Dog Grooming Products for Shedding

If you own a dog, you deal with shedding. All breeds, even those billed as "non-shedding", occasionally lose some hair. However, dogs with thick coats, or those with poor diets or parasites, typically shed the most. Regular bathing and a low-stress lifestyle may cut down on your dog's shedding, but if it remains a problem, grooming tools are available that might help.

  1. Brushes and Combs

    • Regular brushing is one way to cut down on shedding, but it is important to use the correct tool. For short-haired breeds such as boxers or beagles, a stiff-bristled curry brush works fine. Dogs with fuller coats may require a slicker brush, with softer, slanted bristles that work through longer hair better. Run a metal-toothed comb through your dog's mid-length or long coat to be sure you have gotten all the loose hair and tangles.

    Shedding Rakes and Blades

    • To reduce shedding in dogs with short but very thick coats, such as huskies and German Shepherd Dogs, you may need more than a simple brush or comb. For these dogs, use shedding blades, grooming tools featuring a U-shaped blade with small teeth. An undercoat rake, a tool with a double row of usually stainless steel teeth, also might be needed if your dog has a thick undercoat.

    Shampoos/Conditioners/Sprays

    • Bathing your dog regularly can help reduce shedding simply by washing away loose hairs, but you also may choose a shampoo and conditioner specially formulated to minimize this problem. De-shedding shampoos and conditioners usually contain Vitamin E and Omega 3 fatty acids. These products claim to clean your dog's coat and reduce shedding by loosening dead hair in the undercoat so that it easily can be removed with a de-shedding tool.

    Pet Gloves

    • Most dogs love to be petted, so give your pet some attention while simultaneously removing excess hair. Products worn on the hand like a glove that feature plastic or rubber nubs on the palms trap excess hair as you pet your dog. Pet gloves like these are ideal for dogs that are resistant to brushing and combing with traditional de-shedding tools.

    Vacuum Attachments

    • For out-of-control shedding problems, you can turn your household vacuum cleaner into a dog grooming tool with an attachment specially designed for the job. This tool features a shedding blade that attaches to your vacuum and uses the suction to grab loose hair as you run the blade over your dog. The attachment reportedly works on nearly every type of coat and is available from several major vacuum cleaner manufacturers.