How do you reduce shedding by your dog?

Question

My dog is a beagle-german shepherd mix, and while I love him dearly, I HATE how much he sheds. Seriously - even in winter. Its worse if he's nervous or excited, because then its like he drops an entire dog's worth of hair all over! Any suggestions on how to reduce the shedding. -- His coat is beautiful, so I doubt its a health issue, but I'm no expert.

Thanks for all the great answers. I have one of those looped blades, and plan to get a reduce shedding shampoo and oil, and maybe a vitamin supplement (I'm feeding him Purina Lamb and Rice formula for sensitive stomachs). My dog doesn't like the vacuum, but I'm going to give vacuuming him a try anyways. I appreciate the help.

Answer 1

Well, shedding is an issue for dogs, not much you can do about it unless you researched it before you got one and picked the breeds with the least amount of shedding.

There's no way to stop your dog from shedding. As for things you can do to improve it, get a shampoo that promotes less shedding. There are shampoos out there made especially for dogs that shed a lot. Brush him everyday to remove all the excess hair before it falls. That's pretty much all you can do!

Answer 2

Good nutrition is key. Often, hair loss can be attributed to a poor diet, or an allergy. Other than that, regular bathing and brushing reduces shedding. For a shepherd mix, you need a stripping comb (looks kinda like a horse brush) as well as a fine tooth comb to get the undercoat. The best brushes are from Drs. Foster and Smith or sometimes at Petco and Petsmart. The stripper is basically a metal blade with teeth that is looped in half and held together at the handle. The best ones come apart so you can use the whole length of the blade on a large dog.

Answer 3

Ask your Vet about some 3V Caps Skin Formulation for skin and coat. It has Omega 3, Vit A, D and E which work together to optimize condition of skin and coat. Also, when bathing use a bathing glove to remove excess hair in the bath. Brush a few times a day. Don't over bathe and when you do bathe use a shampoo formula that does not dry the coat out, like aloe and oatmeal blend.
I don't know what you feed your dog, but sometimes diet can effect how much shedding occurs. Because of the mix breeds in your dog, both breeds you mention he is mixed with are shedders that sometimes shed profusely.
You didn't mention what he eats. Some foods are also designed for skin and coat and help to lessen shedding. Nothing will eliminate it altogether.

Answer 4

Shedding is normal. Even humans shed although the skin comes off in small enough pieces to where you don't notice it.
If the shedding is excessive, it can be due to a nutritional deficiency. There are supplements available at the pet store - ask a clerk there.
Other than that, you can brush regularly and keep getting the loose stuff off before it ends up on the carpet.

Answer 5

You might want to think about regular warm baths with a medicated dog shampoo. Give your dog belly rubs and such to get your dog to enjpy the baths. This will help grow fresh hair and reduce shedding. Make this a regular event if you can. Also regular grooming with a thinning brush will remove excess hair, keeping it off the furnature. Keep a head of the hair before it gets a head of you. We used to breed standard collies and my mom went though a electolux vacuum every year. Burned them up with hair. My dad started a regular bathing schedule and daily grooming and the sheeding reduced greatly

Answer 6

brush brush brush. i got this stuff at walmart called shed stop and you rub it on the dogs coat daily for a week and then once a week and it seems to work by releasing all the lose hair it doesnt screw up their seasonal shedding. i have a wolfhound terrier and a newfoundlander that shed alot of hair and i have gone from vaccuuming daily to every 3 days.

Answer 7

My favorite tools are the Furminator and the Kong Zoom Groom. Google them.

Answer 8

Get a pet gro pro and brush him as well as a petvac it gets rid of hair

Answer 9

Get a dangruff dog shampoo.

Answer 10

all you can do is brush him more