Shedding Season is Coming... Are You Ready?

After nearly two straight weeks of below-freezing temperatures and "snowcrete" all over the place, this milder weather is a delight! But, as many dog owners know, the coming of spring brings flurries too - except this time, they're flurries of fur instead of snow. If you want to make sure you're prepared for the storm ahead of time, this is for you!

Most dogs shed a bit year-round, but the warmer months can get extra intense as pups shed their winter coats, especially for double-coated dogs like Huskies, Labs, German Shepherds, and more.

These dogs will start to "blow their coat," where their undercoat (the soft, short, dense fur closer to their skin) comes out seemingly all at once, giving a bit of a scraggly look...

...and leading to them sitting next to a dog-sized pile of their own fur!

Even for single-coated breeds, like boxers, yorkies, and poodles, springtime tends to be a period of high shedding. So, let's get into our recommendations for not losing yourself in a cloud of dog fur!

Brushing

The quickest, easiest way of removing shed fur from dogs is brushing. For short-haired dogs, a grooming glove with bristles on the palm side is often enough. Pups with longer or double coats, however, might need you to bring out the big guns: a slicker brush and deshedding brush (also called dematting or undercoat rakes/brushes) or a metal comb. The deshedding rake or comb work great for removing those big chunks of undercoat, while the slicker brush "checks your work" and smooths everything out!

Either the straight-toothed or curved-tooth versions work, but the curved ones require a bit more caution as they can cause scratches on your furry friend's skin.

Something to consider when choosing an undercoat brush is that they're not all made equal: anecdotal evidence from dog parents using FURminator brushes say that those cut and thin the outer coat, so you may want to steer clear.

"What do I do if my dog hates being brushed?"

Don't worry, this is pretty common, and we've got tips for those of you with brush-averse pets! By the time you read this, you'll have a head start as most pups haven't started the brunt of their shedding yet. This means you have time to try different brush styles and work on some desensitization training!

Sometimes, it's just a matter of a dog not liking the specific brush that you're using. There are a ton of different styles out there, so consider trying out a new kind. Another benefit of getting ahead of the game is that you've got time to do some training work with your four-legged friend. If you struggle to get them to tolerate a brush, you can turn it into a training game with some fun and positive reinforcement! Barking With the Bradley's recommends starting by showing your dog the brush and giving them a treat, brushing lightly a few times, giving another treat or taking a brief playtime break, and repeating. With time and patience, you can increase the amount of time your pup tolerates being brushed.

Grooming

Whether it's at home or at a salon, a grooming session can do wonders for tackling a coat in full shed! There are all sorts of deshedding shampoos and treatments that help loosen up the fur, and sometimes you can even watch it peel off just with some good water pressure. Plus, grooming salons use high-power blow dryers, much stronger than those we use for our own hair, that make deshedding a breeze! Or a gust, or fur tornado, or... you get the point. If your fur baby turns into a fur monster in the spring, consider making an appointment soon, so you can get it booked in advance before they fill up.

Where does Barking With the Bradley's come in?

You tell us! Our Pet Taxi service is perfect if you want to make a grooming appointment for your pup while you're off at work. We can take care of the transportation, so you can come home to a clean, deshedded dog that can greet you without covering you head to toe in hair. We're also happy to add short brush desensitization sessions into our visits to assist with working on existing training goals! Actively reinforcing behaviors is part of our PEACE philosophy, so even though we aren't trainers and can't create training plans, being there to help reinforce them and track progress is part of our subscription packages.

If you'd like to join the Barking With the Bradley's family and see the benefits for yourself, reach out through our website - we'd be happy to have you!

We hope this was useful for you, and best of luck with your fur-mageddons ❤️