Do Dogs Shed In The Fall?

Pumpkin spice and………everything dog hair?

That doesn’t sound very catchy but it is true!

Normally when you think of shedding season you think of spring, but some dog breeds can also shed in the fall!

Doubled-coated dog that have a dense undercoat and longer guard hairs on the top, typically blow their coat twice a year.

Some of these dog breeds will shed every day of the year but they will experience excessive shedding when they lose their undercoat in clumps in the fall and spring.

Seasonal Shedding

Seasonal shedding is expected in a lot of dogs, purebred or mixed.

Not all dogs will shed in the fall, but it’s common among with double coats, or dogs that shed year-round.

Heavy shedders, breeds that shed year-round include, but are not limited to:

Akitas
Bernese Mountain Dogs
Chow Chows
Corgis (Pembroke and Cardigan)
Golden Retrievers
German Shepherds
Labrador Retrievers
Newfoundlands
Saint Bernards
Siberian Huskies

Newfoundlands shed all year round but they will shed heavily in the spring and fall.

Normally their fall shed is lighter than their spring shed but more than the everyday shedding.

Not all dogs with double coats will shed the same in the fall.

Lou is currently shedding more than Odin.

How Seasonal Dog Shedding Works

Dogs will shed their undercoat in the spring to get rid of the thick undercoat that grows in the winter.

Their undercoat is what keeps them warm and dry during the colder months.

In the fall, they will shed old hair from their light undercoat to make way for new hair.

But wait, there’s more to this seasonal shedding.

Not all dogs will shed the same in the fall and spring.

Dogs experience seasonal shedding when the seasons change.

It’s a common misconception that dogs shed due to the change in weather and while that’s partially true, it’s not the only reason why.

Seasonal shedding also takes place due to seasonal changes like the change in daylight.

When it starts to get darker earlier, it signals the hair follicles that it’s time to start growing.

Dogs that spend most of their time outside like the Great Pyrenees that is outside guarding their livestock will shed differently than indoor dogs.

The breed of dog and genetics will play a part in how much they shed in the fall and spring also.

Fall shedding usually starts in September for some dogs and will last until late November.

This is when dogs let go of their light summer coats and make room for their thicker winter coats.

Why Dogs Shed

Dogs are supposed to shed, in fact, it’s a natural process.

Shedding is a natural way for dogs to remove dead, damaged hair to make way for new, healthier hair.

Their hair regulates their body temperature and protects their skin.

Healthy dogs with dense undercoats are always losing hair to make way for new growth, so they need to be brushed regularly with proper grooming tools.

The amount of hair loss each dog has depends on a few different factors such as:

Breed
Environment
Genetics
Health

Other factors that might play a role in a dog’s shedding are:

Allergies
Medical conditions such as hypothyroidism, Cushing’s, liver & kidney disease
Medications
Nutrition
Parasites
Stress

Get Your Groom On!

So what does all this fall shedding mean?

It means that in addition to keeping your dog from eating acorns that are falling from the oak tree, dog owners have to vacuum their carpets and sweep their floors a little more.

Remove the dog hair from their couch a few more times AND break out the grooming tools for regular brushing.

It’s ok though, grooming your dog is a great time to bond with them and check their skin for those nasty ticks and burrs.

Fur-tastic Shedding Tools

Whether your dog is shedding their hair in the fall, spring or all year, there are some fur-tastic grooming tools designed specifically to help reduce shedding without shaving your dog’s coat!

Comb
Rake
Undercoat rake
Sullivan comb
Slicker brush
Mars Coat King
Blade combs like the Furminator

Comb

A regular wide-tooth comb is severely underrated as a de-shedding tool.

Not only does will remove hair gently but it’s also great for line-combing dogs with a double coat.

A good dog comb allows you to get to the dog’s skin more easily over a pin brush and it works well for most hair types.

A Sullivan Comb is ideal for dogs with thick undercoats and speeds up the time you spend on removing loose coat because it’s big.

Rake

The rake is my favorite de-shedding tool, especially when my dogs shed the heaviest in the spring and fall.

Dog rakes are designed to pull the dead coat out easily.

They are shaped like a T with rounded tines.

The length and shape of the teeth will vary

A dog rake is designed to remove the dog’s dead thicker coat while keeping the healthy coat intact.

Undercoat Rake

An undercoat rake is different than a regular dog rake.

This type of rake has small, sharp, curved blades that remove the undercoat.

They come in a variety of sizes for different coat types.

Undercoat rakes work well on many coat types including double-coated breeds, heavy coats, and harsh coat types.

They are often used to strip the coat of Terrier breeds and should be used with caution.

For Newfoundlands, an undercoat rake is often used to help the shedding process and thin out the thickest part of their coat like the rump, chest and even behind the ears.

An example of a popular undercoat rake is the Mars Coat King.

Slicker Brush

Slicker brushes are great for removing loose hair.

They have fine metal bristles that work best on dogs with a long dense coat.

Slicker brushes are also useful for removing tangles, knots, dander and dirt from a dog’s coat.

Blade Combs

Blade combs such as the Furminator are best for dogs with short top hair and a moderate undercoat like the Lab, Pitbull, and Rotties.

These breeds don’t usually need to be trimmed much.

Stay away from the Furminator if you have a dog with long hair such as a Newfoundland, Golden Retriever, German Shepherds and Corgis.

The blade has a hard time getting through the long topcoat and will often break the topcoat hair.

And if you have a high-velocity dog dryer, use it!

Dog dryers work great on a dry coat to remove loose dog hair, dirt and dander.

Other Causes Of Excessive Dog Hair Shedding

If you’re concerned about the amount of fur your dog is losing in the fall, you should always contact your veterinarian but some common causes of excessive dog hair loss can be:

Allergies
Anxiety
Bacterial infections
Dehydration
Fleas, ticks, mites and other parasites
Hormonal imbalance
Medications
Poor nutrition which can be caused by other medical conditions
Pregnancy
Stress
Thyroid imbalance (hypothyroidism is a common health problem in Newfies)
Too much grooming

You should also contact your veterinarian if you notice any hot spots, bald patches, red skin, wounds, dry patches on the skin or if your dog is licking and scratching excessively.