A Rottweiler is a blocky dog, and its most distinctive feature is its vast, medium-length head. The Rottweiler is intelligent, strong, loyal, and distinctively beautiful with black and tan markings. They are ranked among the most ancient breeds and were used to drive herds of cattle and guard outposts. They are also giant dogs who will require bigger space to stretch.
But before welcoming this furry friend into your home, you must understand their shedding tendencies. So, this shedding guide will take you through everything you need to know about Rottweiler’s shedding.
Do Rottweilers shed? Of course, they do, just like any other canine breed. Shedding is a natural process where dogs get rid of their old dead fur and regrow a new one. Rottweilers are moderate shedders but will shed more during the blowing of coat season. But worry less because there are ways you can manage and reduce your Rottweiler’s shedding so you don’t end up with a house full of fur.
A simple fact about dog ownership is shedding. Every canine will shed a certain amount of fur. The only difference is that some will shed quite a lot while others shed lightly. Therefore, finding hairs in your home is part of owning a Rottweiler.
They shed moderately, but don’t let this hinder you from adopting the outstanding Rottweiler because they make good family dogs. There are ways you can manage and reduce their shedding, not unless you have severe allergies. So, without any further ado, let’s look at how much, why, and when do Rottweilers shed, not to mention their coat type and how you can take care of it to reduce shedding.
How Much Do Rottweilers Shed
Many people assume that because Rottweilers have short hair, they do not shed much. Rottweilers shed a moderate amount of fur but more during the seasonal shedding. They have a double coat, meaning they experience the coat-blowing season. Therefore, expect an increase in the amount of fur in your house during these times.
How much your Rottie sheds will also depend on several factors like time of the year, allergies, parasites, underlying health problems, stress, and poor diet. These factors will make your Rottie shed excessively and lose too much fur. Therefore, ensure you take good care of your pup’s coat health to avoid excessive shedding.
Why Do Rottweilers Shed
As I mentioned earlier, all dogs shed, and the Rottweiler is not an exception. Shedding involves a normal process of hair growth that every dog undergoes. However, some shed less, others moderately, and others heavily, depending on how long their hair growth cycle takes. The shorter the hair growth cycle, the heavier the shedding.
The stages of the hair growth cycle include anagen (hair growth stage), catagen (the regression stage), and, lastly, telogen (shedding stage). Your Rottweiler will also shed to keep up with the weather changes and maintain an average body temperature. Your Rottweiler could also be shedding because of an underlying health issue, stress, poor diet, allergies, or improper grooming.
Shedding Seasons and Frequency
When do Rottweilers shed? Rottweilers are known to molt moderately throughout the year but more in spring and fall. Seasonal shedding is how dogs adapt to the changing weather conditions. Like all double-coated canines, they will also experience the coat-blowing season. During winter, they will shed their light summer coats and regrow a dense undercoat to keep them warm.
Whereas, during summer, they will shed their heavy winter coats to stay cool. If you are a new Rottie owner, you may be wondering why they are shedding much, but this is pretty common for all double-coated canines. They are just getting rid of fur they no longer need and growing new ones for a particular season.
Unhealthy Shedding
Do Rottweilers shed unhealthily? Yes, they can, and some of the reasons for this include allergies, parasites, stress, poor diet, hormonal imbalances in pregnant females, and underlying health problems.
So, it is essential to know your Rottweiler’s shedding habits to differentiate when they are molting naturally or if it’s health-related. Your Rottie should not be shedding in clumps even during the seasonal molting. Some of the signs of unhealthy shedding include irritated skin, bald patches, excess scratching, open sores, and dry and dull fur.
Being a good pet parent includes knowing the difference between average and unhealthy shedding. Therefore, it is wise to take your Rottie for a check-up if you notice any excess hair loss. Your vet should be able to examine your pup and tell what’s causing the excessive shedding for you to rectify immediately.
What Type of Coat Does a Rottweiler Have?
Rottweilers have short, coarse, and thick double coats. The outercoat is what protects them from sunburns, whereas the undercoat keeps them warm. Since they are a double-coated canine breed, they will blow their coats twice a year. Their double coats also protect them from extreme hot and cold weather.
Their short fur is an advantage because it makes their shedding less noticeable. Their fur comes in three distinct colors: black and tan, black and rust, and black and mahogany. All in all, their fur requires regular care and maintenance to keep it healthy.
How to Manage and Reduce Rottweilers Shedding
Imagine a lifestyle where you wake up in the morning, dress up and realize your clothes are covered in dog fur. You come back in the evening and climb your bed after a hectic day, and you find it is covered in fur.
This kind of life can be very annoying, and no one wants to live like that, so you should learn how to manage and reduce your pup’s shedding to enjoy a fur-free home. A proper grooming routine and a high-quality diet are what your Rottweiler needs to minimize their shedding. Always visit your vet if you are concerned that your Rottie is shedding more than usual.
Rottweilers Grooming
Grooming is the most effective way of reducing and managing your pup’s shedding. You have to brush your Rottweiler regularly with a soft brush. This helps to remove all the dead, loose hairs from the dog’s coat before they fall in your house.
Brushing also spreads the natural oils evenly on your pup’s fur, thus promoting a healthy coat that only sheds when necessary. Ensure you brush your Rottie daily during the coat blowing season to keep up with the increase in shedding. You can also take your pup to a professional groomer to help groom him properly and eventually reduce shedding.
Brushing can make a huge difference, especially in undercoats where hairs can build up and get stuck. Some Rottweilers will need daily brushing, like those who spend more time outdoor, because they tend to collect dirt and debris in their fur. Many Rottweiler parents recommend the Furminator brush, which is best for double-coated canines.
That being said, ensure to do the brushing outside the house to avoid fur scattering everywhere. As you groom your pup, always look for sores, rashes, redness, or bald patches that could mean they are losing excess fur, and act faster.
Rottweilers Diet
When it comes to managing and reducing your pup’s shedding, diet is an essential factor that many dog owners don’t realize. A dog’s diet will heavily affect its fur either positively or negatively. If you feed your Rottie low-quality canine food, it will shed more.
So, provide a high-quality diet rich in Omega fatty acids to help maintain healthy fur and reduce shedding. Rottweilers also require a high-protein diet and plenty of micronutrients to help keep their fur healthy. Ensure you are consistent with feeding your Rottie an optimal diet so you manage to reduce their shedding and enjoy a fur-free home.
Baths, Supplements…
Bathing your Rottweiler can also work wonders in reducing their shedding frequency. An occasional bath is what your Rottweiler needs to remove all the dirt and debris from their fur and maintain a healthy one. Some Rottweiler parents could be tempted to bathe their pup more often during the seasonal shedding. Remember that is not recommended because too much bathing strips them of the natural oils, thus leading to dry skin and excess shedding.
If your pup is not getting all the necessary nutrients from their current diet, the vet will be able to recommend the best dietary supplements for them. Some of the most common supplements include salmon oil, flaxseed, and fish oils. These supplements contain Omega fatty acids, which help promote healthy fur.
Are Rottweilers Hypoallergenic
Dog allergies have become quite common, and many people are always looking for hypoallergenic canine breeds. The truth is no dog is entirely hypoallergenic. All canines produce the protein responsible for causing allergic reactions, and they are found in the saliva, urine, and dander. Some dogs are considered safe for allergy sufferers because they drool less, shed less, and produce less dander.
Rottweilers are beautiful canines, but they do not claim the title hypoallergenic. Rotties are moderate shedders and shed more during the seasonal shedding. So, when they shed, they produce dander that causes allergic reactions.
They are also a bit drooly because of their loose lips, thus creating too much saliva, which contains the proteins that trigger allergic reactions. The good news is if you love the Rottie, there are some preventive measures you can follow to reduce the likeliness of them triggering your allergies. For starters:
- Regularly vacuum your and clean your house to keep it fur-free
- Invest in a high-quality HEPA air filter to help catch all the airborne allergens
- Wash your hands thoroughly after petting your Rottweiler to avoid catching your eyes and nose
- Avoid any carpets and fabric that can easily trap fur
- Train your pup to pee in a designated area
- Keep your pup off the couch and bed
- Always brush your pup outside to avoid hairs scattering all over your house
- You can have someone groom your Rottie to avoid contact because a lot of shedding happens during grooming
- You can ask for some medication from your doctor to help alleviate your allergy symptoms