Rottweilers are medium-sized double-coated dogs that shed their hair through the year, but especially so during the shedding season at the onset of summer and fall. If you have a pet Rottweiler, you may have gotten used to this cycle of shedding and are not too concerned by it.
If, however, you notice excessive shedding happening because of reasons you cannot put your finger on, then that may be a cause for concern. There are a few ways to reduce the amount your Rottweiler sheds. The following sections will take you through some of these methods and some important information about your Rottweiler’s well-being:
What Is the Cause of Shedding?
Before you get into the logistics of how you can stop your Rottweiler from shedding as much hair, you need to get to the bottom of what may be the cause of the shedding. Only when you know what is causing the shedding, can you take measures to rectify the problem or at least reduce the shedding. The following are a few possible reasons that your Rottweiler may be shedding so much:
It’s Too Hot
Perhaps, the mercury has risen and your Rottweiler needs to shed its undercoat to be able to cool off in the summer. If you notice a correlation between the weather getting hotter and your Rottweiler shedding their coat a lot, then you need not worry too much.
This is simply a routine shedding cycle and once the coat settles at the right thickness to deal with the heat, the shedding should reduce considerably.
It’s Getting Cold
Similarly, if the weather becomes colder and you feel the winter months setting in, your Rottweiler will begin to shed hair from its overcoat so that the undercoat can become thicker and provide protection during the winter months.
The undercoat is shorter, but it is denser so it provides better insulation for your pooch during the colder months.
Again, if you notice that your Rottweiler is shedding more when the weather is becoming slightly more chilly, you need not worry too much. This is a routine occurrence that will settle when the thickness of the coat adjusts to the weather.
Nutrition
A cause for concern could be your pet’s diet and nutrition. If the diet is not balanced or if there is something your pooch may be allergic to in their food, that could also be a cause of their excessive shedding.
If you have recently changed their diet and notice that there has been sudden shedding, then perhaps you need to look into their diet plan again and make a few changes.
Consult your pooch’s veterinarian if you notice a discrepancy and require a professional opinion.
Fleas
Another possible cause for concern is skin irritation caused by fleas. If you notice that your Rottweiler has been scratching itself a lot recently, you may want to take a closer look at why that is so.
If the shedding has coincided with the scratching, then that is all the more reason to get a close look and see if your Rottweiler has brought back fleas. Since their coat is dark, it can at times be hard to see so make sure to get a good look.
If there is infection or skin irritation caused by fleas, then you will need to treat the problem immediately. Take the required steps to get rid of the fleas, but ensure you use mild shampoo as your dog’s skin is already sensitive at this time and you do not want any more flare-ups.
Stress or Anxiety
If you notice signs of stress, like nibbling on certain parts of the limb or picking at a specific part of the coat, that may be the cause of the shedding. Even if you notice your pet pacing around a lot or looking restless, that may be a sign of stress.
If you notice that the shedding has coincided with this behavioral change, then that is something you will have to take measures to manage. Try to ascertain what the cause of the stress may be. Perhaps, it is separation anxiety, mistreatment, a sudden change in environment, etc.
At this point, you will have to treat the problem psychologically instead of dermatologically or cosmetically.
Also Read: Do Rottweilers Smell?
How Can You Control It?
Once you know what may be the cause of the shedding, then you can start taking concrete steps to rectify the problem and reduce the shedding. The following are some of the things you can do to reduce shedding:
Brush Regularly
Use a de-shedding brush to get some of the shedding under control. Brushing regularly will not make the shedding stop completely but it will certainly make it easy to manage. You will not have to deal with large tufts of fur falling at once. The shedding will be a lot more regulated.
Besides, even during the shedding period if you brush regularly, you will be able to contain the shedding to one part of the house instead of dealing with hair falling everywhere.
Pick a day of the week and incorporate it into your routine so even your dog becomes accustomed to it.
Get Rid of Fleas
As mentioned above, you need to get rid of fleas if your dog has contracted any and you need to keep them out of your pooch’s body. Ensure you get the right kind of shampoo that works for your dog’s skin.
If you speak to your vet, they may also prescribe oral medication to get rid of fleas. Other than using topical or oral treatments for getting rid of fleas, you should also:
- Vacuum the carpets and any other upholstery that may be harboring fleas and ticks.
- Wash all your sheets with hot water and soap. Also, wash your dog’s bedding.
- If you have a yard, use non-toxic treatments to get rid of possible fleas. Perhaps, the yard is the source of your pooch’s flea infestation.
- Get professionals to do a non-toxic environmental flea control.
If your dog likes to get muddy or becomes adventurous when you take them out for a walk, you may want to ensure they get a good cleanse or wipe down when they come home. A single frolic in the park can cause them to bring back fleas.
Give Your Rottweiler a Bath
Some pet owners avoid giving their Rottweilers baths for months on end. While it is certainly not good for you to bathe your dog too often, if you notice any skin irritation or suspect that it is shedding because of a dermatological issue, then you may want to bathe it.
Do not go overboard and bathe your dog too much. Once a month or 45 days should be a good gap. Especially in the summer months, this can be a good way to let your dog cool down, cleanse their skin and also allow excess hair to shed during the bath so that it does not fall all over the house.
If you still notice any skin itching or irritation after the bath, perhaps it is time to change the dog shampoo.
Consult the Vet
If the problem persists and you still think the shedding is caused by something concerning, not simply season change, then consult the vet. Especially if you notice that your dog has started shedding suddenly and can correlate to other changes in its behavior, it may be important to take it to the vet.
If you also notice that the shedding is not happening evenly and your Rottweiler is losing hair in patches, that is also another indication that this is not simply the natural shedding season taking its course.
Contact your vet as they will be familiar with your pet’s case history and will be aware of any known allergens.
Simply Use a Lint Roller and Embrace the Inevitable
If the shedding is happening evenly and coincides with a change in the weather, then there is no cause for concern. You may think that your pooch is shedding excessively, but there is not much you can do other than brushing their coat regularly and investing in a good lint roller so you can remove excess hair from around the house.
After all, if you are a pet owner, you will need to deal with some degree of shedding and there is no way to avoid it. Dogs, especially Rottweilers, are natural shedders.
They may not shed as much as a Siberian Husky does during season change, but there is some amount of shedding that is inevitable. So do not be unnecessarily concerned.
Do Not Trim Your Rottweiler’s Coat!
No matter what you do, do not take matters into your own hands and trim your Rottweiler’s coat! Rottweilers have highly sophisticated systems through which their body knows what it needs to do in order to protect itself from various kinds of adverse weather.
If it is too hot, your Rottweiler will shed its undercoat so the layer of insulation can be dropped. If it becomes cold, then the Rottweiler will shed its overcoat so that the undercoat can become denser and provide insulation.
Now, if in the middle of all this you decide to shave your Rottweiler’s coat because the shedding is becoming too much to handle and you want to expedite the process, that would be intervening in the dog’s natural thermoregulation process.
You want to let nature take its course and no matter how much you think you are being helpful by trimming your Rottweiler’s coat, you are doing more harm than good.
Also Read: 27 Rottweiler Mix Breeds That’ll Blow Your Mind
Final Thoughts
There may be several reasons why your Rottweiler is shedding so much. If it is due to seasonal changes and your dog is getting itself ready for different weather, then there is no need to worry or fuss about how much your Rottweiler is shedding. Simply use a de-shedding brush once a week and see what you can do to manage the shedding.
If, however, you think the shedding is being caused due to some other reason—such as illness, fleas, stress or allergies—then you need to take measures to rectify those problems. The shedding is only a symptom of the actual problem. If you can address the problem directly, with help from your vet, then the excessive shedding should also stop automatically.
