Dear Denise,
My dog is shedding like crazy. I could make a whole new dog out of the hair he’s leaving behind on my chairs, carpet, BED. Is there anything I can do to cut down on the shedding? Also, do you have any good ideas for getting the hair off everything in my house (besides normal vacuuming)?
Dear Mama:
It’s that time of year for sure, and depending on your breed or mix, it can be a mess! Fortunately, I’ve always had St. Bernards, so I have a few solutions for you.
Aside from regular brushing (2-3 times a week), I recommend calling a groomer and making an appointment to have your dog ‘Furminated.’ This is a great de-shedding treatment that includes a special shampoo, conditioner, and the use of a very special Furminator grooming tool. The full treatment can last (and decrease shedding) for up to 6 weeks. You can also buy your own Furminator tool at most major pet stores and use it once a week or so.
To remove hair from FURniture (that’s why they call it that), try a roller brush with tape. That’s about the best solution I’ve found. Long hair is easier to remove than short but the tape seems to work well on both. Scotch also now makes a ‘Fur Fighter’ product that I’ve seen at Wally World, but I’ve yet to try.
If all else fails, you may want to consider redecorating in colors to match the pet hair. 🙂
Good Luck!
Denise Holmes is a pet behavior counselor with over 25 years of experience. She focuses on family pet training and animal-assisted therapy.  She has consulted with Arkansas Children’s Hospital, helped set up a variety of local programs and produced a CD to help expecting parents introduce the family pet to a newborn, www.LoveTrustTeach.com.
