Do Pitbulls Shed? Tips to Manage Pitbull Shedding

A lot of dog lovers are drawn to the loyalty of the intense Pitbull breed, but many concerned with how much hair a dog sheds want to know, do Pitbulls shed? Should you keep an extra lint roller on hand to clear off clothing and couches with your new Pitbull’s shedding?

Whether you are a soon-to-be fur parent or a seasoned professional, understanding the shedding patterns of your Pitbull can help you to keep him comfortable year-round. Here are a few of the things you need to know about how much Pitbulls shed and how to manage it effectively.

Do Pitbulls Shed A Lot?

Believe it or not, there is no such thing as a dog that does not shed. Even dogs with short hair will have some degree of hair loss throughout the year. Pitbulls are no exception to this general rule of thumb.

You can expect some shedding to occur despite their short and relatively thin coat. In fact, Pitbulls actually shed quite a bit when the seasons begin to change.

Pitbulls are well-known for their seasonal shedding in the late fall and early summer. During these times, you might find that stubborn hair is constantly attaching itself to your work clothes and furniture.

It even creates tumbleweeds as it rolls across your hardwood floors. This time of year can be extremely frustrating for Pitbull owners who want to keep a clean house and clean clothes.

Keep in mind that this breed does shed around the clock even though it is more common during these two times of the year.

Unlike other breeds like the German Shepherd or the Husky, Pitbulls have only a single coat. This means that they lack an undercoat which should theoretically prevent them from shedding as much.

The thinner the undercoat is, the less likely a dog is to be a heavy shedder. Most breeders and owners would classify the Pitbull as a moderate shedder.

Is There a Non-Shedding Pitbull?

Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a non-shedding Pitbull. In fact, there is no such thing as a non-shedding dog in general. Even hypoallergenic dogs have been proven to shed some, though it is to a much lesser degree than some other breeds.

Why Do Pitbulls Shed Seasonally?

Many people mistakenly believe that their dog sheds seasonally due to the change in temperature. While this does play some role in the development of a winter coat and the shedding of that coat in the spring, it actually has more to do with the hours of daylight. The amount of shedding you see directly corresponds with when the sun rises and sets.

Wintertime means that the sun is going down earlier and the days become much shorter. As this happens, your Pitbull will shed their summer coat and grow a thicker, slightly longer coat in its place to prepare for colder weather. The opposite happens as the daylight begins to return and sunset stretches out longer.

A Pitbull’s fur coat is designed to help protect their skin from the sun and the elements. This is why their bodies are so in tune with nature when the daylight hours grow or shorten. It is all about survival and comfort for the upcoming season.

Other Causes of Pitbull Shedding

Seasonal shedding is the most common form of hair loss for Pitbulls, but it isn’t necessarily the only time that they will lose their coat. There are several health reasons that could be the culprit for sudden and abnormal hair loss. From a change in their diet to major dehydration, your shedding Pitbull may be showing you that something is amiss with their health.

Diet

One of the first things to evaluate when you consider excess shedding is your dog’s diet. Perhaps you recently switched to a new name brand or a different type of food.

It may not be sitting well with your dog’s digestive system and could be robbing him of the nutrients he needs. A change in diet is quite possibly the reason for the extra hair loss.

However, you should wait at least one month to determine whether the food is the actual cause of the hair loss. Keep feeding him on the same food as recommended by your veterinarian to rule out other possible causes first.

Dehydration

A similar issue crops up often among Pitbulls who are dehydrated. A dog who is blowing out his coat during an unusual time of year may actually be dehydrated.

The simple solution to this is to make sure that your dog has a bowl of fresh water available at all times. She may drink more frequently if this is the case, and the excess shedding could resolve itself.

Separation Anxiety or Stress

Have you noticed that all of your Pitbull’s loose hair is confined to their kennel? If you routinely crate your Pitbull when you leave the home, excess shedding in their crate could be the sign of severe separation anxiety.

The stress and anxiety of being home alone without their beloved owner can upset the delicate balance of their body systems. They may begin to lose large chunks of hair when left alone for long periods of time.

Other causes of stress can also lead to hair loss for your Pitbull. If you have had major changes such as moving houses, your dog could shed more. Even temporary stressors like thunderstorms or training classes can lead to more shedding than usual until the stressful episode is over.

Fleas and Ticks

You already know that fleas and ticks are bad for your dog, but they can also lead to significant hair loss. A bad case of fleas and ticks can lead to patchy skin, extreme shedding, and other health conditions that need to be treated by your veterinarian. If you notice that your Pitbull is losing a lot of hair, it is always worth ruling out an infestation of these tiny nuisances.

Poor Grooming Habits

Many dog owners are surprised to learn that they actually need to groom their short-haired canine. In fact, many pet owners purchase or adopt a short-haired dog specifically because they believe it will be less maintenance than a long-haired dog.

They neglect the fact that all dogs must be regularly bathed and brushed to keep their coat in excellent condition. If you have fallen away from a regular routine of bathing and brushing your Pitbull, it could be the underlying cause of his excess shedding right now.

Do All Pitbulls Shed the Same?

Pitbulls come in a rainbow of colors ranging from white to silver-blue to black with every color in between. Many prospective dog owners wonder whether one color sheds more or less than the others. Unfortunately, all Pitbulls are going to shed equally. Some colors may be more visible to you than others though.

For example, you may notice dark fur in your white carpets more easily than you would notice white fur. If you are wearing a dark business suit and your white Pitbull presses against you, you are likely to see the effects of shedding immediately.

Before you decide on what color Pitbull is the most practical for your lifestyle, consider the furniture and carpeting in your home. It may make more sense for you to opt for a lighter or darker coat based on your home.

Tips to Manage How Much a Pitbull Sheds

Managing the amount that your Pitbull sheds is important if you want to prevent their short hairs from surfacing on your clothes, carpets, and upholstery. There are a lot of different things you can do to minimize their excess shedding outside of seasonal changes.

Here are a few tips and tricks that you can use to help keep that Pitbull shedding under control.

1. Keep Him as Healthy as Possible

The truth is that you cannot prevent shedding from happening altogether. However, keeping your dog as healthy as possible is a surefire way to eliminate excess shedding throughout the year. If your Pitbull sheds a lot, you may need to take some time to consider his overall health.

• Improve Their Diet: Does he eat a balanced diet that is rich in protein and quality ingredients? Feeding your dog any generic dog food brand simply because it is the most cost-effective solution could be contributing to your dog’s shedding problem. Sure, their bellies may not rumble with hunger but it could have a detrimental impact on their overall health. They need a nutritious diet to function at their best, just like you do. Shedding could be a sign that the diet your dog is on simply does not work for him.
• Rule Out Food Allergies: Of course, the issue could be that your dog has a food allergy. They will often become itchy and scratch until there are entire patches of fur missing from their bodies. This creates the illusion that your dog is shedding, but they are actually suffering from an allergic reaction. Consult your veterinarian, but it may be time to try switching your dog to a grain-free diet. A hypoallergenic dog food or a limited ingredient diet like those offered from Taste of the Wild could be a better solution.
• Use Flea and Tick Preventative: If you were covered in fleas, you would likely itch your skin until your hair came off too. Fleas can be more than just a nuisance. They might be the underlying cause of your dog’s rapid hair loss and incessant itching. Using flea and tick preventative regularly can keep these pests at bay and minimize shedding.
• Leave Water Available: Your dog needs constant access to fresh, clean water. Make sure that you leave a bowl (or dog water fountain) out for them, whether they are inside or outside. A dehydrated dog will have skin that dries out more easily and will shed more frequently.

2. Interact with Your Dog

Stress is one of the biggest contributing factors to a Pitbull who is shedding excessively. It is no secret that these dogs love being active. They need more exercise than the average dog.

Without proper exercise, they can become bored and stressed in their environment. Interacting with your dog via games like fetch and tug-of-war can minimize their stress and decrease their shedding.

If you lack the time to take your dog for walks, make sure you are at least providing mental stimulation during your absences. Leave your dog with puzzle toys, Kong balls with frozen peanut butter, and other goodies that can keep their brains engaged while they are left alone.

3. Regularly Visit the Vet

The importance of keeping up with your dog’s health cannot be understated. Regular visits to the veterinarian are essential if you want your dog to live a full and happy life. You go to the doctor for an annual check-up each year, and your dog should too.

A qualified veterinarian can run blood work to catch serious health conditions before they worsen. They may be able to pinpoint conditions like hypothyroidism that are contributing to your Pitbull’s excessive shedding and help you take steps to correct them.

4. Give Your Dog an Omega-3 Supplement

You take vitamins to keep your skin and body healthy. There is a good chance that your dog needs a little nutritional support also, particularly if they are shedding more than usual.

Omega-3 fatty acids are a great way to improve the health of your dog’s skin and coat. You may need to provide an additional fish oil supplement for this ingredient if your dog does not eat a food that is high in omega-3.

Of course, you can save yourself the hassle of dealing with additional supplements by purchasing a quality dog food. Taste of the Wild makes a high-protein bend with smoked salmon that your dog will absolutely love. Owners love it too because it comes packed with the optimal balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

5. Groom Your Pitbull Regularly

Like we mentioned earlier, bathing your Pitbull is an important part of helping them to maintain their skin and coat. You should really try to bathe your dog roughly once per month. To keep their skin from drying out, try using a shedding shampoo and conditioner all-in-one product that can help to restore moisture to their fur.

To avoid having hair all over your home, the next best thing you can do is to confine it to one convenient location that is easily cleaned. Brush your dog every couple of days to eliminate their loose hair and prevent it from settling into your carpets or couches. You will need a good quality brush that is designed for short-haired dogs like the FURminator.

The FURminator is specifically designed for large dogs over fifty pounds with short hair. It has special teeth that reach through the topcoat directly to the skin without causing damage to your dog’s coat or irritating their skin.

Push the button and it releases all of the hair that it removed from your dog’s body. It even has an ergonomic handle that makes it easy on your hands and wrists to brush your dog.

6. Purchase a Quality Vacuum

There is no way to get around the fact that any dog is going to shed in your home. While the above steps will help you to minimize excess shedding, you still need a little help to manage the mess it can make in your home. Investing in a quality vacuum for pet hair designed to pick up animal hair is an absolute must for every pet owner.

The Dyson Cyclone V10 Animal Stick Vacuum Cleaner is one of those ideal options that makes cleaning quick and easy. It has sixty minutes of run-time without the motorized tool so that you can suck up pet hair all over the house without ever having to juggle cords and manage outlets. The torque drive cleaner head gives you twenty minutes of fade-free power.

This vacuum is designed to get rid of fine particles from any floor surface. You can easily maneuver it around the entire home because it weighs less than fifteen pounds. It even has stiff nylon bristles that get deep into carpet fibers to lift out your unwanted pet hair.

Pros:

• Transforms into a handheld vacuum
• Point-and-shoot bin emptying
• Lightweight
• Designed to pick up dirt and fine dust from carpets and hardwoods
• Digital V10 Dyson motor

Cons:

• Expensive

Final Thoughts on Pitbull Shedding

If you have been on the fence about whether to get a Pitbull for your next pet, don’t let their shedding deter you from this wonderful breed. Their shedding can be easily managed with a few of these simple tips and tricks.

As always, you can consult with your veterinarian if you feel like your dog is shedding too much with no obvious reason. There are medical conditions that could contribute to excess shedding, and it is better to be safe than sorry. Taking care of your dog’s health should be paramount, so take excess shedding seriously!

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