Thinking about adding a Springer Spaniel to your family? People are always wanting to know how much a Springer sheds before purchasing/adopting. Let’s get into the answer so you have all the facts.
Yes! English Springer Spaniels do shed a moderate amount. Just like most dog breeds, Springers will shed throughout the year. They tend to shed more in the spring when they start losing their winter coats.
Springer Spaniels are amazing dogs and don’t let the fact they shed deter you from getting this breed. Continue with this article and I will provide you with tips to manage the shedding year-round.
Why Do Springer Spaniels Shed?
Shedding is a natural way for your Springer to rid itself of unneeded or damaged hair. In return, your dog grows new, fresh hair. The amount and frequency of shedding can depend on several factors:
- Their Health Condition
- Season and Environment
- Stress
- Allergies
- Age
You play an important role in your Spaniel’s health. Make sure you are providing your Springer with proper nutrition and having them visit the vet annually to check their health and unforeseen skin conditions.
As stated previously, your Springer will start to shed most during the spring/early summer months. This is common in a lot of dog breeds because they need to lose their extra coat from the winter.
Stress induced shedding is something to consider if your dog is shedding more than expected. Taking your dog to the vet, thunderstorms or even changing the room your Springer sleeps in can also cause additional stress and cause them to shed more.
Not as common, but allergens can play a role in your dog shedding more than normal. It’s always important to speak with a vet if you suspect your Springer is shedding more on the heavy side.
The older your Springer gets, the more shedding you can expect from your dog. So, if your dog is transitioning from a puppy, it’s normal to notice more hair around the house.
Do Springers have a Double Coat?
Yes, your Springer Spaniel has a double coat. Their outer coat is called the topcoat and consists of medium length hair that is flat or wavy. The layer beneath is referred to as the undercoat and is softer and shorter. The topcoat protects the undercoat from water and prevents the skin from becoming dry. The undercoat helps regulate the Springer’s body temperature and is the part of the coat that grows thicker during winter months.
How Can I Stop My Springer from Shedding?
The simple answer is No. You will not be able to stop your Springer Spaniel from shedding. Unfortunately, I don’t have an easy solution to your dog’s shedding, but I can help you with managing their fur loss.
- Frequent Brushing
- Proper Nutrition
- Baths
- Vacuuming
How Often Should I Brush My Springer?
It’s important to keep up with grooming your Springer, especially during peak shedding season, as noted above. Grooming may sound difficult and time consuming at first, like something you can only pay professionals for. But keep in mind that Spaniel grooming it’s quite simple to do at home.
Start with the right comb or brush. Springers need a high-quality bristle body brush to really get into their double coat and clean it. Also try a brush specific to shedding, like an undercoat rake, which helps get rid of all excess hair during shedding season. These rakes, or combs, have longer bristles to get down deep into the fur to get rid of all the dead hair that would eventually end up on your furniture and floor. Especially during shedding season, be sure to use this brush once a week on your dog and clean up the hair with a vacuum or broom right after you brush.
FURminator (as pictured above) is a popular brand of combs and brushes for dogs. We recommend using the FURminator Undercoat de-shedding tool for Medium Dogs (Amazon link) no more than once per week, supplemented with a light brush using the Hartz Groomer’s Best Combo Dog Brush (Available on Amazon.com). It’s an affordable tool for everyday deshedding. The brush itself has two sides: one with stainless steel tips to remove loose hair and another with dense bristles to redistribute the natural oils on your Springer’s coat. Overuse can end up hurting dogs, so be mindful of that when using these yourself at home.
What Food Should My Springer Eat to Help with Shedding?
Many dog owners know that the right diet for your dog has a huge impact on the health of their coats. Talk to your veterinarian about the right food for your dog. Your vet may even suggest certain vitamin supplements, like coconut oil or fish oil, that keep your Springer’s coat shiny and healthy. I have always fed my dogs Taste of the Wild High Prairie Canine Grain-Free. This high-protein food helps support bones, joints and strong muscles; which is perfect for your active Springer. It is nutrient-rich, filled with vitamins, minerals and omega fatty acids that helps your dog’s coat and skin.
Do Baths Help with Springer Spaniel Shedding?
Aside from grooming your dog with a brush each week, also consider giving your dog baths every other week at most, but preferably once a month. If your Springer is outdoors most of the day, or if you’re returning from a special day out, a regular warm water rinse is preferred if it hasn’t been at least two weeks since the last bath. Too much shampoo and conditioner can have a negative effect on your dog’s coat. Bathing as needed and brushing your pooch regularly will keep your dog’s coat shiny and will clean away all the dead hair underneath the coat. Check out Earthbath Shampoo and Conditioner Combo on Amazon.com for the product I use based on my vet’s recommendation.
Vacuuming
Vacuuming will not help your Springer shed less but investing in high-quality cleaning supplies for your home is crucial for you to be able to keep your furniture free of hair. If you have wood floors, be sure you sweep regularly and use a wet mop. For carpets, make sure you have a good vacuum that will pick up the coarse dog hair that your dog sheds. Many vacuums are very effective on hard floors as well, so consider investing in one if you find you have excess hair sitting around building dust bunnies.
This iRobot Roomba i3 is a game changer. It does an amazing job cleaning up my dogs hair. The best part about this model is the vacuum will empty itself and it has smart mapping. These were two biggest pain points with my older model. I had to empty it every 10 minutes and the vacuum when a random path every time, usually not covering most of the floor. Problem solved with this model.
Can I Shave My Springer?
No, do not shave your Springer. Your dog needs their fur for protection from the sun and to help regulate their body temperatures. It’s okay to trim their fur, but do not trim all the way to the skin. I would resort to using scissors to trim some of the fur back if it is long in some areas. Shaving can cause skin irritation, which will cause your dog to scratch that spot. This will lead to more shedding once the hair grows back.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have more information about your Springer shedding, you should be able to manage the problems that come along with dog shedding. If you stay on top of it and spend a little time each day sweeping, vacuuming, brushing, bathing, etc., you’ll notice it’s so much easier to manage. If you are still deciding on whether to get a Springer or not, do it. It’s one of my favorite dog breeds because of their loyalty, affection, and physical traits.