September 16th, 2020 by Amy Varley

Double coated dogs, in my (slightly biased) opinion, make for the cutest puppies. They start off with puppy fluff until their adult coat starts to come through – which in some dogs involves a complete change of colour, and it really is fascinating to see how your dog’s coat can change from puppyhood to adulthood. Unfortunately for us, double-coated dog lovers there is just one thing that comes along with having a cute fur ball in your house… the continuous fur balls that fly around your house! Here’s our guide to how you can minimise the constant shedding that occurs in double-coated dogs.

What is a double coat?

A double coat on a dog is basically a coat of hairs that consists of two layers. The undercoat is dense with shorter hairs that often have a soft and woolly texture. The topcoat consists of longer and more coarse hairs, also known as guard hairs. These guard hairs are called that because they ‘guard’ the undercoat and your dog’s skin, helping to repel dirt and moisture. The soft undercoat works as a protection from extreme weathers, and yes that includes hot weather!  The undercoat helps your pooch to regulate their temperature in both hot and cold temperatures so it is paramount that double-coated breeds do not have their coat clipped as this can damage the hairs and cause your dog to overheat.

Which breeds have a double coat?

The majority of double-coated breeds are easy to spot – they have thick and fluffy coats, for example, Huskies, Akitas and Pomeranians. Other examples of breeds of dog that have double coats include; Border Collie, German Shepherd, Chow Chow, Newfoundland, Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, and Malamutes. A number of terriers also have double coats, however, in these breeds the topcoat is wiry as opposed to being soft, for example, the Border Terrier or Cairn Terrier, Wire-haired Jack Russell Terrier or even a wire-haired Dachshund!

Why do dogs shed?

All dogs shed – and yes that does include poodle crosses that are often sold as being non-shedders. Shedding is when loose and dead hair falls out. Dogs with thicker double coats will shed more than your average cockapoo because double coats are straight, so the hair can fall out easily whereas curly-coated dogs’ loose hairs get caught up in the curls - which is why these dogs are more prone to matting. Dogs shed their coats to be able to regulate their temperature. You may find your dog sheds a lot in spring when the temperature starts to heat up – this is due to the dog’s dense undercoat that was needed to keep them warm through winter is no longer needed. Because your dog doesn’t need this coat to keep them warm, they shed it – and in double-coated dogs, this happens as a ‘blow.’

What is a ‘blown coat?’

A blown coat is when the undercoat starts to ‘blow’ itself out of your dog’s body. It happens when your dog is transitioning from their winter coat to their summer coat. When this happens, the fur will often come out in clumps, which can often look very unsightly and may even make your dog itchy. The clumps of hair can usually be seen floating around the house and garden when your pooch is running around, so you may be wondering what you can do to help your pooch with their shedding – plus help yourself to not have dog hairs stuck to every single bit of clothing you own!

Brush!

Brush, brush, brush! The most effective way to stop your pooch from shedding is simply to brush out all the loose hairs. Brushing your dog roughly every other day for even just a few minutes will eliminate a lot of the hairs you normally would find floating around your house, so some of the time you usually spend hoovering can instead be spent giving your dog a quick brush. When your dog is blowing their coat, it is important to brush them every day. Depending on how long you brush them for – you might want to make it twice a day during the height of the coat blow! This will help to loosen the hairs and speed up the process.

Bath your dog and use a blaster to dry them

Bathing your dog regularly will not only help to keep its coat clean and dirt free, but it will also help to remove any loose hairs, especially when your dog is blowing their coat. Our Gentle Touch shampoo is suitable for all dogs aged over 6 weeks and all coat types – so is perfect for helping keep your pooch smelling beautiful and also helping keep on top of their shedding! Once you have bathed your dog (and probably clogged up your plug hole in the process!) using a doggy blaster will help even more to remove the loose hairs. You might want to wear protective gear for this one, and make sure you keep your mouth closed! Trust us – watch a video online of a Husky being blasted! The loose hairs will fly everywhere and anywhere, however, this will leave your pooch feeling much more comfortable and lighter!

Which are the best brushes for double-coated dogs?

To help minimise shedding in your double-coated dog from brushing, you should ensure you have the correct tools for the job. A good undercoat rake will be a live saver when your dog is blowing their coat, and for all-year-round use. This tool has longish pins that usually rotate, so are gentle on the hairs and skin, dislodging the loose undercoat and removing it. A slicker brush is also a brilliant tool for removing both the undercoat and any dead guard hairs. When brushing your dog, you should ensure the brush does reach the undercoat, which is why an undercoat rake is so good as it’s pins are long. This will ensure your dog’s undercoat doesn’t get matted in with the outer coat.

Add moisture to your dog’s diet

A common cause of excess shedding in dogs is that a constant diet of dry dog food that is made up of mostly fillers (we advise you check the ingredients of your dog’s food to see if this is the case or not) can cause the hairs to be weak and easily break off. Adding moisture into your dog’s diet is quite simple – we always mix water with our dogs’ dry food as a starter, however, there are many other things to do, such as feeding them regular bits of melon (with the seeds removed), green beans and carrots. Salmon oil or Flaxseed oil can also be added into your dog’s meals to improve their coats – and the fishy smell is great for getting fussy eaters to eat their food!

Invest in a good hoover

Unfortunately for those among us who are house proud but also love our furry best friends, there is no magic fix, and with a dog comes responsibility…and lots of dog hairs! You will never be able to completely eliminate dog hairs from your home, especially not with a double-coated breed, so a good hoover is essential! Regular vacuuming can help with the build-up around the home, especially on carpeted floors.

Our pooches give us so much, love, affection, companionship and loyalty – surely a few (or even a lot of) stray hairs are a small price for us to pay!