Poodles and Shedding

Originally bred in Germany as hunting dogs, poodles come in various colors, including white, black, gray and apricot, but they are never parti-colored. Personality and stylish appearance combined with intelligence make the poodle a popular dog breed. Despite their popularity, there are a few misconceptions about poodles, including the idea that they don't shed. Poodles do in fact shed, and their coat presents a few breed-specific particularities.

  1. Coat and Shedding in Poodles

    • Poodles are single-coated. Unlike other dog breeds with a similar fluffy appearance, poodles don't have an undercoat. Instead, their coat consists of individual hairs, which, just like in humans, grow permanently. Poodles shed about every 21 days, according to AllPoodleInfo (see References 3). Compared to other hairy dog breeds, poodles have some shedding particularities. For example, the dead hairs are unlikely to fall out, but rather build up in the coat due to their curly nature. For this reason, poodles are more prone to knot formation.

    Changes in Coat

    • The coat of a poodle changes its appearance when the dog is between 9 and 16 months old. The soft hairs that used to make up the coat of the poodle puppy are replaced by rough curly hairs, marking the beginning of the dog's adult life. During this period, poodles usually require thorough brushing on a daily basis; unless removed, the dead hairs will cluster in the coat and form mats.

    Gender-Specific Shedding Problems

    • Female poodles are prone to severe shedding periods due to hormonal changes. These changes normally occur either during the heat cycles, due to a rise in the estrogen level, or during postnatal periods, due to whelping. This acute shedding can sometimes result in hair-loss problems which, when extreme, may lead to exposed patches of skin across the body. In some cases it can take even four months for the coat to regain its healthy look.

    Manage Shedding

    • Poodles require weekly grooming and trimming due to their shedding and the fact that their hair grows continually. Take your poodle to a professional groomer, or perform the grooming yourself. Regular grooming keeps the coat free of mats for a healthy, clean look. To reduce severe hair loss in your female poodle, spay your pet once you've decided that breeding is out of question. Your pet will no longer come into heat and won't be able to breed, so it won't experience dramatic hormonal fluctuations.

    Shedding in Poodles and Allergies in Humans

    • Many people mistakenly believe that poodles don't shed, which also is why people think they are hypoallergenic dogs. However, allergies are caused by a protein present in dander, which is produced by skin. Poodles produce dander, but in smaller amounts than other canines and this is why they are said to do well with people with allergies. Reduced exposure to dander may result in diminished or no allergic reactions. However, the reaction of each individual to dander is different, and certain sensitive people may still experience allergic reactions in the presence of poodles.