How to Make A Dog Shed Less

Does your dog’s shedding drive you crazy? The amount of a fur that a dog sheds varies depending on his diet, grooming, level of anxiousness and health. There are many ways to make your dog shed less, and keep your home cleaner.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Premium dog food
• High protein dog food supplements
• Grooming tools
• Dog shampoo with oatmeal or tea tree oil

1. Feed your dog foods high in protein and fatty acids. Using a high quality dog food will nourish your dog from the inside out, making hair follicles stay in place longer. Giving your dog premium dog foods will nourish his skin and coat.

2. Brush your dog on a routine basis. Take your dog outside, and brush his entire coat. Use a de-matting or slicker brush if he has thick fur, or a comb if he has a smooth coat. By brushing your dog on a weekly schedule, you will eliminate a build up of loose hair, and your dog will shed less.

3. Bathe your dog on a routine basis. Take your dog to a grooming salon, or use your own bathtub. Scrub your dog's coat to remove any loose fur, so he will shed less. Bathe your dog once every few months. Do not bathe your dog too often, or you will strip out the essential oils in his coat, that helps keep his fur healthy.

4. Use dog shampoo when bathing your pet. Choose a pet shampoo that helps with shedding and moisturizing. Pick an oatmeal shampoo for its moisturizing abilities, or a shampoo that contains tea tree oil. Dog shampoo is designed to not strip all the oils out of his fur, unlike a human shampoo.

5. Add supplements to your dog’s food. Top your dog’s food with special high protein additives from your local pet store. The extra oil in his diet will nourish his skin, which makes his skin more elastic to hold onto the hair follicles.

6. Avoid stressful situations with your dog. Keep a calm environment for your dog, and he will shed less. Dogs often shed when they are frightened, have high amounts of anxiety or are feeling stressed.

Tips & Warnings

• Always brush your dog between season changes. Dogs tend to shed more in the spring when they are losing their winter coat.

• Never use human shampoo on a pet of any kind. It can sting their eyes, cause allergic reactions on their skin and dry out their fur, which will cause more shedding.