This article is all about “Do Great Danes shed.” Here is the answer! Yes. Great Danes do indeed shed. But, the frequency and shedding cycle may vary from other breeds.
A Great Dane is the best dogs as pets. It is because of nature and nurture. Great Danes are calm, loving, and amiable furry friends. They like to spend time with the owner and the children.
The best thing about these dogs is that they love people. You can train them according to your surrounding and home environment. They get protective when they feel any danger to the family.
Now, the most repeated question by dog lovers is; Do Great Danes shed?
Shedding And Coats of Great Danes
Shedding is a common issue with all furry pets. Either they are hypoallergenic or not. Yet, they will shed.
The shedding depends on the coat layers. Some breeds have a single coat, and some have double coats.
There are two types of layers: a single coat and a double coat. Dogs with a double-coat have two layers. These dogs shed more than single coat dogs.
The inner layer of the coat protects from harsh weather conditions. But the upper layer is a guard of water, dust, and other environmental particles.
The reason behind a coat-layer is that the inner layer keeps warm, and the upper layer is furry. If you think you can stop shedding, then you are wrong.
Yet, you can have a hair-less dog then! It will not shed like; American Hairless Terrier.
Fortunately, a Great Dane has a single layer coat that is easy to manage! In comparison with other canines, Great Danes do shed but in a usual way.
The shedding increases due to greater size because smaller furry pets have shorter hair.
Suppose your dog’s size is smaller than a Great Dane, and the shedding amount is the same. Then due to greater height, Great Dane looks shedding more than usual.
Therefore, dogs with greater size and double coat need more grooming time.
The Dogs Who Do Not Shed
There is no such breed of dogs that don’t shed. If any, then it will be hairless by birth! Non-shedding is a tricky concept for furry pets. Because if there is fur over the skin, somehow it will shed.
But, we can say that the shedding is normal. It varies from different types of breed and coat-layers. Some shed more than others, but shed!
Purpose of Fur On Dogs During Shedding
Everything has a purpose. So, the fur on dogs has a purpose. It protects the dog’s skin from changing weather, heat, or cold.
Moreover, its purpose is to normalize the body temperature of canines or any other animal.
The shed hair drops, and a new one grows out of that follicles. Each matter has a definite lifetime. Therefore, hair follicle also has time to grow and shed. Each hair follows the life cycle and passes through various stages:
1) Anagen Phase – the active stage of hair is the Anagen stage when it starts to grow.
2) Catagen Phase – this stage of hair is almost a complete growth. After that, it doesn’t grow.
3) Telogen Phase – after the catagen stage, a hair becomes inactive.
4) Exogen Phase – the final stage of the hair life cycle ends. At this stage, the hair falls out.
There is no specific growth or shedding speed. It can boost or slow down depending on the condition of the dog’s skin.
Some dogs shed less than others. So, the breed with the least shedding is usually in the first phase of the hair cycle. You can remove the fur or hair through trimming or clipping.
Do Great Danes Shed More Than Other Breeds?
The breed having hair or double layer-coat shed more than single coat animal. The Great Danes are one of those breeds that have a single layer-coat. Thus, they shed less as moderate shedders.
Shedding also depends on the size of a dog. If the size is greater, the shedding will increase. The size of a male Great Dane is approximately 30 to 34 inches, and the weight is about 120 – 200 pounds.
However, the size of a Female Great Dane is around 28 – 32 inches, and it weighs between 100 – 130 pounds. The size may vary as more or less as the average size.
Another query about Great Dane is the frequency of shedding and the duration of shedding. People do search for whether Great Danes shed more during shedding seasons or not? The simple answer is yes!
The shedding increases during the spring season; it is called “blowing out” because dogs shed extra fur and hair to deal with the summer season. The coat of dogs turns into a summer single-coat.
If your Great Dane sheds other than shedding season, you need to think of reasons.
5 Reasons: Why Do Great Danes Shed
We have discussed the shedding of Goldendoodles, Chihuahuas, Shiba Inus, Pitbulls, Dachshunds, and Pugs shedding in other articles. These articles tell about the various causes and reasons for shedding.
The shedding is a normal phenomenon for all pets having hairs and fur. They will shed to grow new ones.
But, the frequency of shedding may depend on other reasons, such as deficient diet or illness.
1) Seasonal Change Affects Great Danes:
The shedding may increase due to change in season. Further, temperature changes have an impact on coat-layers.
Between springtime and summer, dogs lose winter coats to manage the hot climate.
In winters, Great Danes shed summer coat and grow a winter coat which is thick and coarse. This thick coat protects them from freezing temperatures and keeps them warm.
2) Poor Diet Cause Great Danes To Shed:
Excessive shedding happens in shedding seasons. But, shedding may increase due to nutritional deficiencies.
Sometimes dogs eat frantically and sometimes avoid eating due to a change in a diet plan. However, if you share what you eat with your pet, it causes problems.
Excess of everything is bad for health. Thus, do not share Whipped Cream, Marshmallows, or any salty product like Pretzels.
3) Allergies And Illness Disturb Great Danes:
Another reason for hair-loss is; Great Dane is suffering allergic reactions or any illness.
These allergic reactions on the skin result in patches of hair loss or redness. In this way, your pet may lose more hair all around the house.
You can determine this quickly from the condition of the skin and coat-layer.
Following are 4 signs of allergies and illness in Great Danes:
- Hair-less patches.
- Uneven hair loss or damaged hair.
- The top layer of the coat becomes dehydrated and stiff.
- Allergies may cause skin reactions, redness, or itching.
4) Hormonal Change Do Increase Shedding:
One of the prominent reasons for hair shedding is the hormonal change in Great Danes.
Female Great Danes face hormonal changes during their pregnancy. It can be a result of stress and anxiety, as well.
5) Great Danes Shed Due To Dandruff:
One of the skin issues that a Great Dane faces is dandruff. Proper care and grooming involve dealing with dandruff also. It is because dandruff can cause other skin problems.
You are now wondering why is a Great Dane having a problem with dandruff!
Here are 5 reasons that cause dandruff in Great Dane:
- Giving a bath regularly.
- Poor diet.
- Hyperthyroidism.
- Endocrine disorders.
- Using a harsh shampoo for the skin.
Dandruff is not a big issue. You can resolve it by solving the above problems.
Stop regular baths! Use a good shampoo with conditioner, and give a proper diet full of nutrients. Also, visit a vet if you find something problematic.
6 Remedies: Managing Great Danes Shedding
Nothing is perfect in this world. You need to accept the flaws as well to live a happy life. Otherwise, you won’t find happiness.
You cannot end shedding from a Great Dane’s life but, you can cut it. You are deciding to have a Great Dane, and you are thinking about shedding. Think about it again!
Where there is a problem, a solution is also there. However, you have to put some effort to deal with it.
There are many remedies and precaution that you can take to manage the shedding of Great Danes:
1) Grooming Your Great Dane:
Grooming is essential for your pet as it keeps your pet active and healthy. Moreover, regular grooming helps to reduce shedding. You can control excessive shedding during shedding seasons.
Grooming includes brushing, trimming, clipping, removing dead and hairs, cleaning Great Dane properly.
2) Bathing Great Danes:
You cannot give a regular bath to Great Danes. It can cause dryness, dandruff, and other skin issues. Yet, daily bathing eliminates oil from the skin-layer.
Bathing is useful to remove dust and dirt particles from hair. Furthermore, it also drops out dead hairs.
Therefore, a bath once after a month or two helps deal with the shedding of Great Danes. While bathing, use a de-shedding shampoo and conditioner. The shampoo and conditioner should have essential nutrients for skin nourishment.
3) Nutrition Fulfill Deficiencies Of Great Danes:
A balanced diet is significant in a healthy soul. Sometimes dogs may shed due to a low nutritional diet or change in diet.
Buy a quality dog’s food with all essential nutrients, vitamins, proteins, and minerals. Further, supplements, including Omega 3 and fish oil, prove beneficial.
Low diet is a cause for dandruff in Great Danes. Try to add quality ingredients to the diet plan.
An important point is; when you change a diet, a dog takes time to digest and adapt to it.
Make sure to add Plantains to the diet plan once or twice a week. It helps in the digestive system. Olives are good for dog’s health but only a few quantities.
Give your Great Dane fruits enrich with vitamins and minerals. Such as apples, mango, watermelon, and strawberries.
4) Check Great Danes by Vet:
A regular check-up with a veterinarian is essential. Sometimes the situation is difficult to understand. Moreover, a vet can guide in a better way, and he provides the best possible solutions.
Any unusual circumstances or irrational behavior in Great Danes is alarming. Immediately visit a vet for a complete check-up and medications.
5) Brushing Limits Great Danes Shedding:
A grooming session involves brushing. This is because it can minimize shedding in the Great Danes breed.
Brushing gives a smooth texture to hairs and an upper layer of coat. You should use a brush with firm bristles to get better output greatest twice a week when shedding season starts to brush regularly.
Brush up to 10 minutes entirely outside your house to get rid of the shed hair of Great Danes.
Suitable Type of Brush:
You should use a bristle brush with a rubber hand. As Great Danes have a single coat-layer thus, it is a suitable type of brush. It gives a smooth and sleek texture to the upper-coat.
There is another useful option for a de-shedding tool. It gives efficient results in no time.
When To Use A Brush:
If shedding is normal, then you can use it once a week. However, you find excessive shedding. You can use a brush daily. It doesn’t harm the skin.
Home Cleaning: Managing Great Danes Shed
Dogs are the most amiable creatures on Earth. The breed is loyal and faithful to the owner. The problem is the shed hair all around; clothes, sofas, floors, and carpets.
This shedding of Great Danes creates inconvenience for the owner. Proper cleaning is vital in this situation. This is because you cannot keep your house hair-free all time.
Yet, there are various ways to manage Great Danes shedding. Use a vacuum cleaner to capture hair that has fallen everywhere.
Clean the cushions, rugs, and covers every weekend to eliminate dropped hair.
Moreover, if your house has carpet, you should choose the color wisely, the same as the pet’s color. This technique is useful because it won’t make prominent the shed hair.
Is a Great Dane Better Option
Great Dane is one of the most significant size breeds of dogs. They have a gentle, charming, loving, and caring nature toward people.
Is Great Dane a better option? Yes! They are the best dogs as a part of a family. They enjoy the company of people and play with kids.
Great Danes has a long history. They bred as hunters. They have another name as “Apollo of Dogs.”
Once you ignore the shedding factor, the Great Danes are the best option to keep as a pet dog. This breed is easy going, and attentive guardian, and protective dog.
Conclusion: Do Great Danes Shed!
Do Great Danes shed? Yes, they do shed, but the frequency of shedding is moderate than other breeds.
Shedding is problematic yet; Great Dane is the best choice for pets. They are protective companions. They are the least shedders as compared to other dogs. However, they shed a bit higher during the shedding season.
This article provides you the reasons and remedies for Great Dane’s shedding. So, you may manage the maintenance of your canine partner efficiently.
You cannot stop shedding, but you can learn to manage the deal with this issue. Try to follow the precautions as mentioned-above for better management.