Every dog breed (except hairless dog breeds) shed.If your Lab’s coat stays healthy, you will notice that the amount of shedding gradually reduces. It is a fact that double-coated dog breeds shed way more than single-coated breeds.The Labrador Retriever is often called a Lab or gun dog. This breed originated in the United Kingdom from Canadian fishing dogs. The Labrador is a popular dog breed in many countries across the world. They are also a popular breed for disability assistance in several countries. They are trained to provide assistance to autistic or blind people, perform detection and screening work for law enforcement, or as therapy dogs. This dog breed is loyal, obedient, and playful.They are also known as hunting and sporting dogs. Labs are medium to large with a muscular and powerful build. They have broad heads, and their eyebrows are somewhat pronounced. Their eye colors are hazel and brown. The AKC and Kennel Club state that the coat and tail of Labs are their most distinctive features. Labradors are registered in chocolate, solid black, and yellow (from fox-red to white) coat colors. Compared to white and yellow Labs, Labs with brown coat colors are rare. Puppies of the same litter can come in all colors. These are great family dogs due to their temperament. They are good around children too. These dogs will need to be trained so that they become calmer as adults. Female Labs can be more independent than other dogs.Training your pup from an early age helps a lot with shedding too. Commanding your pet to stay off the couch is a good way of getting rid of fur on your furniture, although it takes a lot of time and effort. Make use of a vacuum cleaner and get rid of hair regularly, avoiding hair build-up around your house. Also, do not forget to clean your carpets and drapes. Make sure to sanitize a surface after cleaning it. Most of the hair will be on the floor, and some hair will float around the house, ending up in other places. It is better if you use a good-quality vacuum cleaner so that it cleans the house effectively. If you do not have the time to vacuum around the house yourself, you can also get a robot vacuum cleaner. You cannot stop your dog from shedding completely as it is the canine’s natural way of surviving. Shedding is great for your dog’s health but can be unpleasant to you at times.If you enjoyed reading these facts about whether Labrador Retrievers shed, then make sure to read some more interesting facts about whether llamas spit and if mammals lay eggs here at Kidadl.Do Labrador Retrievers shed?Yes, Labrador Retrievers shed like other dogs and can even shed a lot more.As a dog’s hair ages, it becomes brittle and weak, and the body lets the hair from the dog’s coat fall off, which then becomes dead hair. Labrador Retrievers were first bred to assist Canadian fishermen with their craft. Labs would jump into the water to fetch lines and ropes, and they would also chase fish that were flopping on decks. So, to perform these tasks in winter, Labradors needed to have a warm and thick coat, and early breeders developed such coats. Labs have thick double coats with waterproof short hair on the outer coat. This helps to protect the dog’s skin and keep its body dry while swimming. The Lab’s top coat resembles a wetsuit. This top coat will protect the Lab’s skin from getting excessively dry. The undercoat is dense with soft, short, and thick hair. The undercoat keeps the body warm even in harsh winter conditions and in water. The undercoat regulates the dog’s body temperature. This warm coat gets thicker in winter and thinner in summer. This is the reason a Lab will shed a lot more in spring and fall. The dog’s skin is also protected from the sun due to this coat.Heavy shedding of the double coat in a Labrador Retriever is pretty common. However, the normal shedding rate is only two times per year. If your Lab sheds more than required, then this can be due to factors like your dog’s diet, medical condition, or stress. Some dog breeds will molt less than others, and some will have increased shedding. Dogs benefit a lot from shedding, just as we have evolved to adapt to weather conditions. Maybe, if dogs continue to live in cozy home environments, they might not shed so much after ten thousand years.Shedding Season Of Labrador RetrieversThe Labrador shedding season is called the molting season. This is when they shed their thicker winter coat in spring and fall.Wild animals, like wolves and foxes, need to change their coat two times a year due to changing seasons. As dogs have close ancestors to wolves, the double coat is also considered an ancestral trait. Dog breeds with a single coat are a cause of gene mutation, and these dogs shed less hair. This is called molting. This begins with the start of spring and rising temperatures. A dog’s thick winter coat will fall off, and its thin summer coat will grow to keep its body cool. This double coat grows thicker in winter, which is a normal shedding procedure. If you look at a dog’s fur-related genetics, there are one to two guard or topcoat hairs with a lot of undercoat hair in each hair follicle. Pups are born with one coat and will develop adult coats around three months of age. This will grow until the pups are a year old. Labs make great working dogs as they are capable of withstanding a variety of weather conditions.Lab owners need to put in the time to maintain their Lab’s loose hair. If a Labrador Retriever is not maintained with good health and grooming, then there will be pet hair lying everywhere around the house. Labradors shed way more in warmer climate regions than in colder regions. Lab shedding increases in the period known as coat blowout. Although molting is dependant on climate and environment, genetics also impacts these dogs. Even if you keep your Lab in an air-conditioned room, your Lab will shed. Due to your Lab’s shedding, you might even consider shaving its fur. Shaving is not the right option for your dog. It can hurt your Lab’s skin. The coat protects your dog’s body from the environment, and shaving it off can cause dry skin issues or sunburn. Without a coat, the regulation of body temperature will not take place in the right way. Grooming is the right way to reduce shedding.Labrador Shedding LevelLabrador Retrievers shed a small amount of hair per year, which increases to twice a year during molting season.Although Labradors are short-haired dogs, they will shed an excessive amount of hair. It is usually believed that a yellow Lab sheds more hair than a brown or black Lab. Many also mention that a black Lab sheds way less coat hair than the other two. However, the yellow Lab will shed the same amount of hair as the other two colors. Also, there is no impact of coat color on shedding. So, it is a myth that yellow Labs shed more coat hair than the other two. This confusion might arise as yellow Lab’s hair is more visible on dark surfaces, so the fur is more noticeable. Dark fur is visible on light surfaces. In the rare long-haired Labrador, shedding is the same. Color does not affect a dog’s personality and temperament. However, it can impact a Labrador Retriever’s health. Researchers found out that the brown or chocolate-colored Labrador Retriever has a relatively lower life expectancy than others. If you do own a brown or chocolate, Labrador Retriever then pay close attention to your pet’s health.Labradors shed abnormally due to health issues. Some reasons for sudden excessive shedding are dehydration, poor diet, anxiety, stress, parasites, or allergies. Other causes that are not too common are medication reaction, pregnancy, Cushing’s disease, underdeveloped hair follicles, or hypothyroidism. Some signs of these issues are that a dog will avoid petting or have bald patches, open sores, irritation, blisters, and brittle or dry hair.If you do not feed your Lab the correct dog food with the required nutrients, it will lead to hair loss. When dogs are dehydrated, then oxygen delivery and blood flow to their organs, tissues, and skin are compromised. This means they are not supple enough to hold fur. Parasites like fleas, ticks, or lice will cause your Lab to scratch and bite its skin, causing hair loss and even infection. Underdeveloped hair follicles are due to genetics, but not always. This can cause bald patches or complete hair loss. A small tumor will cause Cushing’s disease in the pituitary gland causing high production of cortisol, a stress hormone, in turn causing hair loss. Hypothyroidism will cause hair thinning and loss. However, Labs are not highly prone to this illness. Fungal and bacterial infections or other allergies can cause skin trauma. Separation anxiety and stress can drive your dog to chew on its skin and hair. This is called Acral lick dermatitisSolutions For Their Shedding ProblemsSolutions for a Labrador’s shedding problem are de-shedding tools, shedding brushes, grooming, food for skin and coat, hydration, flea control, and omega fatty acids.Experienced Labrador owners are usually well-prepared for the shedding season due to excessive shedding. There are Labrador shedding solutions that can make the shedding process peaceful for both Lab owners and the Labs. You can manage shedding or reduce shedding by using a de-shedding tool made for a double coat. This tool easily gets into the dense undercoat and takes out all the loose fur. You can use this tool twice per week when your Lab is shedding its coat. Brushing your dog is also an easy task, and like most dogs, your Lab will likely enjoy it. You can brush your dog around two to three times a week using a slicker brush to remove pet dander on the topcoat. You can also use a bristle brush to get rid of dead fur in your pet and also to spread natural oils throughout its body.Grooming and bathing Labs around three to four times a year will keep their locks clean. You will also be able to get rid of any loose fur on your dog’s body. However, make sure not to over-bathe your pet because it will strip your Lab’s natural oils, which can cause dry skin and further shedding. You can use shampoos with Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to further control your dog’s shedding. While deciding your dog’s diet, make sure to include food with proper nutrition and high-quality protein instead of foods with chemicals and preservatives. Protein deficiency can cause unkempt, dull hair. If your Labrador has a healthy, nutritious diet, then it will have a healthy coat and year-round shedding decreases.Make sure your pet drinks a lot of water every day to avoid dehydration and reduce shedding. This will also improve your pet’s overall health. You can also get a dog water fountain. This will not need you to constantly change the water too. You can also provide ice cubes or frozen strawberries or raspberries to quench your Lab’s thirst. These are better than treats that are commercially available. Although flea treatment will deal with fleas, it will not completely stop shedding. It will effectively control shedding as your pet will stop nibbling and scratching itself from time to time. The more your Lab scratches its coat and skin, the more coat hair falls out. So, it is better to reduce fleas in your pet’s coat. Make sure to be up to date with flea treatment. Year-round shedding can reduce by changing diet and supplements. Omega acids must be present in your pet’s food and daily supplements. If the dog food does not contain enough oil in it, then make sure to add some olive oil to your pet’s food. Omega 3 rich olive oil will improve coat and skin health. You can ask your vet for an adequate amount of oil to be included in your pet’s diet. Vegetable oil and fish oils are also good. Taking these steps can reduce shedding in the long term.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestion for ‘Do Labrador Retrievers shed?’, then why not take a look at ‘Do Maltese shed?’ or ‘Labrador Retriever facts’?
Every dog breed (except hairless dog breeds) shed.
