Do Dogs Shed More in The Summer?

When do dogs shed the most — and why? And how long does it last? 

That would be the Spring and Fall for the Pet Guests that shed the most seasonally. During the Spring become lighter and after the Winter is ready for the heat of Summer. In the Fall it’ll be a change in a coat that causes the shedding. The biggest part of the seasonal coat-blowing phase lasts on average 2-4 weeks while regular shedding lasts throughout the year.

What breeds shed the most? 

Siberian Huskies, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Corgis. Pretty much all double-coated breeds, however, these are the top five I’ve seen that are the most popular in the pet world and known for the amount of shedding they do.

What is an example of typical shedding, and what might be the reasons for atypical shedding? What should a pet parent do about atypical shedding?  

Regular shedding would be noticing hair on the floor as well as noticing it coming off the dog when petting. The best thing to do is just brush/comb as usual and you’ll be okay. 

Atypical shedding would be those big coat-blowing phases during seasonal shedding, not even necessarily “atypical” but more than the regular year-round shedding. You’ll see undercoats coming out in tufts, it can even look almost matted when it hasn’t been brushed out, we usually use the term “compacted” or “impacted” versus “matted”. When you notice this, I’d recommend taking your pet to the best pet salon in Katy for a de-shed service.  

What methods can pet parents do at home to reduce/control shedding cycles, and when do they need a groomer’s help?  

If you’re going to own a heavily shedding breed, it’d be wise to invest in a home-use high-velocity dryer (you can get them pretty reasonably priced on amazon around $120, see Shernbao or Flying Pig brands) and a good undercoat rake (also reasonably priced around $20 on amazon). Using the rake at least twice a week and the dryer at least bi-weekly can aid greatly in keeping control of your pet’s shedding. Once the coat is beginning to look impacted, the help of a professional pet stylist is important to ensure your pet’s skin and coat remain healthy. 

Something to keep in mind.

“De-Shed” services do NOT 100% stop shedding. They aid in reducing it over time with repeated use. It’s generally recommended to have a de-shed service every 4-8 weeks to maintain a healthy coat with home maintenance in between.  

Leave the shedding and mess to the professional pet groomer in Katy! Your local Salty Dawg Pet Salon is equipped with the proper hair products along with the tools and equipment needed to safely and efficiently perform a de-shed service.

What is Matting?

The term “matting” or “matted” typically refers to dense thick tangles clumped together in your pup’s coat. This can either appear in high-movement or high-friction areas (like the legs, tail, ears, around the muzzle, and under their collar) or it can even present throughout your pup’s entire coat. Matting can occur with any medium-to-long-haired and double-coated pups.

How Does Matting Happen?

Matting is most often caused by an improper brushing routine, whether it be by frequency or incorrect tools for your pup’s coat type. Not to worry as your local salon can happily recommend different brush and comb types best for your pup. Matting can also occur from friction (like rubbing a collar around the neck) or from contact with water without detangling afterward (swimming, playing, bathing, or drinking).

How Do I Prevent Matting?

First, let’s talk about brush types. There are lots of different brushes available for all hair types.

Slicker/Pin Brushes: Slicker and pin brushes typically have tines and pins of varying stiffness, some with plastic or rubber tips and some without. These are a good choice for medium to long-haired pups. These work by breaking up tangles in a “pat-and-pull” fashion. Beware of brushing irritation on the skin by not brushing too hard or too many times over the same area.

Rubber Curry Brushes: These are rubber brushes with flexible rubber bristles. They don’t really do much in terms of detangling, however, they are great for removing debris or shedding coats and distributing natural oils throughout smooth and short-coated pups. Rubber curry brushes can also be used during a bath to help lather and clean all the way down to the skin.

Undercoat Rakes/De-Shedding Tools: Undercoat rakes and De-Shedding tools are designed to remove excess and shedding undercoats on double-coated pups (think labradors, corgis, golden retrievers, german shepherds, etc). Some are made with sharp curved teeth while others are made with smooth straight rotating teeth. Be gentle with either type of these tools as they can also cause brushing irritation from brushing too hard or too many times over the same area.

Combs: Dog combs are typically made of metal with a smooth spine and smooth round tip teeth. Many have both a wide-tooth side and a fine-tooth side though either is found individually. Combs is a great choice for any medium-to-long-haired and double-coated pups. Detangling fine knots or delicate areas and removing food debris from the muzzle are common uses for combs. Combs can also be used to gently work out matting starting from the ends of the hair and working down toward the skin.

Now that we know all about brushes, rakes, and combs, let’s talk routine. Your brushing routine is just as important as the correct tools.

For medium-to-long-haired and double-coated pups, aim to thoroughly brush, comb, and/or rake your pup’s coat at least 3 to 4 times a week. High-movement or high-friction areas (like the legs, tail, ears, around the muzzle, and under their collar) may require additional attention.

With smooth and short-coated pups, you can get away with using a rubber curry brush 1-3 times a week.

When to Enlist the Help of a Professional Pet Stylist

It’s important to recognize when matting has gotten to be too much for your pup to tolerate detangling. Signs that you may need the help of a professional pet groomer in Katy include but are not limited to:

• More than 1/4 of your pup’s fur is tightly tangled or clumped together.
• Your pup’s skin is showing signs of brushing irritation or bruising from detangling efforts.
• You cannot easily part your pup’s hair to visually inspect the skin.
• Your pup is flinching, yelping, or biting when you attempt to detangle its coat.

Whether or not any of your pup’s coat length is saved is determined by the severity of the matting. If mild enough and your pup tolerates the process safely, your professional pet stylist may be able to detangle your pup’s coat. However, if the matting is severe, shaving your pup very short may be the only and most humane option. Both detangling matting and matted shave downs typically incur additional charges due to the extra time, effort, and skill to do so safely. Should a shave down be necessary your pup may look quite different from what you’re used to but do not worry as their coat will grow back out faster than you think! As always, rest assured that your local Salty Dawg Pet Salon, the best pet salon in Katy will be there to help you and your pup with coat maintenance and any questions you may have regarding tools or a routine!

Your pet’s nails should be trimmed at least every 2 to 4 weeks in order to support healthy foot conformation and function. Overgrown nails are most certainly painful for your pet to be walking with.  

Nail length is highly important to how a dog’s foot functions. The pressure from the nail hitting the ground reduces traction when walking, as well as causes foot deformities & tendon injuries over a continued time span. Long, overgrown and untrimmed nails can develop weak flat feet.

Additionally, weak flat feet cause long-term issues with more than just feet. Overgrown nails also produce poor posture in the legs, increasing the likelihood of injuries to a dog’s limbs & joints. Early arthritis, imbalanced posture & carriage, undue joint stress & pain, and decline of the tendons, ligaments, and joints are all complications of overgrown nails.

If your pet’s nails are especially long, it may take some time to get their nails as short as they should be. This is because the nail bed grows out with the nail, however, regular maintenance can gradually push those nail beds back by eliminating the excess space for them to grow. Visit your local Salty Dawg Pet Salon for further information on nail trim and the best pet grooming services in Katy. These services can be done on a walk-in basis but calling ahead to be sure they have availability is always recommended. You can expect a full nail service to include nail clipping and dremel of the nails.

Short-haired pups (like labradors, chihuahuas, bulldogs, and boxers) benefit from regular professional grooming even though they do not have long hair that gets knotted or tangled.

At Salty Dawg Pet Salon, our pet groomers in Katy use professional-grade products during your pup’s bath that effectively cleans and removes debris, dander, build-up, and shedding hair. Soft rubber shampoo brushes are typically used to thoroughly, yet gently, cleanse your pet’s coat while at the same time stimulating the production of natural oils that keep their coat shiny and healthy.

Once dry, our Professional Pet Stylists use rubber curry brushes to completely brush out your pup from nose to tail! These are rubber brushes with flexible rubber bristles. They don’t really do much in terms of detangling, however, they are great for removing debris or shedding coats and distributing natural oils throughout smooth and short-coated pups. Regular bathing and brushing not only keep your pup’s skin and coat healthy, but it also reduces the amount of hair fall or shedding.

Your pup’s full-service bath also includes nail trimming and filing, ear cleaning, and teeth care. Keeping your pup’s nails routinely trimmed supports proper posture and mobility of the paws and legs while improving overall comfort for their joints. Our Professional Pet Stylists in Katy will also inspect and clean debris, wax, and/or hair out of your pet’s ears that may be blocking proper airflow to the ear canal. They will also take care of quick teeth cleaning with the use of dental wipes for a quick refresh of your pet’s breath. Please note that teeth brushing or using dental wipes do not replace routine veterinary dental care.

Another benefit to having your short-haired pup professionally groomed is that your pet will be used to being handled in various situations (i.e. medical reasons) and will therefore experience less stress as it will not be something new to them. Pet Stylists are also typically quick to notice any physical or behavioral difference from visit to visit and alert you to their presence as we see your pups every 4 to 8 weeks on average. Anything abnormal is usually referred to your licensed veterinarian for examining early detection and treatment for your pet if necessary. Visit or contact your local Salty Dawg Pet Salon to schedule your pup’s regular professional bath service or if you have any questions regarding services specific to your pup!