The bane of every dog lover is the amount of hair that their favorite companion sheds. Indeed, every time molting season comes around, dog hairs are practically sticking to anything and everything inside the house, including their own clothes. This scenario is particularly disastrous for people with allergies and asthma.
For this reason, anyone thinking of getting a pet first asks if the breed of dog that they are planning to buy or adopt is a heavy shedder. This is especially true for America’s most popular dog, the Labrador Retriever.
Here are the 12 questions that are frequently asked about Labradors and their respective answers that you need to know.
1) Do Labrador Retrievers shed?
Despite being a short haired dog, Labrador Retrievers are notorious for being heavy shedders on both a regular and seasonal basis. Any Lab owner will tell you just how much hair gets into everything in their homes, including the furniture, carpets, and even window drapes.
The heavy shedding of Labs has much to do with the nature of the breed’s special coat, known as the “double coat”.
2) What is a Labrador Retriever’s double coat?
The double coat is simply a coat with two layers. Labradors developed this coat as a part of their evolution as retrievers of waterfowl and other game which required them to dive and swim in water.
The sleek and shiny top coat or outer coat consists of primary guard hairs that serve as waterproofing for the dog. Beneath the top coat, you have the very dense fluffy undercoat which helps to regulate body temperature.
How does body temperature regulation work with the undercoat? In warm weather, the undercoat traps cool air preventing the dog from overheating, which may result in sunburn and heat stroke. In cold weather, the undercoat traps warmer air to prevent hypothermia and frostbite from setting in to your dog.
Shedding of the top coat occurs every few years. The heaviest shedding takes place in the undercoat, which happens several times in a year.
3) Why do Labrador Retrievers shed so much?
Labradors shed so much as a result of their double coat. Remember that Labs evolved as a result of their outdoor job as a game retriever. This means that their coats serve as their protection against the harsh elements in the outdoor environment, particularly cold and warm weather.
But what about Labs who live during these times of modern conveniences and spend much of their time indoors or those who live in warmer locations, like tropical countries wherein the weather and temperature remain fairly consistent throughout the year?
Well, evolution has yet to catch up with the present times that Labs live in. Perhaps if thousands of years have passed, we may see changes in the Lab’s coat. But at this time, the Labrador’s coat continues to serve its purpose as a body temperature regulator and waterproof “armor”, which also means you, as your dog’s owner, still need to deal with the shedding.
4) When do Labrador Retrievers shed?
Actually, Labradors shed all throughout the year. Much of this regular shedding occurs from the dog’s outer coat. The heaviest shedding takes place in the undercoat, occurring during two three-week periods in spring and in the fall.
In the spring, the Lab sheds its heavy winter coat in order to get it ready for the hot, summer weather. When fall comes in, the summer coat is shed to allow for the growth of the heavier and thicker winter coat.
5) How much does a Labrador Retriever shed?
When you ask any Lab owner how much their dog sheds, they always answer “A LOT”. No study has been made to actually weigh how much fur/hair a Lab sheds.
But there are numerous pictures of the Internet that show just how much hair is collected during shedding. In fact, owners say that the fur shed is just as big as the dog itself. (RECOMMENDATION: Here are source links to two nice representative pics of dog shedding. FIRST LINK. SECOND LINK.)
Such is the volume of hair that is shed that the molting season has also come to be known as “coat blows”, because of the literal explosion of hairs during shedding.
6) When is the shedding of a Labrador Retriever not normal?
There are circumstances wherein the shedding of a Lab may be considered abnormal, especially if it is getting too excessive that you see your dog developing bald patches on its body.
Health conditions that can cause excessive shedding, include parasites, nutritional deficiencies, stress, allergies, and hormonal imbalances.
If you suspect that your Lab may be suffering from a medical problem, you must take it to a vet for a thorough checkup. Because shedding due to nutritional problems is common, your vet may prescribe the appropriate dog food.
7) Do some Labrador Retrievers shed more than others?
Some Lab owners believe that yellow Labradors shed more than black or chocolate Labs. Those who own darker colored Labs may say that their dogs shed more than the yellow Labradors.
While it is true that the amount of shedding sometimes varies among dogs in the same breed, it has never been proven that heavy shedding is related to coat color.
In most instances, the notion of heavier shedding results from seeing dog hairs on furniture of contrasting color. For example, if you have black, brown or any dark colored furniture, you may think that your yellow Lab is shedding a lot. The same also applies for dark fur getting into lighter colored furniture. Again, no study has ever conclusively determined heavy shedding by coat color.
8) Why is Labrador Retriever shedding bad for human health?
Labrador Retriever shedding can be a problem for individuals who suffer from allergies and asthma. It is not just the dog hair that can trigger allergy or asthmatic attacks. If the shedding is not managed properly, shed dog hair may also lead to the accumulation of dander, which can aggravate allergies and asthma.
9) How can you manage shedding?
The best way to manage shedding is by brushing your dog regularly. In regular times, you can brush your Lab once a week. However, during coat blows, you have to brush your once or even twice a day to get the dead hairs out. Brushing also helps to keep your dog’s coat and skin healthy due to the release of skin oils.
You should also give your Lab frequent baths during molting season. It is advisable to use shampoos that can minimize shedding as well as soothe dry, itchy skin. A good example of such a shampoo is Pet Oatmeal Anti-Itch Shampoo & Conditioner, which you can buy on Amazon.
10) What are the best de-shedding tools to use and how do you brush your Labrador Retriever properly?
There are grooming and de-shedding tools that you can use to be able to manage your dog’s shedding periods more effectively. Some good day-to-day tools include the bristle brush and the rubber brush to get the dead hairs out of both the top and under coats.
Just remember to brush your Lab gently starting from the head going down to the tail. Use a soft brush in the tummy areas since there are few hairs in these parts and you might end up hurting your dog. Make sure that, when you brush, you follow along the course of the hair growth.
Whenever you give your Lab a bath, use a rubber glove/mitt with soft bristles. Not only will this glove remove all the dead hairs, it can help you give your dog a nice massage, stimulating skin glands to release natural oils to keep both your Lab’s coat and skin healthy.
Some recommended de-shedding tools include the Zoom Groom and the FURminator. However, Lab owners recommend using dog rakes like the FURminator with care because you may not only damage the coat, but hurt your dog’s skin as well.
11) Can I shave my Labrador Retriever?
Many people wrongfully believe that shaving their Lab is the solution to heavy shedding. The truth is that shaving your Lab can cause more harm than good.
Shaving can disrupt the shedding cycle. The top coat containing the primary guard hairs shed and grow back slower than the undercoat. In fact, regrowing the top coat can take a year or more to complete. When you shave, you end up having more of the undercoat, so that not only will your dog shed more, it will be more prone to matting.
Shaving can also cause permanent damage to your dog’s coat. Thickness and texture changes not only makes the coat’s appearance ugly; you also increase the chances of hair loss and bald spots developing.
Besides, even if you do shave your dog, it will continue to shed, albeit the hairs shed are shorter than before.
12) How do I clean up during heavy shedding?
Your best cleaning tool during heavy shedding is the vacuum cleaner, which can suck out dead hairs and dander from furniture, carpets, and window drapes/curtains. If you have allergies, it is even better to remove all carpets and install a HEPA filter to get rid of allergens.
Use a Roomba or robot vacuum in the early morning and evening to remove any dead hairs you may have missed, especially under furniture and in tight corners.
Yes, Labrador Retrievers do shed. However, even during the heaviest of shedding seasons, you can easily manage the situation through regular brushing and grooming and daily vacuuming.
