The moment the weather turns cooler, they are back everywhere: on the sofa, in the car and on your favourite trousers. Dog hair is part of life with a dog, but in autumn there is noticeably more of it. Our Vico is generously spreading reddish-brown hair around the whole flat in these weeks too. The good news: with a few habits and the right tools you can get the hair under control without cleaning every day.
Why there is hair everywhere right now
In autumn, many dogs swap their light summer coat for a dense winter coat. This shedding period lasts several weeks, and the loose undercoat has to go somewhere: either into the brush or onto your furniture. You can read how best to care for your dog's coat during this time in our guide to shedding in dogs. This article is about the second battleground: the hair that ends up around your home, car and clothes anyway.
Brushing: the most effective measure against dog hair
Every hair that ends up in the brush does not end up on the sofa. Regular brushing is therefore the biggest lever against dog hair around the house. During the shedding season a short daily session is ideal; for the rest of the year two to three sessions a week are enough for most dogs.
For loose undercoat, an undercoat brush such as the FurGone brush works well: its curved metal teeth pick up loose hair and small tangles before they spread around your home. Ideally, brush outside on the balcony or in front of the door, so the brushed-out fur never makes it into the living room in the first place. You will find more practical grooming helpers in our Dog care collection.
Sofa, blankets and upholstery
Dog hair clings stubbornly to fabric because it twists itself into the fibres. Three simple tools have proven their worth: a slightly dampened rubber glove that you move over the fabric in circular motions, a lint roller for the fine work and the upholstery attachment of your vacuum cleaner for larger areas. With the rubber glove, the hair gathers into small clumps that you can simply pick off.
It gets even easier when your dog's favourite spot is protected with a blanket. The blanket goes into the washing machine regularly, and the upholstery underneath stays largely hair-free.
Carpets and floors
On hard floors, dog hair likes to collect in corners and under furniture. Vacuum first and only mop afterwards, otherwise you will just push wet clumps of hair around. In carpets the hair sits deeper: vacuum in two directions, once lengthways and once across. A rubber broom pulls trodden-in hair to the surface, where the vacuum cleaner can catch it.
In the car: prevention beats scraping
In car seats, dog hair literally weaves itself into the upholstery fabric and is tedious to remove later. Here prevention is worth more than any cleaning technique: Vico's seat cover stretches across the back seat as a continuous mat and forms a barrier against hair, dirt and scratches. After the drive you take the mat out and shake it off outside. The seats underneath stay clean, even after a wet autumn walk.
Clothes and laundry
For on the go, keep one lint roller by the wardrobe and a second one in the car. For laundry: shake textiles out firmly before they go into the machine and do not overload the drum, so the hair can be rinsed out. If your tumble dryer has a short cool-air programme, you can run heavily haired textiles through it before washing: much of the hair then ends up in the lint filter instead of in the washing machine.
When there is an unusual amount of hair
Seasonal shedding is normal and no cause for concern. It is a different matter if your dog develops bald patches, scratches constantly or the skin looks red and flaky. Parasites, allergies or other causes can be behind this and should be checked. When in doubt, ask your veterinary practice once too often rather than once too little.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I brush my dog during shedding season?
During the shedding season in autumn and spring, ideally a short session of a few minutes every day. That way the loose undercoat ends up in the brush instead of on the sofa, and you spot skin changes early.
What is the best way to get dog hair off the sofa?
Move a slightly dampened rubber glove over the fabric in circular motions. The hair gathers into clumps that you can pick off by hand. A lint roller helps with the fine work, the upholstery attachment of your vacuum cleaner with larger areas.
Why is my dog suddenly losing so much fur?
In autumn and spring, heavy hair loss is usually normal shedding. If your dog loses a striking amount of fur outside these times or develops bald patches, have the cause checked by your veterinary practice.
