If you’re thinking about getting a Dalmatian, you’ll want to find out if they shed or not. The answer might be more obvious for other breeds, but with Dalmatians, it’s a little confusing. Everything is explained in detail and all of your questions about this subject are addressed in this article.
Yes! Dalmatians dandruff a lot. Dalmatians constantly lose hair year-round despite having a single-layered coat. Maintaining the coat of your Dalmatian will require regular brushing with the right kinds of brushes.
Table of Contents
How Much & When Do Dalmatians Shed?
Dalmatians don’t shed like the majority of other breeds, so this is a good place to start.
Many breeds with thick double-layered coats, like huskies, german shepherds, and collies will shed throughout the year with one or two significant “blowouts” as the weather changes.
Dalmatians don’t do this, and their coat is very different…
Dals have a short, smooth, single-layered coat. And they typically shed the same amount throughout the year when it comes to quantity. They don’t have big “blowouts” like some other breeds.
Even owners who reside in colder climates report that their Dalmatian still sheds somewhat in the winter.
Diet, general health, and exercise are some of the additional factors in play. All of this, however, will be discussed later when I go over how to manage your dalmatian’s shedding.
Why Do They Shed So Much?
The breed determines how much hair each dog sheds. Simply put, certain dogs shed more than others do. But to give you a more thorough response, it depends on a number of variables, with the dog’s hair cycle, the season, and what you feed them being the most important ones.
Here’s a quick breakdown of each of these:
- The duration of a dog’s fur’s natural cycle of growth (anagen), rest (catagen), and hair loss before being replaced by new hair (telogen) is simply referred to as the hair growth cycle.
- While some dogs (like Dals) slough off continuously all year long, others slough off seasonally, such as in the spring and fall.
- The amount of shedding your Dal experiences can be influenced by the diet you give him, as well as the state of his coat and general health.
Other elements can affect shedding as well, or at least how obvious it is.
For instance, dogs with longer, curlier coats have the propensity to catch the hairs that are shed inside the coat. In contrast, when dogs molt, their short, straight hair usually falls right off of them.
Causes of Abnormal Dalmatian Shedding
Unfortunately, most owners of dalmatians must put up with shedding, and a lot of it. However, there might occasionally be a circumstance where even their shedding is excessive.
If this is the case and you notice that your dog isn’t shedding as much fur as usual, there may be a couple of additional causes.
Some of these problems might result from poor grooming practices, an unbalanced diet, or even hormonal imbalances. These issues can be resolved, though.
Now let’s examine each of the three in more depth.
Grooming Routine
Your dalmatian’s level of shedding may be significantly impacted by an inadequate grooming regimen.
The less care and attention are given to a dog’s coat, as with almost any dog breed, the more prone they are too excessive shedding.
The Dalmatian breed as a whole places the utmost value on their daily grooming regimen.
The first step in the grooming procedure is to choose the best brush. The majority of owners will have different types of brushes for their Dalmatians.
These include an everyday brush, which is usually a bristle type. It functions as a gentle daily brush to avoid mat formation.
Dog grooming gloves are also fantastic and can be used daily. These are the most gentle options, removing loose hair while also maintaining a healthy, shiny coat. The time spent bonding between owner and dog is greatly facilitated by these glove-style brushes.
A slicker brush is also popular for his breed and a great brush to have on hand. Although it works harder to remove loose hair, it will also help prevent mats. Once a week is appropriate for using a smoother brush.
A good bath, in addition to using a brush, is essential for minimizing shedding in dalmatians. Although dalmatians shouldn’t be overbathed, experts advise that when they do take an occasional bath, it works to both clean and nourish their coat and skin.
Imbalanced Diet
An unbalanced diet could also be the cause of your dalmatian’s excessive shedding.
When owners switch to cheaper dog food, this is a common occurrence. Although it might be less expensive, such a diet rarely provides the necessary vitamins and minerals that your dalmatian needs.
Therefore, a poor coat will develop over time as a result of an unbalanced diet, with excessive shedding frequently being one of the first signs.
Fortunately, this is also a simple fix. It simply entails implementing a diet high in important vitamins and minerals, one that is strongly advised by veterinarians and canine dietary exerts.
Giving a dalmatian a properly balanced diet should make shedding less of an issue. It will nevertheless help to guarantee that every other aspect of your dalmatian’s health is as good as it can be.
Hormonal Imbalance
Some dalmatians can have hormonal issues, though they’re less typical. It denotes an imbalance that makes hair and skin problems visible. Alopecia and dermatosis are the most obvious complaints in this case.
Such hormonal imbalances can manifest themselves after your dog has been neutered or even after giving birth, though they are more common in older dalmatians.
A visit to your veterinarian is necessary if your dalmatian has such problems. Here, they will be able to pinpoint the exact cause and offer advice on a course of action to restore the balance.
Though less common, there may be other explanations for your dalmatian’s excessive shedding, including:
Infections and Infestations
In the event of an infection or infestation, some Dalmatians may start to shed more frequently than usual.
A flea infestation is the most frequent problem, not just in Dalmatians but in all dogs. Hair loss around the dalmatian’s neck and the tail is the primary way it manifests itself.
Medications
The onset of hair loss is frequently brought on by prolonged use of medications in dalmatian dogs for any reason. If this is the case, excessive shedding ought to stop after the medication has stopped being taken.
High-stress Levels & Excessive Dalmatian Shedding
Last but not least, just like humans, dalmatians can experience excessive hair loss if they are under a lot of stress. Rethinking their immediate environment and focusing on the source of this stress can help to remedy it.
How to Reduce Excessive Shedding
Let’s go over the best ways to manage your Dalmatian’s constant shedding.
1. Brushing Routine: How Often Should You Brush Your Dalmatian?
When determining how much you should be brushing, little and often is possibly the most important factor.
Many owners who own a shedding breed mistake forgetting to brush often and then try to compensate with “one big brush” at the end of the week. This doesn’t work.
Your Dalmatian should be brushed for 15-20 minutes three to four times a week. Using this frequency will ensure that fewer dead hairs end up on your floors in this short period of time.
2. Use the Correct Brushes: the Best Brushes for a Dalmatian
Knowing which brushes to use is the next golden rule on this list. Your routine should only include two brushes. a straightforward pin-and-bristle brush and rubber-toothed comb.
For breeds with short coats, rubber-toothed combs are ideal. Dead hair is pulled out of the coat by the rubber texture, which can grab it. They are the best brush available for your Dalmatian, extremely durable, and pleasant to use.
The pin & bristle brush comes next. I love these because you essentially get two brushes in one, and the bristle side does a fantastic job at “cleaning up” after you’ve used the rubber-toothed comb.
In other words, when used together, these two brush types will outperform all others by a significant margin.
3. Avoid Giving Too Many Baths
This one is simple because it requires you to do less work!
The big one is over-bathing, which can cause dry skin and a brittle coat very quickly.
Shampoo removing the skin’s natural oils and causing dry skin is the main problem with excessive bathing. This will result in more shedding after bathing.
Only 2-4 times a year do Dalmatians require bathing. I actually have an entire bathing article for Dalmatians if you wish to check that out.
4. Plenty of Exercises
In comparison to 98% of all other breeds, Dalmatians may need more exercise. Dalmatians were bred to run countless miles across the country, and because they have done this for such a long time, they almost feel the need to keep doing it.
However, how does exercise assist with weight loss? Aside from the small bonus of dead hair falling outside your house, regular exercise will keep him fit and healthy, which results in a stronger coat and less shedding.
Dalmatians need around 2 hours of intensive exercise per day to be at their best. To keep him healthy and ultimately aid in shedding, you must stay on top of his exercise regimen.
5. Use a Premium Kibble That Digests Well
Your Dalmatian will benefit from a healthy diet if you give it to him. A healthy body will have better skin and a stronger coat, which will reduce shedding.
The majority of bad dog food will be eliminated by avoiding cheap brands. Just to be clear, dog food will only be inexpensive if it is inexpensive for the manufacturer to produce, and this is only possible with poor-quality ingredients, high levels of bad carbohydrates, powdered ingredients, and a lack of freshness.
Opt for a premium brand like Orijen, Taste of The Wild, Acana, or Wellness that use whole, fresh ingredients with a high protein and fat ratio compared to carbohydrates. For working dogs like Dalmatians, this is frequently the best diet to follow because it most closely resembles a wild diet.
But the problem doesn’t end there; unfortunately, using a high-end brand doesn’t guarantee that it will be effective for all Dalmatians. Therefore, it’s crucial to keep trying until you find one that works well for your Dal’s digestion.
My Dalmatian Hates Being Brushed (What to Do)
Your Dalmatian may not enjoy being brushed because of a bad brushing experience in the past or simply because he has never experienced it before.
Whatever the case may be, the only solution is to mend your strained bond with the brush.
Put the brush down frequently where he can see it and inspect it, but distract him with treats and toys. By doing so, he will avoid being startled and will be able to get used to this new, enigmatic object.
Relying once more on treats and diversions, begin picking up the brush in front of him as he becomes more at ease. You’ll eventually be able to touch him with the brush as he starts to become less sensitive to it.
Although it may seem like a tedious and protracted process, it is by far the most effective way to help him become accustomed to using his brush. 2-3 weeks of this, or years of running away from the brush? I am aware of my plan of action!
When to Brush a Dalmatian Puppy
If your Dal is still a puppy, you don’t need to be concerned about shedding because puppies hardly ever shed until their adult coat emerges at about 6 to 10 months.
Still, it’s a very good idea to introduce the brush and still go through the motions with him at least once per week. Not to remove hair, but to develop a positive rapport with the brush and accustom him to its sensation.
When he’s older and you actually need him to remain still for 20 minutes while you brush him, this time will have been well spent.
Nothing is more annoying than attempting to catch your Dalmatian every time you pick up the brush.
Can You Stop a Dalmatian from Shedding Completely?
Sincerely, no. You won’t be able to prevent your Dalmatian from shedding a single hair on your floors. That is simply not going to happen.
It’s not all bad news, though. You will be rewarded with much less hair all over the place if you take the necessary precautions and consistently make the effort to maintain itd skin and coat health.
A word of warning: Avoid fancy de-shedding shampoos and brushes that make the claim that you won’t have to deal with any more dead hair after using their product because it’s simply untrue.
Hair will always be present on your floors or in your jumper; it comes with the territory when you own such a wonderful breed.
Dalmatian Hair Sticks to Your Clothes!
The types of hair that different breeds have to vary. While others are short and powerful, some are long and whispy.
Dalmatians have needle-like hairs and believe me when I say that it is difficult to get these hairs out of your clothes, blankets, bed, couch, and carpets. Short, stiff hair pokes its way in and literally sticks to the surface.
This might not seem like a big deal at first, but if you don’t keep up with brushing and grooming, you’ll constantly have to remove hair from your clothes, which won’t be fun!
Tips for Cleaning Up After My Dalmatian Shedding
As a dalmatian owner, there are a variety of tasks you can try to keep your home environment tidy.
Regular vacuuming is essential, but you can also use a damp rubber glove to clean the affected areas.
A wet mop is frequently kept by owners to finish off cleaning laminated and tiled floors.
The more you can brush your dalmatian’s hair outside, the less you’ll need to clean up each day from inside!
Last Thoughts
The best thing to do right away is to get yourself the correct brushes, and start implementing a good brushing routine 3 to 4 times per week, every week! Start using the rubber brush first, then the bristle brush, and brush for about 20 minutes.
The amount of hair on your floors and clothes will significantly decrease once you establish a routine of doing this consistently over the course of a few weeks.