Labradors are undoubtedly one of the most popular dog breeds. Many people consider them to be the perfect family pet. Labs are intelligent, energetic, playful, loyal, and are very good with children. Their good nature and supreme ability to accept training, making them the prime choice as a guide or service dog. In terms of health, Labs tend to live relatively long and healthy lives with fewer health problems than many other popular breeds.
One thing that is also true about the Labrador Retriever as a breed is that they are known to shed a lot of hair. Unfortunately, there is no escaping this fact. They may bring a great deal of joy to your home, but along with that, they do bring plenty of errant hairs.
What Causes Shedding In Labradors?
In the wild, animals need to adapt to the changing seasons. The winter brings the need to wrap up warm, and to do that, they will naturally grow a thicker winter coat.
As the colder months draw to an end, they will shed this coat in favor of a thinner, cooler coat, which will help stop the animal from getting too warm in the hotter summer months.
Then, before the winter comes once more, the summer coat is shed, and the thicker winter coat is grown again. Think of it as changing their seasonal wardrobe.
Labradors are no different in this respect, and, just like all domesticated dogs, they still have this evolutionary trait to molt, despite the fact they now very often live within our homes and enjoy the benefits of our central heating systems. Evolutionary changes do tend to take a very long time, and while the dogs that we take into our homes now still have these coats, we have only been keeping this breed in the manner that we currently do for a few centuries. This may change in our domesticated dogs over a more significant period.
Labradors, though, don’t just molt twice a year, they will continually do it. This is because they always wear two coats.
Labradors And Their Two Coats
Whether you have a yellow lab, chocolate lab, or a black lab, you should be aware that they have two coats. The breed originates from Labrador in Newfoundland, where it would very often swim in the cold seas. At times, Labs have been used as ‘ducking’ dogs because of the abilities in the water, this means that they would be sent out into the coldest waters to retrieve waterfowl. This is because they have evolved to have a waterproof coat that is excellent for swimming in even the iciest of seas.
The bottom layer of fur on any Labrador Retriever is an undercoat which is designed to regulate the dog’s temperature. As in all dogs, this is the seasonal coat that grows thicker in the winter and is replaced by a thinner summer one. This undercoat also acts as protection from the sun for the dog’s skin and is one reason why Labs should not have their coats shaved or cut in the warmer summer months.
The outer layer is silky and is there to act as waterproofing. It will keep the Labrador warm while it swims in colder water. Think of it as a wet suit for your dog. This coat also acts as protection from cold winds.
Different Coats For Different Seasons
So whereas many dog breeds have just the one coat, Labradors have a topcoat also. As such, there will be continual shedding from the topcoat as well as the seasonal changes to the bottom layer.
You can expect to see a much greater period of molting from the bottom coat in the spring in particular, and then again, to some degree, you will see this again in the autumn.
There is no way of stopping this from happening, shedding is a natural process. However, this is certainly something that you can manage by getting into good grooming routines with your family dog, as well as generally looking after your dog overall health.
Maintaining An Excellent Grooming Routine For Your Labrador
Grooming your Labrador Retriever should be an essential part of your daily care routine. It is something that you should consider starting when they are just little Lab puppies so that they get used to this getting done. It will not only be good for the dog, but it will also save you from having to clean up discarded hairs continually.
You will need to continually focus your attention on grooming the dead undercoat to remove as much loose hair as possible.
The Best Brushes To Groom Your Labrador
There are many different brushes on the market that are great for dealing with the way that your dog molts. A common and popular type would be a fine, rake-style tool. These allow you to discard any built-up hair from around the tool with just the press of a button. Having fine teeth will ensure that you get as much of the excess hair off as possible.
Grooming mitts are also very popular. By wearing a glove with small, gentle teeth on the palm, your dog will feel as though they are getting a loving stroke while you take off any excess hair that has built up among their coat.
How To Groom Your Dog
You will want to be careful not to hurt or harm your dog, so when it comes to brushing, you will want to go gently. Avoid pulling at the fur, or being too rough. Instead, use a long gentle stroke and go with the grain of the hairs and not against them. Do not apply too much pressure as you go, or you may end up tugging at the hair and causing pain.
Healthy Food For Your Labrador
Maintaining a good, healthy coat is essential for your dog, and one of the ways that you can do this is to ensure that you are giving your dog good quality food. When shopping for dog food, look for the nutritional values on the side of the packet. Much like with human foods, some manufacturers will use excessive amounts of preservatives, sugars, salts, vitamins if the food is not high enough quality, and fats, or have high-calorific contents. Be sure to choose a brand that comes recommended by someone who has long term experience with it or you can contract us via email to obtain our recommendation on a food we have used for over 11 years.
The hair of the dog is packed with protein, and so to maintain this, you will need to ensure that you include high-quality foods like chicken or fish in their diets.
Should You Shave Your Labrador?
While it may well be tempting just to shave your Labrador and save yourself the need to have to sweep up hair or spend extended periods brushing them. You may also believe that your dog is overheating because of the fact that it has such a thick coat, and you may even notice that they pant when they are warm.
If you are debating shaving your dog’s hair, then you should resist the temptation as it is not good for them. One of the features of the dog’s coats is protection from the sun. It prevents your dog from getting a sunburn. Losing your dog’s double coat will also leave it exposed to the elements when you go out on your walks. They may end up being much too cold at times, or even too warm.
Cleaning Up After Your Pup
Of course, all of this helps to reduce the amount that your Labrador will shed. However, you will still find the need to vacuum after them very often. One thing that you may wish to consider here is getting a robot vacuum that will continually clean up after your dog so that you don’t have to. As well, there are also pet-orientated vacuum cleaners designed specifically for pet hair. We have one and it works great!
