The Greyhounds are slender and tall with narrow heads and long legs. They are known to be the fastest among all canine breeds and were widely used as racing dogs. Most Greyhounds are adopted after retiring from being race dogs. They are easy to train because they are very obedient and adapt quickly to a new environment.
However, when choosing a canine to adopt, you have to consider the amount of shedding you are comfortable with. Therefore, this guide will take you through everything you need to know about Greyhound shedding. After that, you can decide whether the Greyhound is perfect for you and your family.
Do Greyhounds shed? Yes, they do. These dogs are considered moderate shedders and even shed more during the seasonal shedding. Do not assume that they don’t shed much just because they have short fur. However, their short fur is easier to maintain, and you could quickly minimize their shedding by proper grooming and diet.
Greyhounds are fun dogs to welcome into your home. They are kind-hearted, intelligent, friendly, and an excellent company for people who love taking walks or running every day. They make the best family companions who will bring lots of love, happiness, and activities.
They can also be kept by parents who have mild allergies. Although, you’ll have to maintain the dog’s fur health and observe the necessary precautions to avoid catching any allergies. Let’s look at how much, why, and when Greyhounds shed, their coat type, and how you can manage and reduce their shedding. Read through so you have a better understanding of what to expect before adopting the Greyhound.
How Much Do Greyhounds Shed
Every pet parent is always dying to know how much their dog will shed. And any future Greyhound owner should ask the same question. Greyhounds are considered moderate shedders but shed more during the seasonal shedding. Many Greyhounds owners believe they don’t shed much just because they have short fur, which is entirely false.
You can expect more fur in your home during the seasonal changes in spring and fall. Your Greyhound shedding will depend on the time of the year, overall health, diet, and grooming. So, you have to learn to differentiate between normal and unhealthy shedding. Do not just assume that your Greyhound’s is shedding is normal when it’s not.
Why Do Greyhounds Shed
Shedding is completely natural in all canine breeds, and the Greyhounds are not any different. Greyhounds undergo a hair growth cycle that involves three stages. The first stage is where the Greyhound develops new fur from the hair follicles. The second stage is when the fur reaches its entire length and stops growing. And, the third stage is where the fur falls out, thus leading to shedding.
Your Greyhound will shed to get rid of dead, loose hair and regrow new ones. Shedding also helps them maintain an optimal body temperature during hot and cold weather. Therefore, your Greyhound will shed more during the seasonal shedding.
Your Greyhound could also be shedding because of an underlying issues like poor diet, improper grooming, or an illness. You have to be careful to note if the shedding isn’t normal and get your dog checked out by your vet.
Shedding Seasons and Frequency
There comes that time of the year when your Greyhound will shed more, just like all other canines that shed seasonally. This mostly happens in spring and fall. Your Greyhound will shed their light summer coat during winter and develop a thick one to keep them warm. Whereas in summer, they will shed the heavy winter coat since they no longer need it and develop a light one to keep them cool. This is quite normal, and it is a way your Greyhounds adapt to the weather changes from extreme cold to warm and vice versa.
The good news is these dogs have short, single coats and will not shed profusely like double-coated dogs do during seasonal shedding. That being said, your Greyhound will still need daily brushing to help keep their shedding under control and enjoy a fur-free home.
Unhealthy Shedding
As I mentioned earlier, you have to differentiate between normal and unhealthy shedding. You have to know how much is too much for your Greyhound shedding because unhealthy shedding is terrible news. So, do Greyhounds shed unhealthily?
Yes, they can, and some of the causes of excessive shedding include allergies, stress, poor diet, parasitic infections, and hormonal imbalances in pregnant females. Many of these factors are controllable. So, you should try as much as possible to control how much your Greyhound sheds.
Unhealthy shedding in your Greyhound is usually accompanied by other symptoms like thinning coat, skin irritation, scratching, open sores, dry and dull fur, straight face scrubbing, and foot licking. So, if you notice your Greyhound is experiencing any of these signs, contact your vet as soon as possible to help you identify what could be causing the excessive shedding. Your pup’s fur is essential, and seeing them lose too much fur can be heartbreaking and life-threatening.
What Type of Coat Does Greyhounds Have?
The Greyhounds have a short, silky smooth, single coat that is low maintenance. Greyhounds do not have a thick undercoat that usually needs high care, especially during the seasonal shedding. But Greyhounds’ lack of undercoats makes them prone to suffer during cold weather when exposed much.
Therefore, it is always advisable you buy your Greyhound a warm coat during cold weather to keep them warm. Their fur does not accumulate oils, thus making them less prone to doggy smells and odor. Lastly, the fur comes in various colors, including black, white, blue, gray, and red.
How to Manage and Reduce Greyhounds Shedding
After answering the question, do Greyhounds shed, you probably want to know how to manage and reduce the shedding. First, you have to know you can never stop your Greyhound from shedding completely. This process is natural and also crucial to every canine. So, the only thing you can do is learn to minimize it lest you end up with a house full of fur.
Generally, managing and reducing your Greyhound shedding comes down to maintaining a proper grooming routine and feeding him a high-quality diet. So, let’s dive right in and learn more about reducing and managing Greyhound shedding.
Greyhounds Grooming
Grooming is one area you can never disregard when managing and reducing shedding. And the best way to do it is by brushing your dog’s fur. Brushing helps to remove excess fur from their coat while distributing the natural oils evenly, thus encouraging healthy hair growth.
Removing the dead, loose hair is a surefire way to reduce the amount of shedding and healthy fur sheds healthily. Being low maintenance dogs, brushing once a week should be enough to keep fur clean and healthy. You may need to do it more often during seasonal shedding to keep up with the increased amount of shedding.
Greyhounds Diet
How much your Greyhound sheds will also depend on their diet. A poor diet will make your Greyhound lack nutrients and shed excessively. So, ensure your Greyhound eats a nutritional diet with all the necessary nutrients. Remember, a healthy dog will shed healthily. A diet that can maintain healthy fur that sheds only when necessary is one that is rich in Omega fatty acids.
Baths, Supplements…
Bathing your Greyhound is another way of reducing and managing his shedding. Like brushing, bathing also helps catch loose, dead hair before falling into your house. It helps make your Greyhound’s fur healthy and shiny, thus reducing their shedding. But be careful not to over bathe them because that will strip off their natural oils, leaving the skin dry, irritated, and prone to excessive shedding.
Maybe your puppy isn’t getting all the required nutrients from their regular diet, and dietary supplements are what he needs. You can always consult your vet on the best dietary supplements for your Greyhound. Always start with a small amount when introducing any food into your dog’s diet as you keenly watch how they react to it.
Are Greyhounds Hypoallergenic
Before we know whether or not Greyhounds are hypoallergenic, let’s first explain what this word means. Many people assume that hypoallergenic dogs cannot cause any allergies. This is false because even a Poodle could flare up your allergies.
A hypoallergenic canine is one that is less likely to trigger allergic reactions. Some people may ask, what causes an allergic reaction? An allergic reaction is caused by the protein found in a dog’s dander, saliva, and urine. Common allergy symptoms include sneezing, coughing, running nose, itchy eyes, and difficulty breathing.
Back to Greyhounds, these dogs are not hypoallergenic because they are moderate shedders. They also shed more during the seasonal shedding, thus producing more dander.
However, if you love the Greyhound and have mild allergies, there are tips to help you minimize the likeliness of your Greyhound causing your allergies to flare up. First, you can minimize fur and dander shedding by feeding your Greyhound an optimal diet and maintaining a proper grooming routine. Other measures you can take to reduce allergens include:
- Wash your hands after petting your dog to avoid touching your eyes and mouth
- Brush your Greyhound outside to keep the allergens out of the house
- Train your dog to pee in a designated area
- Do not allow your Greyhound to lick you
- Vacuum your house daily and use a HEPA air filter to catch all the airborne allergens
- Do not allow your dog to sleep on your bed or couch
- Avoid having fabrics and carpets in your house where fur can easily stick on
- Consult your allergist for some allergy medication to help contain your allergies.