Spring has well and truly sprung (hurrah!) but along with the lighter evenings and warmer weather, you may have also been reminded of a slightly less appealing side effect. That's right, dog hair!! It's everywhere!! Whilst many shed regularly, dog coats tend to change even more during the changing seasons (much like we do with our winter to summer wardrobes, although hopefully our changes don't leave quite as much mess!) In this blog post, we'll be bringing out our inner "Mrs Hinch" by rounding-up our top tips to remove dog hair at home and help minimise the effects of shedding...
REGULAR GROOMING
As much as we complain about the mess dog hair can leave behind, it can't be much fun for our dogs either. All that loose hair falling out must be so itchy! So how can we help our four-legged friends (and our furniture) with hair shedding? Well one of the best ways to remove dog hair is by grooming your dog regularly. You can do this in several ways:
1. Do this yourself. It not only keeps your dog's hair in check but it can also be a great bonding experience between you and your pet. From pet grooming gloves to specialist pet combs, there are a lot of grooming products and advice available in shops and online. We can obviously vouch for our soothing Soothe & Calm Shampoo! It's hypoallergenic and can help hydrate and nourish skin (shedding hair can cause a bit of irritation, so this can come in very handy!)
2. Or ensure your dog visits a professional groomer regularly. This can be a great way to handle your dog's hair, especially if they have a slightly more complicated coat or aren't the biggest fans of being groomed at home. Always do your research when searching for a dog groomer. Speak to others who have used the services if you can - you want to ensure your dog and their coat is in the best possible hands!
Whichever option you choose, a regular grooming routine at home or with a professional groomer will help maintain your dog's coat all year round and help rid them of those loose hairs! How often you do this will depend on your breed of dog.
KEEP IT COVERED
If you allow your dog on your furniture, you'll know it can be so frustrating to find your favourite spot covered in dog hair. Other than denying your dog a sofa snuggle, try covering your furniture with a throw to protect your sofa instead. You can then easily whip it away to prevent you or any of your guests getting covered from top to toe when they sit there!
Looking to splash out? Well there are some absolutely fabulous sofa toppers available from The Lounging Hound. Not only do they do a good job of protecting your couch but they look rather glamorous too! One to definitely add to the wish list!
HINCH YOUR HOME!
Whether you've been using throws to cover your furniture and capture any hair or not, one question remains; how do you remove the dog hair from these items and everywhere else around the house?! The good old lint roller seems to come up trumps here! By using one regularly, you can *hopefully* keep on top of your dogs rogue hairs (before they set up camp on your furniture or in your car!)
On the lookout for a new vacuum cleaner? You're in luck! There are a number of ranges specifically dedicated to maximise the removal of pet hair. Examples include:
The Shark DuoClean Cordless Upright Vacuum Cleaner with Powered Lift-Away and TruePet IC160UKT (£349.00),
Miele Blizzard CX1 Cat & Dog Bagless Vacuum Cleaner (£249.00)
or the BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser Cordless Hand Vac (£68.00).
Looking for a cheaper solution? If you follow Instagram cleaning sensation Mrs Hinch and her dog Henry, you may have seen how she uses a shower 'squeegee' to remove pet hair from the carpet on her stairs. She also uses this for her sofa occasionally too! This could damage some of the fibres, so don't use it all the time, but it might be worth doing every now and again!
Always try to remove dog hair from items before placing them in the washing machine. This hopefully minimises the risk of your machine being clogged up by dog hair. If not, dog hair can often find its way to your clothes in there! Dog hair can be so sneaky, can't it?! Another option, which appears to get mixed results, is the use of Vamoosh Pet Hair Dissolver during a spin cycle. This special formula apparently works at high temperatures to dissolve pet hair. Might be worth a try at least!
HEALTHY COAT MAINTENANCE
As well as a regular grooming routine, a healthy diet also has a huge impact on your dog's coat condition. It won't prevent your dog shedding seasonally but a well balanced diet can help keep your dog's coat in tip top condition! An additional supplement which can be added to food is our Omega Star For Dogs. With its proven track record of coat condition improvement, it's a great way to help your dog maintain their coat.
TOP TIPS TO REMOVE DOG HAIR
Hopefully you've found our top tips to remove dog hair useful! Whilst some dogs shed seasonally, others shed more regularly or need specialist maintenance. Whichever camp your dog falls it seems with all of the advice above, persistence is key! Do you have any secret tricks? Let us know in the comments below - we love to hear from you!
Find out more about Dorwest Herbs and our herbal remedies for dogs to improve their general health. If you have any questions about the best ways to ensure your dog gets the best diet, one of our experienced advisors would be happy to help. Please get in touch on 01308 897272 or use our contact form. Plus, get free UK delivery on orders over £50.
Please remember, you should always consult a vet if you are concerned about your pet’s health.
