When it comes to owning a dog you’ve probably thought about the shedding problem. But you may have thought about different ways of combating that problem as well, like getting a dog that doesn’t shed as much. Which leads to the question of do Rottweilers shed?
In This Article You Will Read About
Do Rottweilers Shed?
Rottweilers will shed though their typically short hair means that they shed less than many other breeds of dog. Long haired Rottweilers can shed more than their standard counterparts. Either type of Rottweiler will require regular brushing to cut down on shedding but there is no way to eliminate it entirely.
Taking care of your Rottweilers shedding is more important than just knowing if they are going to shed or not.
What to Know About the Shedding Cycle
All dogs will shed because it is part of the cycle of how their hair grows and dies. Just like humans will lose hair throughout the course of the day, dogs will do the same. The difference is that dogs tend to shed more, in larger quantities, at certain times of the year.
The hair for a dog goes through four different phases. The first is called the growth phase, which is when the hair grows out to the ideal length. This will vary depending on whether you have a standard short haired Rottweiler or a long haired Rottweiler.
The next phase is the regression phase, where the hair has stopped growing. You’ll have minimal shedding during this phase, but keep in mind that it’s only a short phase while the hair is getting ready for the next steps.
The third phase is the quiescent phase. This is another phase with very little shedding as the hair behind is starting to grow out. The current hair, the part that you can see, is relatively calm at this stage and you won’t see a lot of it falling out. But that is gearing up for the final phase.
The final phase is the shedding phase. This is where you’ll see the larger amounts of shedding, but be aware that shedding does occur throughout each of the different phases since your dogs fur doesn’t all grow and fall out at the same time. There are different cycles overall.
Factors to Know About Shedding
There are several different factors that will play into just how much a specific dog will shed. First, there are factors like genetics, age, sex, and the part of the body. Then there are factors like their overall nutrition, their health, and other environmental factors.
The factors that you can’t change are going to be things like, the parentage of your dog and the breed that you’ve chosen. Short haired Rottweilers won’t shed a great deal, however long haired Rottweilers and some other breeds definitely will.
Other factors are ones that you do have at least some level of control over. These are the things like the health of the dog, the food they’re eating, and the environment that they live in. You can influence these areas to make sure that your dog is in the best shape possible.
Now, there is nothing you can do to stop your dog from shedding completely. But by improving these areas, such as giving them high quality food and caring for all of their health needs, you can decrease the amount of excess shedding that occurs. That’s because you’ll be improving the health of the fur itself as well.
How Much Do Rottweilers Shed?
Rottweilers are considered moderate shedders, as far as the short haired, standard version. Throughout the main part of the year you won’t notice a whole lot of shedding, but you absolutely will notice more n the spring and the fall.
Rottweilers have what’s called a double coat, which means that they are actually better protected against inclement weather. But it also means that you can expect a little more shedding when they’re getting ready for a drastic change in season.
Getting ready for cold weather means that their coat bulks up, but this means the old coat will shed away. And getting ready for warm weather means that their coats thin out slightly, which also results in a great deal of lost fur.
If you have a long haired Rottweiler you can expect this to be exacerbated as the dog has even more fur to shed. And because that fur is longer you’re also more likely to notice it than you would be with a short haired dog.
How Do I Reduce Rottweiler Shedding?
Well, we already mentioned a couple of things you can do to help reduce your Rottweilers shedding. For one, you’ll want to make sure that you’re feeding them high quality food that keeps their body and their coat in as good of shape as possible. This will reduce premature shedding.
You also want to make sure that you take care of any health conditions. The healthier your dog is overall the less they will have excess shedding. However, some health problems can’t be resolved and instead are only able to be managed. Certain medications may make your dog shed more than average.
Also, changing up the environment to provide the healthiest and safest environment possible for your dog is another important step. You want to make sure that you keep the environment as free of toxins and pollutants as possible. This will help keep your dog healthier and that will reduce shedding as well.
Finally, proper grooming is essential to making sure that your dog sheds less. Now, this is not going to actually decrease the amount of fur that your dog loses. Rather, it’s going to decrease the amount of fur that they lose around your house, but that’s going to keep things cleaner and more comfortable for you.
Grooming your dog regularly, and especially during the periods of the year that they shed the most, will help you pick up all that loose fur before it finds its way throughout your house. So, make sure that you are taking a look at the different types of brushes we’ve discussed below and how they can impact your dog’s shedding.
This stage also includes bathing and grooming, which you will want to do regularly. By engaging in all three of these things you will be able to reduce the amount of fur that gets all over your house. Plus, you’ll keep your dog a whole lot more comfortable and happy as well.
Types of Brushes to Use for Rottweiler Grooming
There are several different types of brushes that you should have on hand when you own a dog. And owning a Rottweiler with shorter fur is definitely no exception. So, make sure that you’re looking at each of these and prepping your grooming kit.
Shedding brush – this brush is ideal for reducing shedding. It has metal teeth in most cases, though some have round style teeth that are designed to catch the fur easier. The idea is that this single row brush with fine teeth can pull the loose fur from the rest.
Slicker brush – this brush can be stiff or it can be flexible, but the most important part is that it’s wide and has thin bristles. It’s used for getting rid of dirt and debris or for finishing off when you’re grooming to give your dog a nice, sleek look.
Pin brush – this brush is similar to a standard brush that you would use for yourself. It has plenty of pins with covers over them to get through the hair easily. It’s used for getting rid of the more minor knots as well as helping to get rid of dirt and other debris.
Comb – a comb is relatively standard and looks very much like the one you would get for yourself. It’s made with metal in most cases and it’s great for getting out some of those more stubborn knots and some debris.
Undercoat rake – this brush is designed to get into the lower layer of fur, which is important for a Rottweiler. It looks kind of like what you would expect, with wide teeth that are actually relatively dull. That’s because they’re designed to get loose fur out rather than knots.
Bristle brush – this brush is great for getting lose fur out and also for making sure that your dogs fur looks its absolute best at the end of the grooming session. Plus, it doesn’t poke or scratch your dog, even accidentally.
What Do I Do About Rottweiler Shedding?
There are only a few things that you can do about Rottweiler shedding and we’ve discussed them above. You’ll want to make sure that you’re taking care of them as well as possible and putting in the effort for grooming, good nutrition, and excellent healthcare.
Make sure also that you’re getting them outside and helping them get plenty of exercise. You may not realize it, but that’s also going to help reduce the amount of shedding that you experience in your home. It’s going to keep them healthier and it’s going to allow them to shed a bit more outside the house.
When you do experience shedding in your house you will want to have a high quality vacuum cleaner that can take care of the mess. You’ll also want to make sure that you’re vacuuming regularly during the prime shedding seasons of fall and spring to stay ahead of things.
If you notice shedding picking up a little more you may also want to start picking up on your grooming with your dog as well. This may help reduce the amount that you need to clean up otherwise.
Conclusion
When it comes down to it, the answer to do Rottweilers shed is yes. But you don’t need to worry as much about their shedding as you would with other breeds of dogs. So, make sure that you’re looking at all of the different needs of the dog and taking care of them along the way.
By following along with the tips and tricks we’ve discussed here you should be off to a good start getting your dog looking their best and making sure that the shedding is kept to a minimum as much as possible. Make sure that you are feeding them right, brushing them frequently, and just enjoying the opportunity to love such an amazing dog.
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