Grooming customers are familiar with dogs undergoing a heavy shed of their winter fur in the spring, but some are surprised when pets also shed their coats in the fall. The shortening days trigger dogs to let their summer coat go to make room for heavier winter coats to grow in. If you have some appointment space to spare this fall, market a seasonal shedding treatment to your customers to help fill those time slots.
A warm bath with a shampoo and conditioner formulated to help shedding fur slip out easily helps to hurry the process along. To make the most of the process, try brushing the dog in the bathtub while the dog's fur is coated in conditioner. A sturdy slicker brush used on wet, conditioned fur will remove shedding hair like a champ. Follow with a wide-toothed comb. You will be amazed at how much time this will save, and the pet owners will be impressed at how much less shedding they deal with for weeks afterward. Try a rubber curry in the tub instead of the slicker brush for smooth-coated dogs.
Pro Tip: Remember that the dog's skill will be softened from bathing, so be gentle while you work.Removing the dead coat this way makes clean-up after a shedding treatment easier, too. You can just scoop up the clumps of wet fur from the tub. Try adding The Maxx to the final rinse for an added boost when coaxing dead hair out. It works to smooth the hair shafts, which helps shedding fur slide out more quickly and easily. Bonus: it also reduces drying time. Rinse well and proceed to dry.
Let your high-velocity dryer do the work of removing what little loose fur remains. Direct the airflow so it is concentrated at the base of the hair, and work methodically drying one section at a time. As the coat becomes dryer, you will see the last of the shedding hair lifting out and sliding along the hair shafts and away from the pet.
Once the pet is dry, brushing and combing will be a breeze because the vast majority of shedding fur will have already been removed.
Using products designed to help with seasonal shedding and removing dead hair while the pet is in the tub will reduce the time you spend on each animal and result in dogs that are not only beautifully clean but are noticeably shedding less for weeks after their visit with you. Your customers will notice the difference.
By Daryl Conner, MPS, MCG
Daryl Conner has been devoted to making dogs and cats more comfortable and beautiful for almost 40 years. You can find her happily working at FairWinds Grooming Studio with her daughter and infant granddaughter, or typing away at her latest grooming-related article. Daryl was awarded both a Cardinal Crystal Award and Barkleigh Honors Award for journalism. She shares her meadow-hugged antique Maine farmhouse with her practically perfect husband and too many animals.
