As any dog owner knows, dealing with pet hair can be a never-ending battle. It seems like no matter how often you sweep and vacuum, there’s always a fresh layer of fur on the floor. If you’re looking for ways to reduce the amount of dog hair in your home and want the best chance at keeping it clean, here are 5 simple things you can do.
Proactive Brushing
One of the best ways to limit the amount of dog hair in your home is to brush your dog regularly. By brushing them daily (or at least a few times a week), you can remove loose fur before it has a chance to fall on the floor and become part of your vacuum’s permanent collection.
Not only will this help keep your floors clean, but it’s also great for your dog’s coat. Brushing distributes their natural oils and helps to prevent mats and tangles. It’s also great for your relationship with them if you can make it a habit of giving them 10-15 minutes of focused attention each day.
We all know life can get pretty busy sometimes and building the habit of daily brushing ensures they always get a little bit of special one on one time with you.
Get The Right Tools To Help Out
Having a few really helpful tools can do wonders with keeping your home from turning into a furball.
The first tool is a lint roller. This is a must-have for any dog owner. You can use it on your clothing, furniture, and even in your car. Brushing things off with your hands simply doesn’t do the trick which is why having a lint roller on hand makes things much easier.
The second is a good vacuum cleaner designed for pet hair. If you have hardwood floors, then you know that a regular vacuum just doesn’t do the trick when it comes to picking up fur. You need something that has a little more power and can really get deep into the cracks and crevices to suck up all that hair.
Another helpful option is a robot vacuum. These handy little devices help clean your floors on a regular basis and ensure your floors never get too coated in fur. These vacuums aren’t a complete solution but they help make sure the amount of times you have to do a good cleaning yourself is less each week.
Lastly, a good air purifier can help pull out any dog hair and dander that’s floating in the air. This is beneficial for many reasons. Obviously, it helps with the maintenance of a cleaner home environment, but it’s also useful for allergies and improving the general quality of air in your house.
Having the right tools can help ensure the amount of cleaning you have to personally do is kept to a minimum!
Blow Out Their Coat In High Shedding Seasons
If you live in an area with extreme seasons, then you know that your dog’s coat can change with the weather. In the fall, many dogs shed more as their coat gets prepared for winter and in the spring, many shed their undercoat to stay cool.
A great way to get rid of all the loose fur trapped in their undercoat during these times is to blow it out! Simply take them outside in your backyard, grab a dog blow dryer and give their coat a good blow out. You’ll likely be surprised to find how much fur comes off their undercoat when you do this.
You’d only need to do this once or twice and it makes a huge difference in the amount of fur they shed in your home.
Create a Bathing Schedule
It’s also important to keep up with a regular bathing schedule to help keep the amount of fur you find lying around your home to a minimum.
How often you need to bathe your dog depends on a few different factors like their coat type, activity level, if they’re a dirt/mud puddle magnet, and whether or not they have any skin conditions.
A good rule of thumb is to bathe them every 6-10 weeks. This helps ensure their coat is clean and healthy and prevents any build-up of dirt, debris, and oils that can lead to excessive shedding. It also helps you collect any loose fur that would have otherwise fallen on the floor.
Additionally, using a good dog shampoo and conditioner can also help reduce the amount of fur they shed by keeping their skin and coat moisturized and healthy.
Supplements
Another way to get ahead of your dog’s shedding is with supplements that help keep their skin and coat healthy.
The first supplement to take a look at is fish oils. Fish oils are a great way to help improve the health of your dog’s skin and coat. They contain Omega-3 fatty acids which helps keep their skin from drying out and reduces inflammation. Both of which can lead to excessive shedding if not taken care of.
The second is probiotics. Many dog’s have some form of stomach sensitivity/food intolerance which affects their digestion. And if their digestion is in rough shape that negatively affects the rest of their body, including their skin and coat. Probiotics help to regulate the good and bad bacteria in their gut which can have a direct impact on the health of their skin and coat.
A healthy stomach and good digestion makes for a healthy body. Which means their shedding will only be to help regulate their temperature and not because their coat is in poor condition.
Use Furniture Covers
This is a great solution if you have pieces of furniture that your dog likes to lounge on. By using furniture covers, you can protect your upholstery from pet hair and dirt while also keeping it looking like new.
There are a lot of different options to choose from, but it’s best to go with something that’s machine washable. This way you can just toss it in the washing machine whenever it starts to look a little too hairy.
If you’re able to do each of these things you have the best chance at keeping the amount of fur you find around your home to a minimum.
About the author: Alec Littlejohn grew up in a family of vets where pet care & training were discussed on a daily basis. He’s also a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, recognized author by the Dog Writers Association Of America and now the lead editor at Pawscessories.