yourself!”

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Daily Dog Tips

 

 

“The differences in dog and human hair or fur”

Dogs and cats: If it’s where it belongs (on the animal), it’s

fur; if it’s where it doesn’t belong (on your black slacks), it’s hair.

Humans: If it’s where it belongs (on the top of your head),

it’s hair; if it’s where it doesn’t belong (on your back), it’s fur. (Hair vs Fur)

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Daily Dog News

Iraq ChattahBox:  ”Police, Vets Kill 58,000 Stray Dogs in Baghdad to Stop Frequent Attacks”

Officials in Iraq have released a report today, which says the number of stray dogs that have been killed since 2008, in an attempt to stop a series of attacks within and around the city of Baghdad, RAW reports.

The killings are a part of a campaign that started in 2008, after increasing reports of dog attacks began to come in from local citizens and soldiers.

With Baghdad slowly returning to normal, and open markets becoming more common, there is more food left around the city. There is also more food left in garbage heaps outside of the capital. This means better meals for stray dogs, which leads to them gaining health and having larger litters.

Dog Shedding Tools  . . .

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