Fall Means Shedding for Dogs

Fall Means Shedding for Dogs

It’s that time of year, when dogs begin to shed. Fall means shedding for dogs. Flash and Patches, having been recently groomed, aren’t shedding too badly right now, thank goodness. The tool I’m about to tell you about is rarely used this last few months, since the senior dogs have such thin skin, but it’s been a life saver for eight years. (Yes, this is a gently recycled post, but from my personal blog. I LOVE the rake for the long coats and had to share!)

Yesterday morning the Hunny and I were chatting outside while he painted the trim on the house. I had Flash and Patches outside and they’re shedding nicely right now, so I start to brush and the Hunny freaks. Something about dog hair blowing around and sticking to his fresh white paint? But we did brush the Babies when he took a break, on the other side of the house, and I HAD to show you the results. Bear with me? Then I’ll tell you about my favorite undercoat brush.

This is the Hunny brushing Patches. No pictures of Flash being brushed, because I was flapping my yap instead of playing Mamarazzi. Another photo?

Every brush stroke filled the brush completely. Most brush strokes sent hair flying everywhere. I’m sure our neighbors love us. They were out mowing and edging all morning. And the one neighbor just cleaned his pool. Lovely Oklahoma wind was taking mounds of dog hair over the fence on either side of the house.

This is some of what actually accumulated. Much of it escaped, but some stayed around. Some caught at the edges of the patio, like so:

Bizarre, huh? Like snow. But black and furry. Let me show you what the Hunny did next:

Isn’t he the cutest thing, wielding a rake? I love watching him work. How often do you rake up your dog’s hair? Not often enough, I’m sure. Here’s the end result:

The Tool I Use

Two dogs worth, fer sure. But I feel so much better about my carpets now. And the Rake? There’s a little story behind that. C’mon – you knew there’s be a story behind it.

Last fall I took the Babies to be Defurminated. I know, right? A friend told me about it, about taking her dog in every fall and spring, so I took them to be groomed. A hundred dollars later, I was convinced it worked, but convinced I needed to find a cheaper way to do it. Honestly, the dogs were missing more than half their coat. So I looked for the FURminator and found it was still a little pricier than any brush I’d ever purchased.

Not only was it pricey, there’s a special shampoo which has to be used with it and blah blah blah. But not one to give up, I kept searching. And found the above mentioned rake, or a variation thereof, at my local WalMart. Several people online had recommended it. I don’t even use the special shampoo. But look at the results!

Hair, hair everywhere! None of it in my house! I love this brush! I highly recommend an undercoat rake if you have a long haired, shedding dog.

Giveaway

As a reward for sitting still and letting me brush them, I always give my dogs Jones Natural Chews. Always. They’ll put up with just about anything for Jones. And right now Jones is giving some lucky dog its very own bucket o’treats! The Bow Wow Boo Bucket is perfect for trick or treating, and it’s filled with yummy meat treats for dogs! To enter the giveaway, just click on this sentence and follow the simple instructions on the post in the new window. Your dog will thank you.

Now get brushing! And have those Jones chews handy as a reward.

Spreading the good chews …

Flea