Let me be honest with you from the very first line, because I'd rather you trusted me than sold you a miracle: you cannot completely stop a healthy dog from shedding. Losing old hair is how a coat stays healthy, and any product promising to switch it off entirely isn't being straight with you. What you absolutely can do is reduce it dramatically, often to the point where you stop finding fur on every jumper, cushion and car seat.
I see this every week in the salon here in York. The dogs whose owners brush regularly and come in for the occasional deshedding groom leave far less fur behind at home. So this is the realistic, practical version: why dogs shed, how to get it under control, and when heavy shedding is actually a sign to ring your vet.
Why dogs shed in the first place
Shedding is just the natural coat cycle. Hairs grow, rest, and eventually die and fall out to make room for new ones. Most dogs do this quietly all year round, then have two bigger "moults" (usually spring and autumn) as they swap their coat for the season ahead. That spring blow-out, when your dog seems to be releasing a second dog's worth of fluff, is completely normal.
How much your dog sheds depends a lot on breed and coat type:
- Heavy shedders: double-coated breeds like Labradors, German Shepherds, Huskies, Golden Retrievers, Corgis and Border Collies. That soft undercoat is what comes out in clumps during a moult.
- Low shedders: curly and wool-coated breeds like Poodles, Bichons, and the popular Doodle crosses. They shed far less, but the trade-off is that loose hair gets trapped in the coat and mats instead of falling out, so they need even more grooming, not less.
Regular brushing is the single biggest thing you can do
If you take one thing from this post, make it this: regular brushing is where the battle is won. Getting loose hair out with a brush means it ends up in the bin rather than on your sofa. The trick is matching the tool to the coat.
- Double coats (Labs, Shepherds, Huskies): a slicker brush plus an undercoat rake to reach that dense underlayer. During a moult, little and often beats one big session.
- Short, smooth coats (Staffies, Beagles): a rubber curry brush or grooming mitt lifts loose hair beautifully and gives a nice massage too.
- Curly and wool coats (Poodles, Doodles): a slicker and a comb to prevent mats. Remember, their hair doesn't drop out on its own, so brushing right down to the skin matters.
Aim for a few minutes several times a week, and daily during the big seasonal moults.
Feed the coat from the inside
A dull, brittle coat sheds more, and diet is a huge part of coat quality. A complete, good-quality food does most of the work, but omega-3 fatty acids (from fish oil, for example) are the real friend of a healthy coat, they support the skin and can noticeably reduce excess shedding. Fresh water always available matters too; a dehydrated dog has drier skin. If you're thinking of adding a supplement, have a quick word with your vet first so it suits your individual dog.
Bathing and, crucially, proper drying
A warm bath with a gentle dog shampoo loosens all that dead, ready-to-fall hair. But here's the part people miss at home: the drying is where most of the loose undercoat actually comes out. A thorough blow-dry blasts free the fur that a towel just leaves sitting in the coat. Done properly, one good bath-and-dry can remove an astonishing amount of hair in one go.
Vet note: Sudden or patchy shedding, bald spots, red or itchy skin, or fur coming out in a way that doesn't feel like a normal moult can point to a health issue: allergies, fleas or mites, stress, or a hormonal problem like an underactive thyroid. This isn't normal shedding, and it's worth a vet visit rather than more brushing.
When heavy shedding is a health flag
Normal moulting is even and leaves a full coat behind. Ring your vet if you notice:
- Bald patches or thinning fur
- Red, flaky, sore or itchy skin
- Constant scratching, biting or licking
- Signs of fleas or other parasites
- Shedding that comes on suddenly alongside other changes: weight gain, low energy, or a poor appetite
None of this is something to brush away (forgive the pun). Your vet can rule out the medical causes so you're only dealing with ordinary fur.
Where a professional deshedding treatment comes in
This is genuinely one of my favourite grooms to do, because owners can see the difference the moment they get home. A professional deshedding treatment combines a deep bath with a deshedding shampoo, a high-velocity blow-dry that lifts the dead undercoat right out, and a thorough de-shed with the proper tools. On a heavy-shedding double coat we routinely remove several handfuls of loose fur that would otherwise have ended up all over your house.
For most double-coated dogs, a deshedding groom every few months, timed around the spring and autumn moults, keeps the shedding at home to a fraction of what it was. Pair that with regular brushing between visits and you'll wonder where all the fur went.
Frequently asked questions
How do I stop my dog shedding so much?
You can't stop normal shedding entirely, but you can reduce it dramatically with regular brushing, a good diet with omega-3s, and professional deshedding grooms that remove the dead undercoat before it lands on your floor.
What months do dogs shed the most?
Most dogs have their biggest moults in spring and autumn as they change coat for the season. Double-coated breeds shed the most noticeably during these periods.
Does brushing really reduce shedding?
Yes. It's the most effective thing you can do at home. Brushing captures loose hair before it falls out around the house, and the right tool for your dog's coat type makes all the difference.
When should I worry about my dog's shedding?
See your vet if you notice bald patches, red or itchy skin, constant scratching, signs of parasites, or shedding alongside other symptoms like low energy. Even, all-over moulting is normal; patchy loss or sore skin is not.
Fluffs is a professional dog grooming salon in Wigginton, York, offering one-to-one grooming for dogs of every breed and coat type across Haxby, Strensall, Huntington, New Earswick and the surrounding villages. Struggling with a coat that sheds everywhere? Our deshedding groom works wonders. Book a deshedding session.