The lively, loving, and highly intelligent Poodle has always been a favorite canine breed among dog lovers. Poodles are also elegant, loyal, and very active dogs who make the best companions for an entire family. They are one of the oldest hunting canine breeds and are commonly pictured in their desirable, curly, and fluffy coats.
Poodles come in three sizes: the standard, miniature, and the toy Poodle. Are you planning on adopting a Poodle and probably wondering about their shedding? Here is a guide to help understand more about their shedding tendencies.
Do Poodles shed? Yes, they do. Like any other canine breed, Poodles will shed a certain amount of fur. Sometimes their hairs fall out naturally during grooming, which is quite normal. The Poodle does have a good reputation, and they are known to be a low-shedding canine breed. Not to worry because you will barely notice their hairs in your house, and there are ways you can further manage their shedding.
A simple fact we have to accept about canine ownership is their shedding. Molting is a normal process whereby dogs lose old hairs and regrow new ones. We all know shedding can be a little annoying, and it can even make a particular dog breed impossible to live with, especially for allergy sufferers.
But that is quite the opposite for the Poodle because it’s a light shedder and will not leave hairs scattered all over your house. This is one of the many reasons why pet parents love the Poodle. So, read through and learn more about their shedding habits like how much, when, and why they shed, their coat type, and what you can do to manage and reduce their molting.
How Much Do Poodles Shed
We can all agree that the amount of shedding varies greatly in dogs. Some canines will shed more like the double-coated ones, while others will shed less. Poodles are minimal shedders, and they will shed less throughout the year. When they shed, their hairs usually fall into their coat, so some Poodle parents say they are a non-shedding canine breed.
You will barely notice fur in your home if you adopt the Poodle. However, it is essential to note that several factors can increase your Poodle’s shedding. But you can easily manage it by feeding your pup high-quality dog food and maintaining a proper grooming routine.
Why Do Poodles Shed
All dogs shed because their hairs go through a growth cycle and eventually fall out naturally. The shedding usually happens at the end of the hair growth cycle, giving room for new hair to grow. The hair growth cycle involves three phases: the anagen, catagen, and telogen.
- Anagen phase- a period where controlled growth of new hairs occurs
- Catagen phase- at this stage, the fur reaches its maximum length and stops growing
- The telogen phase is the last phase of hair growth where the fur is fully developed and finally falls out naturally. A new fur regrows and replaces the old one.
This hair growth cycle is inevitable, and all canines must go through it. The only difference is how long it takes for the entire process to complete. For minimal shedders like the Poodle, the cycle will take longer, and they will shed less throughout the year.
Shedding Seasons and Frequency
When do Poodles shed? Poodles are minimal shedders all year round. They will not shed seasonally because they do not experience the blowing of the coat when the weather changes, which mostly happens in spring and fall. Instead, the Poodle hair grows continually and falls out progressively throughout the year. This is another reason you will barely notice their hairs in your home. However, like any other canine breed, the Poodle will blow out their puppy coat, but instead of clumps of hairs scattering all over, it will shed only a little.
Unhealthy Shedding
Poodles are low shedding canine breed, and it is easier to know if they are shedding unhealthily. So, any excess shedding in your Poodle could signify a health problem. Your Poodle will lose hair strands if they suffer from an ailment or certain skin conditions. Some of the causes of excessive shedding in your Poodle include hormonal imbalances (mostly in pregnant females), stress, allergies, nutritional deficiency, inflammatory diseases, and infections.
Unhealthy shedding is terrible news, and you should visit your vet if you notice your Poodle is shedding much. A professional vet will be able to tell the underlying cause of unhealthy shedding instead of assuming it’s because of one thing or the other.
What Type of Coat Do Poodles Have?
The Poodle’s coat is denser and curly, and their shedding is minimal because they are single-coated. When the Poodle shed, their hairs are trapped into their coats rather than falling, and that is why a Poodle home is usually hair-free. Their hairs will only fall out while you are brushing them. Double-coated canines tend to shed more because, in addition to their normal shedding all year round, they also undergo a heavy seasonal molting process. The seasonal molting of the double-coated canines is called blowing of coat.
How to Manage and Reduce Poodles Shedding
After answering the question, why do Poodles shed and how much, let’s jump into the solution. First and foremost, you have to accept that you can never stop a canine from shedding completely. But you can manage and reduce the shedding, so you enjoy a hair-free home. The good news is that Poodles are minimal shedders, so minimizing their shedding won’t be any difficult.
Managing your dog’s shedding comes down to proper grooming and providing an optimal diet to keep their fur healthy. You can also bathe your Poodle once in a while and add some dietary supplements to their food to keep their shedding under control.
Poodles Grooming
Poodles are a low-shedding canine breed, but their fur requires high maintenance. So, grooming and brushing is one area you can never ignore if you want to reduce and manage their shedding. Your Poodle needs brushing every day to prevent its curly hair from tangling and matting. During brushing, you will be able to remove the hairs that fall inside their fur when they shed.
The more you brush your Poodle, the less likely you will find any hairs in your home. Brushing also stimulates the blood circulation of your Poodle, thus encouraging a healthier fur and managing their shedding. Using the right brush can make all the difference, and a slicker brush or a pin brush are the best grooming tools to manage your Poodle’s fur.
Other Poodle parents prefer trimming and clipping their dog’s fur to make it more manageable. If you decide to give your Poodle a cut, it’s best to go to a professional groomer since it can be time-consuming and difficult to do it at home. Plus, you may end up over-trimming, which is known to damage the future growth of your pup’s fur.
Poodles Diet
Like humans need a balanced diet to be healthy, dogs also need an optimal diet to keep their coats healthier and reduce shedding. Remember, healthy fur will shed less compared to a non-healthy one. So, buy your Poodle high-quality dog food to help maintain healthier fur. Poor quality canine food can never sustain your Poodle’s coat health.
Ensure the food has plenty of Omega fatty acids, which nourishes your Poodle’s fur by keeping it healthy. Some of the sources of Omega fatty acids include eggs, fish oils, flaxseed, meat, and other oils.
Apart from dietary deficiency, excess shedding can be caused by food allergies like soy, wheat, and grain allergies. So, ensure your Poodle is not allergic to anything you feed him. And, if you want to introduce a new food to his diet, always introduce it independently as you watch for any side effects.
Baths, Supplements…
Bathing is another way to remove dead, loose hairs from your Poodle’s fur and reduce their shedding. It would be best to bathe your Poodle once a month unless they are too dirty or the vet has directed you to do so.
Remember, drying your Poodle after bathing is also necessary because if you leave their fur damp, it can lead to skin infections and more shedding. The Poodle’s fur is prone to tangle, so a conditioning shampoo lessens the chances of matting and provides a dazzling shine.
You can also add some dietary supplements into your Poodle’s diet to help keep a healthier fur. Fish oils supplements can help keep healthy fur and reduce shedding. Mineral supplements like zinc, as well as biotin and folic acid, promote healthier fur. You can also consult your vet to recommend some dietary supplements for your Poodle.
Are Poodles Hypoallergenic
Many pet parents are always looking for a hypoallergenic breed. So, what exactly does hypoallergenic mean? A hypoallergenic dog is one that is less likely to trigger allergic reactions. A canine breed that sheds less is less likely to cause an allergic reaction than that which sheds more. That’s because less shedding equals less dander (a significant cause of dog allergies).
Other people are also allergic to the canine’s saliva or urine because these two contain a protein that can trigger an allergic reaction. With this in mind, it’s safe to say that no dog breed is 100% hypoallergenic because all of them secrete urine, saliva, and dander.
Good news for allergy sufferers, though as Poodles are considered allergy-friendly. In fact, they are one of the most well-known hypoallergenic dogs. They shed less (meaning they produce less dander), and they are not a drooling breed either, making them less likely to trigger allergies.
However, if you have severe allergies, you should avoid their saliva, dander, and urines. As mentioned earlier, these are significant irritants to those with dog allergies. You can do that by:
- Making sure your Poodle is groomed frequently to reduce the amount of allergens
- Staying away from your Poodle’s saliva by letting him know you don’t like to be licked
- Training them to pee in a designated area to avoid contact with the urine.
These tips can help you reduce the chances of your allergies flaring up while keeping safe.