Help!! Dog Shedding Solutions

The groomer my mother takes her dog to suggested this:
After bathing dogs (works for all breeds) rinse them in warm water with a little Downy mixed in.
Sounds weird but it works. :)

We have a lab / great dane mix - gorgeous large all black dog that is as sweet as can be. But heavy shedder. I understand labs are known for shedding. A friend has recommended vitamin e and I have also heard foods that are high in omega 3 are also good. I have switched our dog from Pedigree to Science Diet because she also seems to itch a lot.

I don't know what kind of dog she is, but I have a golden retriever and a yorkie in the house, they only go outside to do their thing then they are right back in, but I am like you I HATE hair in my house, so I get my golden almost shaved, and my yorkie cut, (she doesn't shed anyway, but it makes her look cute) It takes almost 3 months for her hair to grow back, but it cuts down on the shedding, and she looks like a lab puppy when she's shaved. Hope that helps

We have struggled with this and I was SO impressed with the results when we took ours to the Mutt Puddle for grooming. We only need to do it every 3-4 months and they were reasonable.....wish we had done it sooner.

I hear ya on the shedding. We have an Australian Shepherd who we love and treat like another person in the house, but he sheds like a champ.

In the summers we shave him, he loves it and so do we. He stays nice and cool and we have a fur free (mostly)house.

In the fall/winter, I vacuum more, but we sent him to the groomer often. They do a good brush outand that helps get a lot of the shedding fur out.

You can also try defurmination. We have done this in the past and it works well too. They apply a special solution and use a (what I understand) vibrating comb that loosens all the shedding fur. I don't remember how long it lasts, but it helped.

Good luck! I hope your pup gets to come inside.

Hi there. I too have a short haired dog (more like another child) that lives indoor and does shed a great deal. I am a registered veterinary technician and haved worked in a veterinary hospital for 7 yrs now and I recommend a tool called the "furminater". It looks like a clipper blade with a handle. The tool really does remove tons of hair that would eventually end up on the floor of your house. Most of my clients that complain about shedding do end up buying it when I show the just how much hair you can remove in just one pass. The tool is expensive, but it works. My mother is a groomer and she used it all the time on her collies. Bottom line brushing is really the only way to remove the hair and control the shedding.

I have a cat that drives me nuts with shedding. I have a mobile groomer come out and shave him a few times a year. It has made a huge difference.

A.,

I firmly believe that if you want to truly enjoy your dog, his/her place is inside the house with the family. Living with them hour by hour day by day is how they learn to live as a member of the family and not as a yard ornament everyone avoids because the are too rambunctious. I congratulate you for giving it a whirl!

My mother-in-law loves her furminator. I've seen them at PetSmart. Also, a rubber grooming mitt will grab the loose hairs. Bath her often and brush her as often as you can. At least a few times a week. Labs shed, but at least they are not so FURRRRY. Enjoy your pup.

By the way, if she's never been inside as a house dog, you might consider a couple of commands that will help you:

#1: The difference in "wrong" and "no".

No is a denial... "No, you may not have my cookie". "No" is conversational... as a forewarning.

"Wrong" is "That was MY cookie! What were you THINKING!?!?" "wrong" comes out like a growl, and it lets the dog know he/she made a BAAAAD choice".

Or, here's a scenario we used all the time:

Put your foot on the line between the Kitchen and Dining room and say "No" This means the dog may not cross the line. If he or she does you stamp your foot and say "WRONG", sending them out of the kitchen and out from under your feet while you cook. My Benjamine would lie down with his front feet ON the line and watch me in the kitchen. LOL... my kids would also SIT with their toes on the line and watch me in the kitchen. They were lined up like monkeys on a limb.

#2: The difference in "down" and "off".

Down is a position... When you give the "Down" command, your dog should lie down.

"Off" is "Get off the couch, off the baby's blanket, or off me".

Our Agility trainer taught us the difference in these commands years ago. At the time my Golden was about 4 years old. I figured the young dogs would pick it up, but I didn't expect that Ben would Understand the difference. Not true! He picked them up so fast, and seemed to understand me better after I got used to them as well. Don't underestimate what your dog will learn.

Also, get a crate. That will be your dog's safe haven, and your sanity.

:-)Good luck

T.

Shaving is great for the summer, but would be hard to do in the winter, unless you have a coat for the dog.

Bathing often helps. Brushing daily, to remove loose hair within the coat, - mitten glove.

Putting down blankets for your dog to lay down on helps also, as the blanket collects all the hair. Shake outside. Don't expect to use these blankets for humans again, because some hair will not come away from the blanket, even after washing.

Having only certain areas for the dog to be. Hallway, certain room etc. Our labs are mostly outside, as we live in the country, but they do come in at night and when it is cold/hot. They spend their time inside in a fenced hallway, outside our offices, so they are still near to us.

I've heard vacumning their coat - if the dog will allow it helps also.

Cage/kennels prevents hair all over the house, but it kind of defeats the purpose of allowing the dog to be with the family.

S.
Vacation Pet Nanny Inc.
www.vacationpetnanny.com