A Dalmatian is a medium-sized canine breed known for its exclusive white coat with black and brown markings. They have a short, refined, and dense coat and people mistake them for fewer shedders. The truth is Dalmatians shed much, and it goes all year round.
Their hairs are needle-like and hard to get out of the clothing. Therefore, you will have to groom your Dalmatian properly and feed him a healthy diet to keep their molting under control. In addition, occasional baths and supplements can also come in handy. Dalmatian is a fantastic canine breed, and by simply including these guidelines into your routine, you will enjoy their company.
Do Dalmatians shed? Yes, they do. In fact, they shed so much that hair loss has become part of their identification. But the heavy shedding tendency doesn’t mean your Dalmatian should have a poor, thin coat. Despite shedding continuously throughout the year, you can maintain high-quality and dense fur with proper care.
As a Dalmatian owner, expect lots of hairs on your furniture, floors, clothes, and all over the house. It is even worse for allergy sufferers because more fur means more dander, triggering allergic reactions. This article will clear everything for you and provide possible answers to your question, do Dalmatians shed?
It will take you through why they shed, shedding seasons and frequency, how well you can manage and reduce their shedding, and lastly, whether or not it is suitable for those with dog allergies. Read through and grasp some info to help you live comfortably with your Dalmatian pet.
How Much Do Dalmatians Shed?
Dalmatians are a heavy shedding breed and will shed heavily all year-round. They shed a lot that hair loss has become their identification mark. Their hair tends to needle itself into carpets and fabrics, thus making it very difficult to remove. Their shedding tendencies might be a problem for both the owner and the pet.
How much a canine shed comes down to their breeding; that’s why others will shed more and others less. However, how much your Dalmatian sheds will depend on their grooming, diet, and overall health. If you feed your Dalmatian a high-quality diet and maintain a proper grooming routine, you will reduce the amount of fur they shed.
Why Do Dalmatians Shed?
Shedding is essential for your Dalmatian growth as it allows for healthy fur to grow. Like every other canine breed, Dalmatians also undergo their natural shedding process. Their excess molting is because of the short lifecycle of their fur channel. They are continuously substituting their fur with new softer fur. Dalmatians are active dogs, and they will shed some hair while playing or rubbing themselves.
Other factors that could affect your Dalmatian’s shedding include their diet, overall health, fur type, and grooming. It is vital to understand why Dalmatians shed so you can differentiate when the shedding is normal or abnormal.
Shedding Seasons and Frequency
If you are wondering about the seasonal shedding of a Dalmatian, this dog breed will shed heavily and consistently throughout the year. Their fur constantly falls off, allowing newer and softer fur to grow and take its place. They only have one layer of short fur, and therefore they don’t experience the seasonal shedding that involves coat blowing.
You may never notice any difference in their shedding throughout the year unless they are experiencing an abnormal shedding, which should be your concern. Pay so much attention so you never miss out on that as it might affect your dog’s fur.
Unhealthy Shedding
Unhealthy shedding in your Dalmatian can be hard to notice since they typically shed so much. You will have to be very careful to realize it. Watch out for signs like bald spots and irritated skin, thinner fur, open sores, constant scratching, and dull and dry fur. If your Dalmatian is shedding more than the usual reasonable amount of fur, it could be because of hormonal imbalances, improper diet, inadequate grooming, stress, and infections.
While you can groom and provide a balanced diet to reduce shedding, it’s best to let the vet handle unhealthy shedding. Take your Dalmatian if you have any concerns about their shedding so the vet can determine the underlying cause and offer the right treatment options.
What Type of Coat Does Dalmatians Have?
A Dalmatian has a single-layered coat that is both short and smooth. Many people assume that they are probably fewer shedders since they have single-layered and short coats. This is definitely not the case since Dalmatians shed consistently throughout the year.
You may also come across long-haired Dalmatians though they are pretty rare. The American Kennel Club does not recognize them, and they are a result of a recessive gene. The long-haired Dalmatians shed almost the same as or little than the short, smooth fur. However, their fur is longer and, therefore, less spikey and won’t stick on clothes or fabrics.
How To Manage and Reduce Dalmatians Shedding
It’s impossible to stop your Dalmatian from dropping fur in your house. After understanding why do Dalmatians shed, you can now get to the solution part. Every Dalmatian owner says there will always be hair just somewhere like in your clothes, as it is part of owning this adorable dog breed.
You can manage and reduce your Dalmatian shedding if you take the appropriate procedures and try to maintain their coat health. You will surely be rewarded with less fur in your house. Therefore, keep a grooming routine and a proper diet to achieve your shedding solution.
Dalmatian Grooming
Dalmatians are large dogs, and therefore grooming them will take much longer than other dogs. Several Dalmatian owners say a stiff bristle brush is an ideal tool for brushing your dog. Brushing removes dead hairs and also helps distribute the animal’s natural skin oils, thus encouraging healthy fur growth.
Brushing also helps reduce the amount of fur that gathers in your house. A de-shedding tool will come in handy to help you remove dead hair in less time. However, it is advisable not to overbrush your Dalmatian using the de-shedding tool because it can lead to skin irritation, thus increasing their shedding levels.
Besides brushing your Dalmatian, grooming also involves regular trimming of the nails and cleaning the ears and teeth.
Dalmatian Diet
It would be best to provide a high-quality diet when you want to reduce your Dalmatian shedding. You will make a big difference and save yourself some time vacuuming if you provide your Dalmatians with a balanced diet with all the necessary nutrients they need. It’s no secret that a healthy diet equals a healthy coat, thus minimizing their shedding levels. The diet might be a little expensive, but it’s worth every penny.
Remember, Dalmatians require plenty of exercises, so don’t just feed them and leave them to add weight and become obese. Enough exercise will keep your Dalmatian fit and healthy, thus leading to healthier fur and less shedding. You will have to keep up with their exercise routine to keep them healthy and minimize their shedding.
Baths, Supplements…
Dalmatians don’t drool much, and they aren’t smelly dogs either. Therefore, they will only require the occasional bath (once every few months). In addition, their fur tends to resist debris and dirt, so only bathe them when it is necessary. Like brushing, do not over bathe your Dalmatian because it will dry out their fur. It would be best to use a quality dog shampoo that won’t strip ordinary oils from their coats.
Another effective way to manage your Dalmatian shedding is by adding some natural supplements to their diet. For example, the Omega 3 fatty acids help keep the fur healthy. Other additional supplements include eggs, flaxseed oil, and brewer’s yeast. All these supplements enhance healthy fur and minimize shedding. However, it is vital to consult with your vet concerning these supplements before giving them to your pup.
Are Dalmatians Hypoallergenic
Having a Dalmatian as a pet in your home seems exciting and fun, but there are several factors you have to consider, like whether or not they are hypoallergenic. This is particularly important if either you or anyone in the family has dog allergies, and you don’t want to bring home a pet that may blow up allergic reactions.
First and foremost, Dalmatians are not hypoallergenic because they shed heavily. And with fur comes dander, which is the main culprit of allergies. Other causes of allergies produced by dogs include saliva and urine. They can make someone experience symptoms like itchy eyes, sneezing, hives, running nose, and even asthma attack for asthmatic individuals. Though this canine breed doesn’t affirm the hypoallergenic label, people with mild allergic reactions can still have them in their homes.
Below are some preventive procedures you can follow to minimize the possibility of an allergic reaction.
Ensure you have a proper grooming routine. This will help prevent too much dander from falling everywhere in your house or sticking onto your clothes. It’s best to brush your Dalmatian outside the house so the fur doesn’t spread all over your furniture. It would also help if the person with the allergies doesn’t do the grooming.
Everyone knows the importance of washing their hands when they leave the washroom. But do you know washing your hands after petting your Dalmatian can highly reduce your allergic reaction? Imagine not washing your hands and touching your eyes, nose, or face. You will get those allergens to places that shouldn’t be, thus triggering your allergies. Therefore, always wash your hands to avoid any allergic response whenever you pet your puppy.
Train your Dalmatian not to jump on the bed and couch, and restrict their entry in places you spend a lot of time like the bedroom. This will help contain their hair and not have it spread everywhere in your house. Holding your dog’s hair in one area will also make it easier for you to clean and reduce the number of allergens in your home.
You can also buy a HEPA air filter to help catch the allergens released into the air.
Lastly, you can try using medications to help with your allergies. You can easily buy some over the counter or visit your doctor to prescribe you some allergy medications.