Do Labs shed? Yes, they do shed. They are well known for their hair shedding. If you already have a Labrador, then you are familiar with it.
If you plan to welcome a Labrador Retriever to your house, you need to know about their double coats. They typically shed seasonally but more in the spring and winter seasons.
Labradors not only fill your house with joy and happiness but also fill your house with their hair.
This breed makes the best pet. Labradors are very famous and most favorite in the US for a reason.
Some people also ask, “Do Weimaraners Shed?“ which depends on their inheritance and coats.
Mix breeds also have chances to inherit the same coat qualities. You should not worry if you see lab hair on your carpet or in the corners of your room.
In this article, we’ll discuss the following aspects so you can manage the Labrador shedding.
Let’s get started!
Coats of Labrador Retriever
They have a double coat; one is fur and then an undercoat. Fur act as a protective layer while an undercoat keeps the animal warm just like it keeps pugs and corgis warm. Collectively these coats make a good protective barrier for your Labrador.
Their shedding depends on the area and environment where you live. Labradors have two major shedding seasons in which they shed their hair.
Labrador retrievers have three different primary colors. These include Black, Yellow, and Chocolate.
Do Different Colored Labs Shed More?
People often ask a prevalent question: “Do different colors affect lab shedding?” The answer is No.
All the Labrador breeds are the same. They have the same genetic makeup.
Even American and English Labrador breeds are the same, but their appearances are different.
Black, chocolate, and yellow labs shed the same amount of hair. It all depends on how much hair you see on the floors.
If you have a light-colored floor, Dark hair will be more prominent and noticeable. While if you have a dark floor, then dark and chocolate hair will be less noticeable.
In Which Seasons Labs Shed More?
Usually, Labs shed throughout the year. Prominent hair loss occurs when the season changes.
In the spring season, you’ll notice more hair shedding in your Labrador because they shed their winter coat.
In autumn, they shed their spring coat to get their fur ready for the winters.
Sometimes their winter coat is in a different color from the summer coat.
It usually happens to camouflage the season changes.
This period is often referred to as “Shedding season.” Where you might see yourself using a vacuum more than before.
Shedding Frequency of Labs:
Shedding frequency mostly depends on seasonal changes.
Although they shed the whole year in two specific seasons, you’ll see them shedding more.
This is the standard shedding for a Labrador. But also for the other dogs with double coats.
Winter and spring are their full shedding seasons. But don’t think to stop grooming your pup in the offseason.
Regular grooming helps in managing the dog’s hair successfully. You may have seen the strong and shiny fur of a German Shepherd.
Why Do Labs Shed A Lot?
Many dog breeds are not bred for outdoor activities or work. They have a single coat of hair.
Their single coat protects them and makes them comfortable.
While the dog breeds for outdoor work, they needed more protection from harsh weather conditions.
According to their living environment, nature blessed them with double coats.
The inner coat has a very thick layer of hair. They trap the body heat and protect the dog from environmental factors.
The outer layer has longer and thicker hair to repel the dirt and water.
Because of their double coats, they shed more than other breeds.
Do Shedding A lot In Labs Is A Health Problem?
It is normal for a dog to shed hair. If you notice excessive shedding in your pup, contact your vet.
Hormonal imbalance, stress, and allergies can also cause excessive shedding in your Labrador.
Sometimes, fleas and lice can cause excessive shedding in labs.
If there is no medical issue diagnosed in your lab, but you are still worried about his extra shedding, you should check his daily diet.
If your dog is healthy from the inside, it will appear from the outside.
Give them healthy food to improve their coats.
How To Compare The Shedding of The Outer & Inner Coat?
The outer coat is lighter and less dense than the inner coat. It shed during the seasonal change.
When the outer coat sheds, you may witness less hair fall.
But when both coats shed at the same time, you’ll notice more hair fall than the usual.
It happens when fur gets ready for the summer season.
How To Manage If Your Labs Shed A lot?
There is nothing you can do to stop your lab from shedding. But you can do a few things to manage their hair fall.
The process of shedding is completely natural but annoying at the same time. But you can’t do anything to prevent it.
The most common way to manage includes bathing, brushing, and de-shedding techniques.
Food allergens also affect the dog’s skin, which can cause excessive hair fall. It will help if you keep an eye on it.
1) Brushing Your Labs Regularly:
The best way to manage is to brush your Labrador’s hair twice a week. It will reduce the amount of hair fall in your house.
Specially designed brushes are necessary to cope up with the shedding of the labs.
There are plenty of them available in the market.
2) Selection of Best Shampoos For Your Labs:
Selecting suitable shampoos for your lab is an important factor. They can have sensitive skin.
In the case of sensitive skin, use oatmeal shampoo.
Labs do not need to take baths daily or weekly. Bathing them once a month is good.
Excessively bathing them disturbs their body oil ratio.
If the oatmeal shampoo does not help reduce the shedding, try Anti-shedding formula shampoo.
If your Labrador has sensitive skin, try skin-soothing shampoos. But they can affect their shedding habit and may increase it.
3) Healthy Diet For Your Labs:
A well-balanced diet is necessary for labs as it is for humans. Try using formula riches with omega 3 fatty acids.
Omega 3 fatty acids help in maintaining skin and hair health. It helps the pup’s fur to shine more.
It also helps in minimizing the skin conditions that your dog has.
Vitamin and minerals are important for a dog. Try to add some natural vegetables like cilantro, cabbage, or basil
Sweet potatoes and zucchini have a natural source of minerals and vitamins. These two can be added to their food.
4) Use of Supplements:
Supplements can also help in reducing the shedding in your dog. If your dog’s diet lack in omega 3 fatty acid, try to add fish oil supplements.
These supplements are available in both pill and liquid form.
Some other chewable supplements help improve the Labrador fur or any other dog’s fur.
These chewable are the favorite of dogs. They are used in training as well.
5) Products To Manage The Shedding:
Deshedding products help to manage the shedding of Labradors. These products include brushes. Deshedding brush is used to comb the lab’s coat. It removes the excess hair and tries to gather the hair which is about to fall.
These brushes are different from standard brushes. They have a more abrasive surface. We recommend it not to use more than twice a year.
6) Zoom Groom:
Zoom groom is a fun-looking groom who helps in catching the dead undercoat fall. It functions from head to tail and results in the falling of dead hair on the floor.
This tool is helpful to release the dead hair from the dog’s fur.
7) Use of FURminator:
The use of FURminator depends on the coat of your dog. Labrador varies with the thickness of their hair coat and when they molt.
Some people don’t like to use the FURminator. They believe that the FURminator damages the dog’s fur coat.
And they think it is not a deal for the dogs.
Any de-shedding product can leave empty patches and bald places.
Furminator may also seem a little aggressive de-shed equipment, but it makes a huge difference to the lab and the house.
Be careful with the FURminator:
These FURminators are somehow similar to the marmite. You love them or hate them. It’s your choice of experience.
Use it very carefully. It’s powerful equipment.
Please do not use it on your dog excessively. Try not to leave bare patches and avoid keeping the coat too thin.
8) Shaving Your Labs Is A Good Idea?
A concise answer to this question is “No.”
People get tired of cleaning the floors, so they think to shave their labs. They often ask that shaving their lab is a good thing or not, but it isn’t.
Hair fall can indeed be a problem, but shaving your dog can cause him a serious problem.
Your dog will not be able to control the temperature according to his body. His body will be prone to injuries and cuts.
9) Hair Removal From The House:
After you remove the hair from their coats, you will need to remove the hair from your house as well.
There are many kinds of vacuums used to remove hair fall. Choose it according to your preferences.
Final Thoughts:
Yes, Labradors shed. They shed in two seasons, and managing hair shed is not a big problem. If you groom and brush your dog accordingly, it will not overwhelm you or your house.
You need to give your dog a proper diet and nutrition. It won’t be an issue for you to choose Labrador to match your furniture and floors.
