Let's Get Groomy: Shedding Some Light On Shedding

Our copywriter Jeremy recounts his journey into the fur-flying world of shedding season.

“He doesn’t shed.”

This immortal phrase was delivered by a straight-faced breeder who, no doubt inspired by a desire to offload the runt of the litter, was prepared to be somewhat economical with the truth.

Although, to be fair, she was right. To a point. At that precise moment in time, he didn’t shed. Largely because it wasn’t shedding season.

But when summer rolled around, and he offloaded his heavy winter coat (or coats as it transpired, turns out he had two), it became evident that he did indeed shed. Every surface in our house was a testament to the fact. Floors, chairs, tables, shelves, sinks, baths. No space was safe.

Hair made its way onto our clothes, doonas, sheets, pillowcases, curtains, towels, and even the bristles of our toothbrushes. We would find hair in our food, in our books and on the keys of our laptops. In short, dog hair was everywhere.

As we resigned ourselves to a life spent living in a fur blizzard, I resolved to find out a little bit more about the phenomena of shedding and how we could best manage it. And it was at this point, somewhat serendipitously, that I found myself employed by Kazoo as their resident copywriter.

Within days, I had access to an expert team and a great range of products specifically designed to keep shedding under control (more on that later). Suddenly, there was light at the end of the tunnel. Turns out, we didn’t have to live in a fur ever home after all. We could keep it in check with seasonal grooming.

Well, six years on, and life with our furry friend is a doddle. There is, of course, a degree of hair, but nothing compared to that early onslaught.

So, in the spirit of shairing, sorry, sharing, I thought I would pass on some tips and tricks to help you stay on top of your dog’s shedding. And I guess the best place to start, is by shedding some light on shedding. What is it, why it occurs, and why some breeds are more affected than others.

WHAT IS SHEDDING?

Shedding is a natural process for dogs and a naturally frustrating process for their owners. It helps facilitate the growth of healthy new hair, the regulation of body temperature and stops matting and discomfort.

In simple terms, it is when dogs rid themselves of old or otherwise damaged hair by shedding it.

The amount of hair a dog sheds is dependent on what breed it is, the time of year, and whether the dog has one coat or two (mine has two... yay!!!).

Most dogs shed in Spring and the aptly named Fall. The spring shed offloads the heavy winter coat in preparation for a warmer Summer one, whilst the autumn shed gets rid of the lightweight coat in favour of a heavier, warmer Winter one.

That’s not to say you won’t notice dog hair round your house all year. As old hairs die, and new hair comes in to take its place, there will always be a degree of shedding, although it is most noticeable at the times mentioned above.

WHAT BREEDS ARE MOST PRONE TO SHEDDING?

Ask this question of a dog owner, and they will unhesitatingly tell you that their dog sheds the most.

But whilst this may feel like the truth, there are in fact a number of breeds that shed more than others - mainly those with double coats and wire coats. 

And many, many more….. you can find a full guide to the heaviest shedding breeds here. 

SO, WHAT THE HECK CAN I DO ABOUT IT?

Are you tearing your hair out wondering what you can do about your dog’s shedding? Well, fear not. Help is at hand. Or should that be at paw?

You see, the clever Krew at Kazoo have devised a number of ingenious products that will stop you shedding a tear every time your dog sheds a hair.

Products that will remove excess hair, help maintain good skin and follicle health and leave your dog’s coat gleaming like a potential Royal Show winner.

You can even get expert tips on how to groom your dog at home.

DOGGED BY DOG HAIR? WELL, NOT FUR LONG!

So, if you’d like a life with minimal dog hair on your clothes, bedding, food and electronics, a life without continual sneezing and runny eyes, and a life without exorbitant dry-cleaning bills, then you should check out our shedding tools.