One of the most frustrating moments for pet owners is dog shedding. Even if you love your pooch so much, you can get disappointed once you see a handful of dog hair on the floor. Therefore, knowing when do dogs shed the most can help you manage this problem since certain breeds typically shed a bit too much.
What Months Do Dogs Shed the Most
Have you ever wondered what months do dogs shed the most? Knowing this as a dog owner can help you plan for the worse scenarios. However, it’s not easy to provide a definite answer to this question as it depends on the breed of your pup.
Also, several factors significantly affect dog shedding in particular months. For instance, heavily double-coated dogs will naturally shed a large amount of hair, while hypoallergenic dogs only shed a little throughout the year.
For deciduous dogs, they usually shed during the months of spring and fall. The particular months they will shed hair depends on the breed, age, sex, health condition, living environment, nutrition, daylight exposure, and weather. Between March and October, Alaskan Malamutes shed the most.
Why Is My Dog Shedding So Much
Understanding that all haired animals will shed on a specific period is a good starting point to know why your dog dropped so much. Shedding is part of the hair shafts’ natural cycle. They go through the different growth phases that impact on the hair volume of a dog.
The predominant factor in a dog’s hair growth is genetics. Yorkshire Terriers and Poodles grow their hair continuously, hence the longer life span while shedding very little. But if you have a Husky or Labrador, these breeds’ hair shaft lifespan is shorter which causes more massive shedding.
Moreover, the different types of dog hair also affect the extremity of shedding. Primary hairs or guard hairs are long stiff hairs of dogs that compose the outer coat protecting the skin. The secondary hairs or undercoat hairs are typically softer which make your pooch fluffy so that they will feel warm during winter.
The growth stages of dog hair undergo four transformations:
1. The step that leads to new hair is called the anagen phase.
2. Once the hair stopped growing, it’s the catagen phase.
3. When it takes a rest, that means the hair is in the telogen phase.
4. Finally, when dog hair sheds, it’s undoubtedly undergoing the exogen phase.
Which Dog Shed the Most
If you own a Samoyed or collie, the double coat seasonally shed and fall out during spring and fall. But generally, most dog breeds shed a bit much in these seasons. Temperature changes, however, don’t affect all types of coat. For instance, dogs with less undercoat such as Shih Tzus and Bichons tend to shed less every time the season changes.
On the other hand, Newfoundlands and other breeds with thick undercoat naturally shed much more than the others, and it’s a no-brainer. To help you know if your dog will drop the most, consider if it’s thick-haired. That way, you can prepare for intense shedding no matter the season.
Do Dogs Shed All Year Long
More often than not, you will encounter seasonal shedding from your dogs, as mentioned in the first paragraphs. Seasonal shedding dog breeds include Alaskan malamutes, Samoyeds, and collies. During the fall, they shed their summer coat to allow thicker growth in winter months. In spring, they dropped the winter coat to get ready for summer.
For year-round shedding, it’s normal for certain dog breeds. Typically, they don’t shed coats seasonally. Instead, their hair falls all year long, but not too much that you can’t even notice it. For dogs that shed throughout the year, they grow their hair every month.
The ultimate breed to grow their hair all year long is the Poodle. The hair follicles of Poodles are always at the anagen stage, so they grow consistently no matter the season. However, they may require routine clippings to control floor covering.
If you want to control dog shedding effectively, you can invest in reliable products that help lessen hair mess in your home. Brushing can help remove dead hair so you can reduce dog hair scattered on the floor.
