In all the excitement of getting ready to meet your new furry family member, the realities of kitten parenthood can be easily forgotten. That is, until you find their hairs all over your sofa or favourite jumper… whatever type of coat your kitten is rocking, pretty much all kittens and cats shed. Learn more about kitten shedding and how to manage.

Puppies and dogs have coats for a reason (beyond making them look like adorable bundles of floof): to protect their skin from the elements.

There are 2 types of hair in your puppy’s coat, which they may or may not have:

• • • Undercoat: this layer of hair lies closest to your puppy’s skin. Soft, short and downy, the undercoat provides insulation, keeping your puppy warm in the cooler months. Not all dogs have an undercoat - these are called single-coat dogs and include breeds like the Chihuahua, Dachshund and Greyhound.
    • Topcoat or guard or awn hairs: all dogs have a topcoat. Topcoats come in a huge range of colours and markings. They can be smooth, curly or wiry, long or short - and everything in between. If your puppy has an undercoat and a topcoat, they’re a double-coat breed, like a Husky, Corgi or Labrador.

Even so-called ‘hairless’ dogs, like a Chinese Crested, actually do have hair, normally on their heads, tails or feet.

Dog hair grows in cycles:

• • • Anagen: the growing phase.
    • Catagen: the phase where their hair changes from growing to resting.
    • Telogen: the resting and inactive phase.
    • Exogen: the shedding phase (when the hair falls from the follicle).

There’s no such thing as a dog that doesn’t shed. All dogs’ hair follows the above growth cycle, which means all dogs shed. However, it can seem like some breeds shed less than others.

Short-haired dogs shed a lot, because each hair finishes its growth cycle in a short period of time, like days or weeks. But very long-haired dogs, like Lhasa Aposos and Poodles, are commonly called “non-shedding” because it can take years for their hair to complete the growth cycle.

As well as year-round shedding, some dogs shed seasonally. Dogs with double-coats shed their warm and thick undercoat in spring, to get ready for the hotter summer days ahead. They then shed their lighter summer coat in autumn so they’ve got a thicker, warmer coat for winter.

All puppies shed their baby coats. This normally starts when they’re around 6 months old and can last up to 2 years. You might not notice a big difference between the puppy and adult coats of a smooth-coated breed, like a Pug - their adult coat tends to be slightly glossier and harder but otherwise it’s very similar. Double-coated breeds, like a Pomeranian or a Collie, can look a little moth-eaten and scraggly as their puppy coat falls away.

It’s best to start grooming your puppy as soon as you can. This gets them used to being handled and brushed and will help to avoid complaints in the future!

First, gather your tools. You need:

• • • A suitable brush for their coat. The right brush for your puppy depends on their coat. Generally, a soft rubber brush or grooming mitt suits smooth- and short-haired pups, like Greyhounds. Long-haired or double-coated dogs, like a Labrador Retriever, do well on pin brushes and combs, to help you detangle their fur and give their skin a good massage.
    • Plenty of delicious treats to reward your puppy.

Then:

• • • Let your puppy sniff and explore the tools so they get comfortable with them.
    • Starting on their back, gently brush from their shoulders to their rear-end, heaping on the praise.
    • Give them a treat and then try brushing their legs, tummy and tail.
    • Keep grooming sessions short at first, just a few minutes.
    • Build up to including handling your puppy’s paws and checking their ears and mouth.
    • Reward their patience and good behaviour with treats and always finish on a positive note so your puppy learns that grooming is an enjoyable process.

Not only will this help you throughout their lifetime, but it’ll also help vets and groomers and anyone else who needs to handle your dog.

Here are some simple ways to keep your puppy’s shedding under control.

• • • Invest in the proper grooming tools for your dog’s coat. Not sure which one is right for your pup? Give our friendly Pet Direct Customer Care team a call on 0800 200 240 or email support@petdirect.co.nz. Investing in quality tools that you take care of (and your puppy knows aren’t playthings!) should last your dog’s lifetime.
    • Set aside grooming time every day, even for short- or smooth-haired breeds. This will help get rid of any loose hair that would otherwise decorate your floors.
    • Up your grooming during shedding season for double-coated dogs. Expect to groom your dog more in spring and autumn.
    • Feed your pup quality dog food that’s tailored to their life stage. Keep up with flea and worm treatments too. Their coat is a reflection of their internal health, so the healthier you can keep them, the better their coat.
    • Regularly bathe and dry your dog. Although washing your dog too often can strip their hair and skin of their natural oils, most dogs can be bathed every 2 to 3 months. A good bath, with dog shampoo, and thorough dry can remove a lot of dead fur, quickly.
    • Use a damp kitchen sponge to lift fur from carpet and soft furniture and invest in some lint rollers.

Hopefully that covers everything you need to know about your puppy’s shedding. If you need any further help or have a question we haven’t answered, contact our friendly Pet Direct Customer Care team on 0800 200 240 or email support@petdirect.co.nz.