Anti-Shed Grooming Techniques for a Labrador Retriever

Owners of Labrador retrievers know that these dogs shed a lot of hair. Because of their natural inclination to shed, it is impossible to stop the shedding. However, it is possible to care for the dog̵7;s coat in a manner that limits shedding. There are two kinds of Labrador retrievers: yellow and black. The yellow Labrador sheds at a slow pace throughout the year while the black Labrador shed its full coat twice a year. Keep the dogs fur nice and shiny while keeping the house and yard free from dog hairs by regularly grooming the coat of a Labrador retriever.

  1. Do Not Cut the Fur too Short

    • Do not cut the Labrador retriever̵7;s hair too short or cut the hair completely off to reduce shedding. Shaving the hair off or cutting it short will not prevent the Lab from shedding its coat. The Lab will still shed, but instead of shedding a fluffy and soft normal undercoat, it will shed short and prickly hairs.

    Use a Bristle Brush

    • Strip the black Lab̵7;s undercoat during spring and fall with a slicker brush. Spring and fall are the shedding season for black Labs, and during this time it is important to brush with the slicker brush twice a week, while maintaining the daily brushing. Use a slicker brush once a month on yellow Labs who continuously shred throughout the year.

    Remove Tangles with a Wide Tooth Comb

    • Comb the Lab̵7;s hip and tail areas during the winter months to prevent excess hair from building up in these areas. The accumulating hair must be removed to allow the natural oils from the Lab̵7;s skin to coat the fur. If the hair is allowed to become dry, the fur will become matted. Matted hair will either stick to the Lab̵7;s body in large mounds or fall to the ground in large clumps.

    Use a Dog Grooming Wipe to Remove Stray Hairs

    • Remove excess stray hairs from the Lab̵7;s coat after all brushing and combing is complete. Wipe the dog̵7;s coat with a pet grooming dog wipe in the direction that the hair grows. Slide the grooming wipe over the Lab̵7;s entire coat to remove excess stray hairs. This will trap the hairs on the wipe and prevent them from flying into the air or falling onto the ground.