Fun

Shedding May Just Be Nature’s Way Of Telling Your Dog It’s Spring!

Written by: Dr. Katy Nelson

April 1, 2016

The connection between nature and animals is incredible. As humans, we look to the weatherman, clocks, and calendars to understand the season and time of day, but animals, like our dogs, don’t have these options. Instead, dogs use the amount of daylight to figure out the seasons, and when it’s Spring, their coats know it’s time to shed.

gsd

But shedding patterns differ from house to house. If your dog’s a homebody, they’ll likely shed year round, rather than by the seasons. Dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors, though, will shed least before the winter, and the most in the Spring. But why?

[bp_related_article]

Here’s How It Works

Dogs that still shed according to seasons have a thicker coat in the winter, and lose that winter coat in the Spring to prepare for Summer. The amount of daylight will determine which coat is which, as winter days have shorter amounts of sunlight.

sunset

Traditionally, dogs have lived and worked out of doors. As far back as when mammoths walked the Earth, dogs helped humans hunt. But now that dogs work less frequently, and spend less and less time outdoors, the sun and the seasons don’t have as much of an effect on them.

domesticdog

Still, Spring is prime shedding time for dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors because they’re getting rid of the thickest coat the dog will have all year, especially if it’s a double coated dog like a Siberian Husky, or a German Shepherd. All dogs shed even if they shed differently, except of course for the American Hairless Terrier. 🙂

american-hairless

How To Improve Shedding

As the groomer/owner of a German Shepherd mix who loves to frequent the outdoors, I can honestly say that Spring shedding is a serious problem.

meme

This is a breed that experiences what’s called a “Blowing Out”  of their coat. There’s basically no way of getting rid of all of the hair. You’ll be vacuuming almost daily regardless, but a bath, with a blow out, and consistent brushing, will surely get rid of some of the clumps of hair on the ground.

shedd

Dogs without an undercoat or dogs with longer coats will shed less, and have less of a hair problem for you. But at the end of the day, dogs shed, and how they shed is affected by the way they live, and even if everything you have is covered in hair we still love our shedding companions.

shiba-inus-are-weird-dogs-of-course-they-come-from-japan-11

H/t to Pet Care RX, Featured image via @jillyrolls/ Instagram and FB Image via Deb/Flickr

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Written by: Dr. Katy Nelson

April 1, 2016

Nutritionist-crafted food for your dog's breed or mix.

Recipes designed for dogs' individuality

LEARN MORE

INNOVATIVE DOG STUFF, EVERY MONTH.

A themed collection of BARK-designed toys, treats, and chews.

INNOVATIVE DOG STUFF, EVERY MONTH.

A themed collection of BARK-designed toys, treats, and chews.