As soon as the days start drawing in during September, hair turns up everywhere: on the sofa, in the car, on your dark jacket. Dog shedding in autumn is completely normal and happens twice a year, in spring and as the cold sets in. Even so, there's plenty you can do to get it over with sooner and stop your home turning into a carpet. Here's what actually works.
Why dog shedding starts in autumn
What triggers the change isn't the temperature, it's the light. The moment the days shorten, your dog's body starts building its winter coat: the light summer hair drops out and the undercoat grows in, because that's the layer that keeps them warm. It's far more noticeable in breeds with a heavy undercoat (Australian shepherd, golden retriever, husky, German shepherd). Short-haired dogs shed too, just less dramatically.
Dogs that spend long hours indoors with the heating on often shed a little all year round, because artificial light blurs the seasonal signal. It's no cause for alarm, but it makes regular brushing even more important.
How long does it last?
Usually three to eight weeks, roughly from mid-September to November. In older dogs, after an illness, or in females following a season, it can drag on. If hair is still coming out in handfuls after ten weeks, it's worth getting checked.
Brushing: how often and with what
- Five or ten minutes a day achieve far more than one long session on a Sunday. Hair that ends up in the brush doesn't end up on the sofa.
- Long coat with undercoat: start with an undercoat rake or slicker brush to loosen the dense layer, then a brush to smooth the topcoat.
- Short coat: a rubber grooming glove or silicone curry comb, which lifts loose hair without irritating the skin.
- Brush on the balcony, in the garden or right by the door. It saves you half the vacuuming.
- Always with the lie of the coat and without pressing down. Working over the same spot irritates the skin.
- If your dog doesn't take well to the brush, start with two-minute sessions and treats, then build up.
Bathing, food and water
A lukewarm bath with a shampoo made for dogs helps release a good deal of the dead undercoat, as long as you dry thoroughly and brush afterwards. What you don't want to do is bathe them constantly: it strips the natural oils and leaves the coat more brittle. Once every six to eight weeks is usually plenty at this time of year.
On the food side, what makes the difference is quality protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Before adding supplements off your own bat, run it past your vet: too much isn't harmless either. And keep fresh water available at all times, because dehydrated skin flakes more.
Getting hair out of the house without losing your mind
Order matters: fabrics first, floors second. Vacuum before you shake out the sofa and you'll be doing the job twice.
- Run a roller over the sofa, cushions and clothes. Our self-cleaning reusable lint roller empties into its own base, so you're not tied to sticky refills.
- A slightly damp rubber glove, wiped in one direction, gathers hair from upholstery into little clumps you can just pick up.
- Take the hair off clothes while they're dry, before they go in the machine. Wet hair works into the fibre and is much harder to shift.
- Vacuum two or three times a week during this period and clean the vacuum's brush roll: once hair wraps around it, it stops picking anything up.
- Put a washable blanket in their favourite spot. That concentrates most of the hair on something you can throw straight in the wash.
When to call the vet
Seasonal shedding thins the coat, but it never leaves bald patches. Book an appointment if you see hairless areas, persistent itching, heavy dandruff, reddened skin, a bad smell, or a coat that looks dull and brittle. Symmetrical hair loss on both flanks, especially alongside weight changes or lethargy, can point to a thyroid problem. And don't ignore heavy shedding well outside the usual season either.
In short: short daily brushing, the occasional bath, good food and a fixed routine for fabrics. Do that and the autumn moult passes in a few weeks without leaving your home covered. You can browse the rest of our pet care items in the shop.