How Much Do Red Fox Labradors shed?
Let me get right to the point on this one….I thought about putting this in my recent article, Top 5 Things To Know About Your New Red Fox Lab Puppy, but the topic seemed worthy of its own post.
In my opinion, Red Fox Labs shed a lot less than the other color of Labradors. Like I have mentioned before, we have raised Labradors for almost 30 years and our reds have shed the least. Take a look at the two photos below. My husband took a picture of our Yellow Lab and our Red Fox Lab to compare their coats. He put his hand in there so you can see the difference in hair density and depth of hair between the two dogs.
While it’s hardly a scientific analysis, I can tell you that when our yellow lab is on the couch, even for five minutes, he leaves a pile of hair that I have to immediately vacuum. When our Red Fox Lab sits in the same spot, you would never know she was there. Yes, Red Labs do shed, it just seems to be a lot less than our yellow or any other color we have ever owned…and we have had them all.
I also know several other families with multiple Labs, one red and another color…they would probably tell you the same thing. Our other color Labs (Silver, Chocolate, etc.) were in the middle of the shedding contest. Not as bad as our yellows, but worse than Ginger, our Red Fox Lab. Yes, I know, Red Labs are technically “yellow”.
How Can I Stop My Dog’s Hair From Falling Out?
Labradors are a lovable breed and one of the best, most versatile dogs you can own. However, one of the least favorite aspects of this breed is the shedding that comes with them.
Shedding of their coat is a natural process necessary for their overall health. You may have heard about dogs “blowing their coats” and this refers to the 2-3 times a year they shed a tremendous amount and turnover their coats in just a few short weeks. It usually happens with the change of seasons entering winter and summer but it can happen at other times of year too. Regardless, most dogs are normally shedding some amount of hair every day.
Brush your Labrador at least three times per week
Brushing your Labradors coat on a regular basis, 2-3 times per week, will help quite a bit with undesirable hair around your home. In nicer weather, this is easy to do outside and much of the loose hair will come out in the brush and blow away in the wind. In the winter, or when there is inclement weather, use your garage if you have one availabe. If you live in an apartment or condo, most have a covered patio or storage area where you might be able to do a quick brushing when the weather is unfavorable. Dogs have two coats, an undercoat, and a top or overcoat. We really like this brush for our Yellow Lab and use it 2-3 times per week on him. It really gets out the loose hair that is closest to his skin.
Use a specialized de-shedding brush
Not all brushes are created equal. Using a deshedding brush is great for getting the loose hair off the topcoat of your Labrador. It has very fine teeth on it and you don’t want to brush hard with it, just gentle passes on your dogs back and side. You’ll be surprised at how much hair this removes. Also, we’re big fans of this style of deshedding brush…some brushes say “deshedding” on their label but don’t really work.
Bathe you Labrador at least once a month
A good bath not only keeps your dog clean and smelling good, but it can remove loose, excess hair before it ends up on your living room couch. There are de-shedding shampoos designed to keep a dog’s skin and hair healthy so less of it falls out. We recommend and use a professional, mobile groomer for our two Labradors and it really does make a difference. The cost of the service in our area (Denver, CO) is about $80 per month for both dogs. In our case, this is a worthwhile service that the dogs really enjoy and it means I don’t have to clean up the bathtub afterward. In my opinion, it’s a time saver and less of a mess to have a professional do it. If you are going to wash them yourself, be sure to get a shampoo that’s made for pets….don’t use your human shampoo on them.
The final word on Labrador shedding
All dogs shed, even the so called “hypo-allergenic” breeds….it’s a natural process and necessary for their health. While Labradors can be higher maintenance from the shedding perspective, Red Labs shed less than the other color Labradors we have owned. Shedding can also be minimized with the tips we have outlined above, so don’t let a little hair scare you away from owning one of the most amazing dog breeds on the planet.
Need more information? Check out the AKC website for additional tips on How To Groom Your Labrador.
