Twice a Year, I Explode: The Truth About Dogs Blowing Their Coats

Hello, humans.

It’s Kero.

I have exciting seasonal news.

I am currently growing my winter coat, which means I have begun the very important process of removing my summer coat and placing it absolutely everywhere except in the garbage.

On the couch.

On your clothes.

In the carpet.

In the car.

Floating through the kitchen like tiny furry tumbleweeds.

Occasionally in your coffee.

You’re welcome.

And before you start following me around with that brush again, understand that I am not simply shedding.

I am blowing my coat.

There is a difference.

First, What Does “Blowing a Coat” Actually Mean?

Dogs like me, particularly Shibas and other double-coated breeds, have two main layers of fur.

The outer coat, sometimes called guard hairs, helps protect us from things like dirt, moisture, sunlight and weather.

Underneath that is the undercoat.

This is the fluffy stuff.

The soft stuff.

The stuff currently attached to your black pants.

The undercoat provides insulation by trapping air close to the body. Rather than keeping a dog simply “warm,” a healthy double coat helps the body manage temperature as conditions change.

But we don't need exactly the same amount of insulation all year.

So twice a year, many double-coated dogs undergo a much larger seasonal shed.

Humans call this blowing the coat.

I call it redecorating.

Why Do Dogs Grow Summer and Winter Coats?

Here is where things get interesting.

You might assume that I start growing my winter coat because I walk outside one morning and think:

"Hmm. Bit chilly. Better become fluffier."

Reasonable theory.

Wrong.

One of the biggest influences on seasonal coat changes is actually daylight.

More specifically, the amount of daylight we're exposed to each day, called the photoperiod.

As the days become shorter in the fall, those changing light patterns affect hormonal signals in the body. Those signals influence the hair follicles and help shift the coat toward its thicker winter version.

Then spring arrives.

The days get longer.

The body receives another seasonal signal.

And suddenly your house looks like someone detonated a Shiba Inu in the living room.

Temperature can influence coat growth and shedding too, but daylight is a major biological cue telling the body that the seasons are changing.

Nature apparently decided calendars were unnecessary.

So What Happens to My Summer Coat?

Out it goes.

As the winter coat begins coming in, older hairs enter the shedding stage of their growth cycle and are released.

And because I have an undercoat, this isn't always a polite little sprinkling of hair.

Sometimes it comes out in clumps.

Glorious little tufts sticking out of my sides just begging you to pull them.

You know the ones.

You see one.

You pull it.

Then another appears.

And suddenly you've spent twenty minutes plucking your dog like a chicken.

This is apparently entertainment for humans.

Then Spring Comes and We Do It AGAIN

Once winter is over and daylight increases, that thick winter undercoat becomes unnecessary.

So we dump it.

Everywhere.

Again.

The heavier winter insulation is replaced by a lighter summer coat that helps us handle warmer conditions while still providing protection for the skin.

This is why shaving a healthy double-coated dog just because summer is coming usually isn't a clever shortcut.

The coat itself has a job.

Removing it doesn't magically improve the body's temperature regulation, and shaving can interfere with the normal way the coat grows back.

Unless there's a medical or grooming reason for shaving, leave the engineering department alone.

We know what we're doing.

Mostly.

Why Do Some Dogs Shed Differently?

Not every dog follows exactly the same dramatic spring-and-fall schedule.

Breed, coat type, genetics, age, health, nutrition and environment can all affect shedding.

And then there are indoor dogs.

Modern humans invented heating, air conditioning and artificial lighting, which means some dogs live in roughly the same temperature and light conditions throughout the year.

Congratulations.

You confused the fur.

Indoor dogs may shed more consistently throughout the year rather than having two extremely obvious seasonal coat explosions.

Some of us still believe in tradition.

Is All Shedding Normal?

No.

Seasonal shedding is normal.

Sudden excessive hair loss, bald patches, irritated skin, sores, intense itching, unusual dandruff or major changes in the coat aren't something to dismiss as “she's just blowing her coat.”

Changes in the skin and coat can sometimes be associated with allergies, parasites, nutrition, hormonal problems or other health conditions.

That's when your veterinarian gets involved.

Because despite my extensive qualifications in squirrel surveillance, I am not a veterinarian.

Can You Make Coat-Blowing Season Less Ridiculous?

You cannot stop nature.

You can, however, defend your furniture.

Regular brushing during shedding season helps remove loose undercoat before it migrates into your home.

A good undercoat rake or appropriate deshedding tool can be particularly useful for double-coated dogs, although enthusiastic humans should remember that the goal is to remove loose coat, not excavate the dog.

Bathing can also loosen dead hair, especially when followed by thorough drying and brushing.

Good nutrition matters too. Protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals all contribute to healthy skin and normal hair growth.

But even with excellent grooming and nutrition, a double-coated dog is still going to shed.

There is no herbal tea that will convince a Shiba Inu to keep her undercoat attached.

Believe me.

The Great Seasonal Transformation

So when you see enormous tufts of fur appearing around the house this fall, don't panic.

Your dog isn't disintegrating.

Their body is responding to seasonal changes and preparing their coat for the months ahead.

Shorter days help signal:

Winter is coming. Grow fluff.

Longer days help signal:

Summer is coming. Release fluff.

And thus the ancient cycle continues.

Grow coat.

Lose coat.

Grow another coat.

Lose that coat.

Destroy vacuum cleaner.

Repeat.

Personally, I think humans should appreciate the system more.

I spend weeks growing an entirely new wardrobe directly out of my body, and all I hear is:

"KERO! THERE'S HAIR EVERYWHERE!"

You're welcome.

Now stop brushing me.

I have important shedding to do.

— Kero 🐾