How do I get my border collie to stop shedding?
The unfortunate part of having a border collie is that most of them shed a lot. You find there’s a lot of hair everywhere and your vacuum and lint rollers have become your best friend in combating this furball invasion. In the long run, this double-coated and long-haired breed will have you getting used to having hairballs on your bed, couch, table, and all over your home. And it gets worse during fall and spring! This is because Collies shed their coat during spring to get ready for the hot summer months and shed their light summer coat again during fall in preparation for a thicker winter coat. Their coat is essential in regulating their body temperature and adjusts to the seasons accordingly.
So, yes Border Collies shed a lot but don’t be tempted to shave or clip their coat to stop them from shedding. This will disrupt their body temperature regulation and can also expose them to harmful UV rays. Instead, you can reduce the amount of shedding you have to deal with by brushing their coat, giving them a bath, and providing a healthy diet.
Brushing
Brush your Collie’s coat every day during shedding season and three times a week for the rest of the year. Use a good slicker brush to remove his loose hair and mats. While doing this, you can also check your dog for fleas and ticks and have them treated right away so that they won’t contribute to the shedding.
Bathing
It is not recommended that you bathe your Collie often but when it’s time for his bath, use an anti-shed shampoo when you bathe your Border Collie. There’s also a de-shedding conditioner that you can use to manage his shedding better. After thoroughly rinsing the shampoo and conditioner, use a dryer to help you remove all the loose and dead hair. This will help in managing their coat’s shedding.
Healthy Diet
Give your Collie a high-quality diet to ensure that he gets all the nutrients that he needs to keel his coat healthy. Check the nutritional content of their diet which should include Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, zinc, linoleic acid, and vitamins A, B, and E. All of these promote the healthy development of your Collie’s coat and will help control shedding.
It’s important that furparents understand the reason why their Collies shed and know how to manage them so that they can deal with their dog’s shedding effectively without losing their sanity over all the hair scattered all over their homes.
