Dog Shedding Season: A Simple Weekly Routine to Keep Fur Off Your Home

If it feels like your dog suddenly started shedding twice as much, you are probably in shedding season. Many dogs, especially double-coated breeds, shed more heavily at certain times of year as they lose their old coat. Suddenly there are tumbleweeds of fur in the hallway, a layer of hair on the couch and a fresh coat on your black pants every morning.

You cannot stop a healthy dog from shedding, and you should not try. What you can do is catch the loose fur before it spreads, and keep the cleanup to a few short sessions a week. Here is a simple routine that works for most homes.

First: is it normal shedding?

Seasonal shedding is normal, and the amount varies a lot between breeds and individual dogs. But if the shedding is sudden, comes with bald or patchy spots, red or irritated skin, constant scratching, or changes in your dog's energy or appetite, talk to your vet. Those can be signs of an issue that brushing will not fix.

Why brushing comes first

Loose fur on the couch starts on the coat. Every hair you brush out on purpose, outside or in one easy-to-clean spot, is a hair that will not end up on your furniture, your car seats or your laundry. During shedding season, regular brushing does more to cut down the cleanup than any cleaning tool.

The weekly routine

2-3 times a week: brush your dog (10-15 minutes)

• Use a brush made for your dog's coat. A slicker brush works for many short and long coats. Our Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush uses fine stainless-steel bristles to gather loose undercoat. When you're done, press the button and the bristles retract so the fur slides off in a clump.
• Brush gently in the direction of hair growth. Go lighter on thin-coated or sensitive areas.
• Brush outside if you can. If not, pick one spot that is easy to sweep, like a tiled floor.
• Make it calm. Some dogs find brushing easier when they have something to focus on. A silicone lick mat with a thin layer of pet-safe spread can help. Always supervise your dog while they use it.

Cleaning tools for furniture, like a fabric pet hair mitt, are not grooming tools. Use a proper pet brush on your dog.

Once a week: the couch (10 minutes)

• Take the cushions off and clear the crevices.
• Wipe loose hair off the surface with our Pet Hair Remover Mitt in one direction.
• Scrape embedded hair out of the fabric with our Reusable Pet Hair Remover Pad in short strokes, then pick up or vacuum the piles.
• Shake out any throw blankets your dog uses.

For more detail, see our guide on how to remove pet hair from a couch.

Once a week: rugs and the pet bed (10 minutes)

• Scrape rugs with the pad to loosen embedded fur, then vacuum.
• Clear the pet bed with the pad or mitt before it goes in the wash.

Once a week: the car (5-10 minutes)

• Shake out or vacuum the back seat cover.
• Scrape the floor mats and any fabric seats your dog touches, then vacuum.

If your dog rides with you a lot, a back seat cover makes the weekly car job much smaller. Our Dog Back Seat Hammock Cover covers the seat, the seatback and the footwell gap. Remember that a cover is not a restraint, so use a dog car harness or crate for safety. Our guide on getting dog hair out of your car has the full cleanup routine.

Laundry day: keep the fur from spreading

• Remove loose hair from blankets and clothes before washing.
• Wash pet items separately from your clothes.
• Toss our Floating Laundry Pet Hair Catchers into the washer to help collect loose fur and lint during the cycle. Rinse and reuse them.
• Clean your washer's lint filter and wipe the door seal after washing pet items.

More tips are in our guide on getting pet hair off clothes in the washer and dryer.

Daily habits that help

• Keep a mitt by the door. A quick wipe of your clothes before you leave takes seconds.
• Put a washable throw on your dog's favorite spot. It catches a lot of hair and is easier to clean than the couch.
• Sweep or vacuum high-traffic floors every day or two during peak shedding.

A sample week

These times are only a rough guide. A small, light-shedding dog may need much less, and a large double-coated dog in full shed may need more brushing. Adjust the routine to your dog.

The tools in this routine

You do not need a closet full of gadgets. Most of the routine above comes down to a pet brush for your dog, and a scraper and mitt for your home and car. You can see all of our reusable tools in All Fur Fixes, or get the car tools together in the Car Fur Kit.

Quick FAQ

When is dog shedding season?

Many dogs shed more heavily at certain times of year, often around spring and fall, but it varies by breed, climate and the individual dog.

How often should I brush my dog during shedding season?

Many dogs do well with brushing a few times a week during heavy shedding. Your vet or groomer can suggest what suits your dog's coat.

My dog is shedding a lot. Should I worry?

Heavy seasonal shedding is usually normal. Talk to your vet if shedding is sudden or comes with bald patches, irritated skin, constant scratching or other changes in your dog.