Drowning in dog hair

clfy39tzve8njq

Hi I have a cocker/retriever cross and the amount of hair around the house is huge.
I would brush her every second day and use an undercoat rake once a week.

Even immediately after I groom her if she brushes of me I'm covered in hair. It seems to be top hair she's losing rather than undercoat.

I'm just wondering if anybody can give me some advice on how to cut down on the amount of hair around the house. At the moment it seems the more I groom the more she loses.
Thanks in advance

twignme

Nancy Fluffy Knee wrote: »

Hi I have a cocker/retriever cross and the amount of hair around the house is huge.
I would brush her every second day and use an undercoat rake once a week.

Even immediately after I groom her if she brushes of me I'm covered in hair. It seems to be top hair she's losing rather than undercoat.

I'm just wondering if anybody can give me some advice on how to cut down on the amount of hair around the house. At the moment it seems the more I groom the more she loses.
Thanks in advance

I sympathise! My collie cross and retriever cross shed so much hair I could knit a third dog every week! I have tried everything with no success and just look forward to the cooler weather when it should improve. Would a professional 'summer' clipping maybe help? i tried it once on the collie and it did help a little but traumatised him so much I decided against doing it again.

Pseudorandom

I recommend one of those cordless stick vacuums. I have a 2-1 Bosch dustbuster and stick vacuum from Argos and it's no hassle at all to just grab it and give the room a once over every day. I have a proper hoover for doing a "real" hoover, but a once or twice a day run around with the stick only takes 5 mins, no hauling it out or plugging it in, just grab and go.

twignme

Pseudorandom wrote: »

I recommend one of those cordless stick vacuums. I have a 2-1 Bosch dustbuster and stick vacuum from Argos and it's no hassle at all to just grab it and give the room a once over every day. I have a proper hoover for doing a "real" hoover, but a once or twice a day run around with the stick only takes 5 mins, no hauling it out or plugging it in, just grab and go.

I thought at first you were suggesting hoovering the dog!:eek:

clfy39tzve8njq

twignme wrote:

I sympathise! My collie cross and retriever cross shed so much hair I could knit a third dog every week! I have tried everything with no success and just look forward to the cooler weather when it should improve. Would a professional 'summer' clipping maybe help? i tried it once on the collie and it did help a little but traumatised him so much I decided against doing it again.

I did get her clipped once but to be honest it didn't make a big difference. She's a rescue and can be quiet timid it took me a few weeks to win back her trust after leaving her at the groomers.

Cortina_MK_IV

I had this a few months back with my Retriever. Before I got him I read about the shedding but it didn't prepare me for the amount, house and car. I was going to buy a cheap and cheerful vacuum but on a whim I got a Dyson Animal and I just got used to cleaning up just where a hair load has been left. He loves his brushing too.

VonVix

Have you got a slicker brush? Or a terrier pad? They are pretty good for top coats. Also, have you ever tried putting rubber gloves on and gently(!) stroking her coat? How old is she? Is the hair leaving any thin patches on her coat, particularly on her back end? Or is it just general molting all over?

Lots of questions, sorry!

clfy39tzve8njq

VonVix wrote:

Have you got a slicker brush? Or a terrier pad? They are pretty good for top coats. Also, have you ever tried putting rubber gloves on and gently(!) stroking her coat? How old is she? Is the hair leaving any thin patches on her coat, particularly on her back end? Or is it just general molting all over?

No problem with the questions ask away.
I have a slicker brush but she absolutely hates it. I have a grooming glove I use on her. She's about five not totally sure she's a rescue.
There's no thin patches it's just general molting. I don't have a terrier pad do you think it would be worth getting one

VonVix

Nancy Fluffy Knee wrote: »

No problem with the questions ask away.
I have a slicker brush but she absolutely hates it. I have a grooming glove I use on her. She's about five not totally sure she's a rescue.
There's no thin patches it's just general molting. I don't have a terrier pad do you think it would be worth getting one

Does the slicker brush you have have sharp points? That's often why a lot of dogs don't like a slicker, because it ends up scraping against their skin as owners can unintentionally be too rough.

When grooming with a rake, are you careful to groom not just the top of the dog, but the sides, under the belly and especially the 'trousers'? Lots of owners who aren't familiar with grooming easily forget those spots!

The terrier pad can be more gentle than a slicker, it's suited to shorter coats, while a slicker is good for longer coats that tend to tangle (think Bichons or Rough Collies) but if your dog has a coat more similar to the length and thickness of a Golden Retriever a slicker mightn't be as comfortable as it easily reaches the skin. While with a terrier pad, you essentially "pet" your dog as you are grooming them.

Do you find the rake gets much hair out?

And don't worry, it's still shedding season for a lot of dogs before they get their winter coat, so it should ease up a bit!

clfy39tzve8njq

VonVix wrote:

Does the slicker brush you have have sharp points? That's often why a lot of dogs don't like a slicker, because it ends up scraping against their skin as owners can unintentionally be too rough.

It has sharp points she hated it no matter how gentle I was so I stopped using it.

VonVix wrote:

When grooming with a rake, are you careful to groom not just the top of the dog, but the sides, under the belly and especially the 'trousers'? Lots of owners who aren't familiar with grooming easily forget those spots!

Yeah I groom all those areas

VonVix wrote:

The terrier pad can be more gentle than a slicker, it's suited to shorter coats, while a slicker is good for longer coats that tend to tangle (think Bichons or Rough Collies) but if your dog has a coat more similar to the length and thickness of a Golden Retriever a slicker mightn't be as comfortable as it easily reaches the skin. While with a terrier pad, you essentially "pet" your dog as you are grooming them.

The terrier pad sounds good I'll get one

VonVix wrote:

And don't worry, it's still shedding season for a lot of dogs before they get their winter coat, so it should ease up a bit!

Oh I wish but it seems to be all year round.

VonVix wrote:

Do you find the rake gets much hair out?

Yes the rake gets out quiet a bit of undercoat but it's top coat she's using around the house.

tk123

You may need to try a few different types of brushes - I have 2 retrievers and they have different coats. Rakes work all over for Bailey but only around Lucy's back legs. Slicker works ok for both but what works best for their top coats is a pin brush like this.

And I'd normally use a double rake(not the one in the pic)

Also brush them when you're out on a walk and release the hairs back to nature and not your house lol!! Loads of times I've brushed my two in the park and the crows swoop down and take the hair!

This was all with the pin brush!

kathleen37

You can get pet grooming attachments for the dyson cordless. The main issue is the dog/cat being ok with the noise. My friend uses it on her pup and the pup loves it and it does an excellent job of vacuuming the dog. None of our cats are up for it though (I have the cordless and borrowed the attachment to try but no joy)

clfy39tzve8njq

Thanks for the info she has a more wiry coat than a retriever except around her neck and shoulders where it's thicker and more curly.
Is there any grade to the pin brush and double rake you use. I mean how close together the teeth are if you get what I'm trying to say.

clfy39tzve8njq

I'm afraid mine heads for the hills when I start the hoover so would be out of the question

Choc Chip

kathleen37 wrote: »

You can get pet grooming attachments for the dyson cordless. The main issue is the dog/cat being ok with the noise. My friend uses it on her pup and the pup loves it and it does an excellent job of vacuuming the dog. None of our cats are up for it though (I have the cordless and borrowed the attachment to try but no joy)

I didn't want to be the first to admit to vacuuming my dog!

Mine is grand with the noise but it really didn't lift her coat and was a bit of a waste of time. I'm off to look at the brushes recommended here!

We have a deaf cat that I vacuum sometimes!

kathleen37

BrownFinger wrote: »

We have a deaf cat that I vacuum sometimes!

You know, we've just taken in a deaf cat - I'll give it a go again on her and see how it goes as some of them love it

Ms Doubtfire1

I haven't got those issue with a lurcher but a friend of mine has a malamute..and she brings him to the groomer.I went with once and the groomer puts some kind of blaster on him after a bath-the amount of hair coming off even after a full brush and bath is amazing. maybe you can get one of those..use outside is all I can say lol

tk123

Nancy Fluffy Knee wrote: »

Thanks for the info she has a more wiry coat than a retriever except around her neck and shoulders where it's thicker and more curly.
Is there any grade to the pin brush and double rake you use. I mean how close together the teeth are if you get what I'm trying to say.

I always just get large. I can measure the space between them later if you want?

makeandcreate

twignme wrote: »

I thought at first you were suggesting hoovering the dog!:eek:

Me too.
Although it takes me twice as long to hoover around the kitchen as my bull terrier stands in front of me waiting to be hoovered, especially the tickle spot under his neck ... It makes no difference though, there is always as much hair on me and the sofa as is on the dog.

PlainP

tk123 wrote: »

You may need to try a few different types of brushes - I have 2 retrievers and they have different coats. Rakes work all over for Bailey but only around Lucy's back legs. Slicker works ok for both but what works best for their top coats is a pin brush like this.

And I'd normally use a double rake(not the one in the pic)

Also brush them when you're out on a walk and release the hairs back to nature and not your house lol!! Loads of times I've brushed my two in the park and the crows swoop down and take the hair!

This was all with the pin brush!

Looks like your dog is totally blissed out after the brushing. Lol.

cocker5

OP u have a black cocker, clipped fairly neat and tight – no hair whatsoever ever! We never brush him (don’t need to) he is feed salmon oil each day (great for joints, skin and coat – helps reduce shedding), he is fed grain free food (well currently moving him to RAW) but he never sheds at all. He sleeps beside the radiator too 

I would suggest adding salmon oil to his food each day and looking at what food you are feeding etc. – by looking at both of these, changing food will help reduce shedding


http://www.zooplus.ie/shop/dogs/dry_dog_food/taste_of_the_wild/puppy/409305

http://www.zooplus.ie/esearch.htm#q%3Dsalmon%2520oil%26cats%3D1Dog%26catl%3D2Dog%26p%3D1%26ci%3DCategory_facet%253D1%253A2Dog

scarepanda

While iv nothing to add, it's good to know we're not the only ones covered in dog hair! Have a husky and a husky/golden retriever cross and it's great craic here most of the time!
In general it doesn't bother me all that much (acceptance i think, because there both worth it), but I do get a bit conscious when we have visitors calling that might be a bit particular.... We've a new baby so lots of visitors since she arrived! Sometimes I wish we had a 'good room'

tk123

You need...

A good brush/brushes
A good vacuum
Lint rollers lol!! :pac:

FrostyJack

I 2nd the salmon oil and wireless hoover. Giving fish in general seems to help. A quick run over the place with the hoover once a day keeps us on top of things. A furminator might be worth a try, all depends on the model and the type of coat. Had some success with our lab cross.

tk123

I can get away with vacuum and steam clean once a week! :cool: of course the second I finish the dogs take up their spots on the clean mats lol!

Ms Doubtfire1

tk123 wrote: »

I can get away with vacuum and steam clean once a week! :cool: of course the second I finish the dogs take up their spots on the clean mats lol!

The love clean bedding. I change the bedding in my boys bed every week and regardless how filthy he is, when it's changed he just HAS to go in there...:rolleyes:

kathleen37

Oh man. I just love, love bull terriers...

aonb

I reckon my terriers (Patterdale JRT X) loose their bodyweight in hair 24/7/365
Tumbleweeds of dog hair roll across the floor if I dont sweep/vac every day.
Ive given up on worrying about the mess (our clothes and furniture too) - the dogs are worth it - oh and a cat who is moulting has now added to the mix

OP What your dogs coat like - and her skin? i.e. good condition?
Salmon oil definitely improves coat and skin quality, and can help reduce shedding. What you feed her will make a difference to the quality of her skin/coat too.

clfy39tzve8njq

Pseudorandom wrote:

I recommend one of those cordless stick vacuums. I have a 2-1 Bosch dustbuster and stick vacuum from Argos and it's no hassle at all to just grab it and give the room a once over every day. I have a proper hoover for doing a "real" hoover, but a once or twice a day run around with the stick only takes 5 mins, no hauling it out or plugging it in, just grab and go.

Hi any chance of a link to the vacuum that you have