Samoyeds are gentle, playful, and active dogs. They have a lush white coat and beautiful features. Their fluffy coat and beautiful dark eyes make it hard not to fall for them. However, you may be wondering do Samoyeds shed?
Yes, Samoyeds do shed. If you are considering keeping a Samoyed, you must know that these dogs require a lot of grooming. It is because of their thick coat.
Unlike Pitbulls, Samoyeds shed a lot as the thickness of their fur is more than other dogs.
To understand how much can these furry friends of yours might shed and how you should take care of them, continue reading.
In Which Season Do Samoyeds Shed?
Samoyeds do not shed all year round, but they can shed once or twice a year during warmer seasons. If you have a male dog, it will shed its heavy undercoat once around spring. The same is in the case of labs.
However, it depends on a female dog, whether it is spayed or not. Those who are neutered will undergo the heavy shedding once during spring. If the females aren’t neutered, the shedding will occur twice.
Samoyed’s are powerful as this breed helps in hunting, herd, and guard. They are also known as sled dogs as they can slide heavy loads.
Their heavy, double, and water-resistant coats keep them warm in freezing temperatures. It also helps Samoyed people for sliding load across the Antarctic. By heavy double coat, we mean that it is so dense you can merely see their skin.
This why they shed more when the warmer season arrives. Unlike Chihuahuas, which shed in winter and spring both. The shedding can last around 2-3 weeks.
You will most likely see their fur everywhere around the house. Especially if you have dark furniture or wear dark clothing. Before you adopt a dog, you do research and look for answers for to questions like how many times a male dog can mate or what are their shedding patterns and what do they eat.
Why Do Samoyeds Shed A Lot?
Typically, Samoyeds do not belong to warmer regions. The beautiful dogs with lush white fur coats are best suited in colder areas like Antarctica.
As soon as the weather turns hot, your canine friend will shed excessively. If they do not get rid of the excessive fur, it will cause over-heating.
These furry creatures are sensitive to heat, as they belong to colder regions. This is why it is better to keep them in cold places during hotter hours of the day. If you belong to a hot and humid area, your dog may shed more than usual.
This process of shedding fur is known as” blowing the coat.”
Samoyeds have two coats. One is the undercoat, and the other one consists of long guard hair that protects the outer layer.
Samoyeds only shed the undercoat once or twice a year, which creates a big mess around the house. In the winter seasons, they shed in a minimal amount. As the weather grows warmer, they lose hair that can fill many grocery bags per week.
Just imagine the cleaning process you have to perform!
Most of the dogs have one thing in common:
Their shedding phase (telogen) is faster than their growth rate (anagen). It also depends upon the density of the coats in dogs.
Samoyeds have thick coats and longer hairs. If the falling rate is the same as the other dogs, you might still notice more fur around the house. It is because of their dense fuzzy coat.
How Can You Keep Your Samoyed Groomed During Shedding Season?
Having too much Samoyed hair around the house can be irritating. You would want to get rid of the excessive hair. Although there is no permanent way to stop your dog from shedding, you can continuously clean up.
Molting or shedding is a natural process through which dogs get rid of their hair. But, it creates a problem for owners.
You can shave your dog completely to stop the shedding temporarily. But it is not a good idea as your pup needs this fur coat to prevent them from both cold and hot weather. It also prevents the dog’s skin from sunburn.
However, some ways can assist you in controlling excessive shedding. It will keep your pet groomed as well. Have a look below!
1) Brushing:
Brushing is the most effective way that will help you get rid of fur when Samoyeds shed. Not only it removes the dead hair off the pup, but it also helps in promoting a healthier fur coat.
The reason is while creating strokes, the oil on the skin is distributed evenly on the skin. Hence, the growth of beautiful white fur.
Brushing also helps in detangling the hair, which will give them a well-groomed look.
Now, the question is, what type of brushes should you use?
It depends on the fur of the dog. If we talk about Samoyed, they have a dense, water-resistant double coating of hair. The outer one is hard, while the undercoat is soft and wooly. The following types of brushes will work perfectly for your furry friend.
A) Slicker Brush:
Well-groomed Samoyeds can be a beautiful sight to sore eyes. To achieve a mesmerizing look, a slicker brush is perfect.
This brush has slightly angled, fine brushes made up of wire and plastic caps over it. The wire of the brush provides more flexibility and easily detangles the tough upper coat of the dog.
It also removes mats from the fur and is an excellent tool to silken the tail of your beautiful dog.
Do not forget to add this brush to your dog’s tool kit if you want smooth and shiny fur on your canine friend.
B) Pin Brush:
These are standard brushes with regular spacing and padded pins. You can use this tool regularly.
Dogs love to play in the dirt. Pin brushes will help in getting the mud and the fragments out of their fur. All you need to do is gently stroke the brush on the dog’s body as being harsh with strokes can cause them pain.
Matted hair in dogs does not only look dirty but also harms the dog’s health. It will cause pain to your dog, and temperature regulation will become problematic.
Therefore, it is essential to brush them regularly.
C) Shedding Comb:
Brushing your dog’s hair helps in detangling and removing the mat. In contrast, de-shedding helps to remove the loose topcoat fur. Without damaging the undercoat.
If you de-shed on time, there are fewer chances of your dog’s fur falling all around the surface of your house.
Therefore, when the shedding season is around the corner, get your hands on a shedding comb.
A wide-tooth shedding comb is perfect for removing the undercoat debris. It has wider nubs and multiple levels. It performs the function of both detangling and breaks up the undercoat for removal.
D) Undercoat Rake:
Just like shedding combs are necessary during the heavy shedding period. You shouldn’t ignore the undercoat rake.
As the name suggests, this brush has a rake-like shape. It puts pressure on the dense undercoat automatically so that you don’t have to put a lot of effort.
This brush has wide, gentle nubs. It removes all the mat from their fur as the pressure due to pressure exertion.
An undercoat is the best tool for detailed grooming. Thus, you should have one for your Samoyed to keep him beautiful as ever.
2) Bathing:
Samoyeds are not smelly dogs. So, they don’t need to bathe frequently. You can bathe them every 3-4 months.
It helps in removing the excess fur also maintains a healthy coat on your pup. During warmer seasons, when they shed a lot, bathing can be beneficial.
If you want to take your dog for a walk outside and want detailed grooming, brushing before bathing is a great idea.
Ensure that you do not over rinse their coat. By doing so, it will remove the essential oils from the skin and dry out their skin. If the fur is rough and dry, it can lead to unnecessary shedding.
Always buy a high-quality shampoo that claims to lock moisture in the skin. The cheaper ones don’t do any good to Samoyeds or any other dogs while bathing.
3) Coconut Oil:
Not only brushing your pet will help them keep their coat healthy and clean. But, coconut oil also does wonders.
Even though you regularly brush your pup, there are chances that they might develop mat.
Thus, to avoid this condition, coconut oil is perfect for detangling, giving a lustrous look to the dog’s hair, making them look more striking than ever.
Apply a small amount of oil over the dog’s skin, and with the help of an undercoat rake or a shedding comb, stroke gently. It will loosen the hair and remove the mat.
4) Dryer:
It is an essential part of a dog’s grooming session while they are shedding.
When you bathe your pup, they are prone to have a mat on the wet hair. While roaming around with damp fur, they catch the mat. It stays intact when their hair dries off.
So, you must use a hairdryer to keep the mat away and also straighten out the fur. It also keeps it from tangling.
Save your time from detangling and removing mats and use a hairdryer as soon as you bathe them.
What Should Samoyeds Eat To Prevent Excessive Shedding?
At the starting of the article, we wanted to know do Samoyeds shed? Yes, they do A LOT.
You cannot prevent shedding from occurring. However, you can groom and clean them. So that these intelligent, gentle, and hardworking dogs look beautiful as much as they do up North.
Apart from grooming, a proper diet also plays a vital role in reducing excessive molting. To help you select the right diet for your pup, visit your vet.
Cheap and low-quality dog foods do not have an adequate amount of vitamins and minerals in them. It only increases shedding.
Always choose dog foods that are of high-quality. They should have the correct amount of vitamins, minerals, and proteins. Do follow the guidance of your vet.
This will not only reduce excessive shedding but also help in developing a fluffier coat.
Have a look at some essential nutrients that dogs need for healthy skin and a better coat:
1) Vitamin A and D:
It helps in improving the coat’s quality and maintains the luster and silkiness over it.
Foods like carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes, liver, and marine fish oil are rich in vitamin A and D.
2) Vitamin E:
If your dog is suffering from a skin infection or an injury. This antioxidant will help heal the skin and improve the coat.
Leafy green vegetables and whole grains are a good source of Vitamin E.
3) Biotin:
It forms healthy skin. Biotin is also found in leafy green vegetables, which should be a part of your dog’s diet.
4) Omega 3 Fatty Acids:
It helps in locking the moisture in the skin and prevent itching. Salmon, sardines, and anchovies are rich in omega 3.
5) Omega 6 Fatty Acids:
It is necessary for Samoyeds who have a rough, dry, and dull coat. It also helps in keeping the dog’s fur moisturized.
Vegetable oils like sunflower and soya bean oils are rich in omega-six fatty acids.
There are plenty of “dog-shedding supplements” available in the market. But, all these are not as beneficial as they claim to be.
Hence, avoid spending even a few bucks on them. Instead, save up and buy good quality food for your pup.
Final Thoughts:
Samoyeds are the brightest dogs amongst the northern breed. They are hearty and love performing activities during the winter season.
Their stunning, white, lustrous, and silky fur is the reason why people love to pet them.
We know for a fact that beauty comes with a price. And in this context, the price is excessive shedding. When it comes to owning a dog, it is not easy to keep a Samoyed.
However, there are a few ways that can help to reduce excessive shedding.
The use of grooming tools, coconut oil, bathing, and a hairdryer. All constitute a better fur coat with reduced shedding.
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