What are the worst shedding dogs?
Let’s get one thing straight — we love all breeds, but it has to be said that some breeds are heavier shedders than others.
With these dogs, you’ll find their hair absolutely everywhere.
On your clothes, furniture, curtains — and even in the carpets!
If you’re prone to allergies, you might want to avoid adopting any of the heaviest shedding dog breeds as a pet. It’s also worth noting that hairier hounds are typically high maintenance.
From constantly grooming your dog to repeatedly cleaning your home, all that extra fur could leave you with more work than you originally bargained for.
With all that in mind, and to help you make the right decision before picking your next pet, we’ve rounded up a list of the worst shedding dog breeds.
7 Worst Shedding Dog Breeds
Here are some of the worst culprits. The dogs that shed the most.
If you’re thinking about getting any of the dogs listed below, you’d be wise to consider how much they shed, as well as when and why they shed so heavily.
Labrador
While Labradors have short hair, they also boast a double coat with a waterproof outer layer of fur and a fluffy undercoat.
That means they will regularly shed throughout the year, especially around spring and autumn time.
In spring, they will shed a lot of hair and lose their winter coat, and in autumn they will shed their summer coat to prepare for the cold winter. Both spring and autumn coats help Labradors to cope with rainfall and varying temperatures throughout each season.
Basically, despite their short coats, Labradors are one of the worst dog breeds for shedding.
But we love them anyway!
Husky
Some Siberian huskies shed all year long, so you’ll definitely need to invest in a good vacuum cleaner to keep on top of it.
In addition to their regular bouts of shedding, huskies blow their double coats twice a year, which may leave you with chunks of their hair around the house.
They start the coat blowing process when the weather starts to get cold, and then again when the weather starts getting warm. It’s important to remember that huskies don’t cope well with high temperatures, and they need to adapt their coat to ensure they are properly insulated from the heat, as well as the cold.
Golden Retriever
People are often surprised to learn that golden retrievers are among the groups of dogs that shed the most.
In fact, they shed so much over clothes, furniture and floors that they should really come with a warning!
As well as blowing their coats intensely during the Spring and Fall like huskies do, Golden Retrievers also shed moderately throughout the year as well.
Remember that they’ll also shed more when living in hotter climates, as they will need less hair to keep themselves warm.
Essentially, when you adopt a golden retriever, you should prepare yourself for a lot of hair!
German Shepherd
As one of the heaviest shedding dog breeds, German Shepherds can be unfairly thought of as hairy nuisances.
They’re another double-coated dog breed with stiff guard hairs on their overcoat and a fluffy insulated undercoat.
The stiff overcoat will actually shed all year round. However, the undercoat will normally only shed twice a year – once in the Spring and once in the Fall.
The seasonal shedding of the fluffy undercoat is also known as the seasonal coat blow, which can go on for a number of weeks.
This blowing process is essential to prepare them for the hotter temperatures of Spring and Summer.
When the cold weather is due, German Shepherds shed more of their overcoat to enable a thicker undercoat to grow for extra warmth.
Chow Chow
It’ll be of little surprise to anyone that the beautifully hirstute Chow Chow is a monster shedder!
Although it can be a pain to tidy up, shedding is crucial for Chow Chows, as it helps keep them warm in the Winter and cool in the Summer months.
They also tend to shed in clumps, which sounds a bit gross, but actually makes it easier to pick up their hair by hand.
Like with most dogs that shed the most, Chow Chow’s blow their coats at least twice a year.
When they blow their Winter coats in preparation for Spring and Summer, you may be surprised by the large amount of hair they shed. It isn’t quite so bad when they blow their coats for the Winter, though, as they need a denser undercoat for proper insulation against the cold.
Saint Bernard
Saint Bernard’s have thick and shaggy coats and are considered to be very heavy shedders all year long.
That means frequent vacuuming is essential, as you can expect to find their hair all over the house.
On top of that, they shed even more than usual twice a year when the seasons change twice a year.
That said, brushing Saint Bernards every day with a firm brush or shedding rake will help to keep shedding to a minimum.
Akita
Like other double-coated breeds, Akita’s blow their undercoats twice a year to adapt to changing temperatures and keep their hair healthy.
Even though it may seem like they shed all year round, they only do so intensely when blowing their coats every 6 months.
This shedding cycle lasts around 2 to 4 weeks at a time, meaning you can expect to find a lot of loose dog hair in the home over a 2 month period.
However, the volume of hair they shed will depend on whether they live in a place where the climate stays the same all year round or in an area that experiences each seasonal change.
So now we know the heaviest shedding dog breeds, you’re probably wondering what the best way to stop or manage shedding is.
And what makes a shed so much hair to begin with?
What Makes A Dog Shed So Much Hair?
It’s natural when you’re thinking about which dog breed sheds the most to wonder why some shed so much more than others.
Firstly, all dogs shed to make room for their new coats, with the exception of hairless ones.
That said, shedding varies from breed to breed and generally, the more hair there is on your pet, the more hair they will shed.
Certain breeds are blessed with a double coat. This essentially means that they have two layers of hair — and so double the shedding!
Firstly, they will have an undercoat of short, dense hairs that will protect them from cold temperatures.
Then they have a classic top coat, with the long fluffy hairs that we see on top. These hairs are designed to repel water and dirt.
Both layers will shed — and the coarse undercoat is the one that you’ll likely find all over your home and clothes. Dead undercoat hairs can also accumulate within the top coat, leading to painful tangles and mats.
This is why it’s so important to brush your dog’s coat everyday.
Dogs with double coats also shed more as a result of temperature change and tend to experience a heavy shed during spring and fall.
As the weather gets warmer, they shed their thicker undercoats to leave a much lighter coat of hair.
When things begin to cool down again in autumn, double-coated dogs then shed their lighter spring undercoats and grow a much thicker coat to keep themselves comfortable and warm.
That’s a lot of hair.
Seasonal periods of shredding are also common in cold-weather dogs that are used to living outside and spending most of their time outdoors.
However, indoor dogs will not shed as much during the changing seasons as they don’t need to rely on their coats for protection from the heat and cold.
Instead, they will shed at a more consistent level throughout the entire year.
How to Stop Excess Shedding in Dogs
Unfortunately, there’s no way to completely eliminate dog hair shedding.
This is a natural process that’s essential to helping your dog protect themselves against different weather and temperatures.
But there are ways to minimize and stop any excessive shedding…
Brush Them Every Day
Our number one top tip to stop excessive shedding is to brush your dog’s hair every single day.
This will ensure that you get rid of all the dead hair from the undercoat before it starts to shed out all over your home.
There are several shampoos for heavy shedders that can help, too.
If you think daily brushing is too much, think of it as a ‘little and often’ habit that’ll keep mats and tangles at bay. The longer you leave brushing, the bigger the job will be.
Use the FURminator
The FURminator is a legendary deshedding tool that effectively removes loose hair from the undercoat and easily disposes of it.
It has an ergonomic handle for the ultimate comfort and ease for you and your pet.
Check They Don’t Have Fleas
Fleas and other parasites are notorious for exacerbating shedding.
If you haven’t already, get your dog straight on a flea and tick program, and take them to the vet if you’re worried they’re suffering from allergies or something else that might be causing excess shedding.
Improve Their Diet
One of the best ways to minimise hair loss in the worst dogs for shedding is to make sure that your pup is eating a healthy and balanced diet.
Food allergies and reactions to nasty preservatives and fillers in commercial pet food is notorious for causing heavy shedding.
Look for natural, organic dog food without any fillers, grains and preservatives — and ideally a dose of Omega fish oils to really nourish their coats!
Which dog breed sheds the most in your opinion?