Mastiff Shedding Control

Here's How To Control It

by Ken Alden

When it comes to Mastiff shedding control you're never too early to learn the best ways to get it under control, you can't stop it, but you can manage it. 

Mastiff Shedding Control Tips...

• Brush your Mastiff at least once a week (daily is recommended).
• Bathe your pet at least once a month, use conditioner plus a gentle dog shampoo.
• Ensure a nutritious, healthy, well-balanced diet for your dog. 
• Introduce fatty acids supplements and oils, like flaxseed oil, into his diet.
• Use an undercoat de-shedding tool to get rid of underlying loose hair without hurting your dog's skin.

Now you have an idea of the many grooming tasks lying ahead! Let's have a look at what you need to know to care for your Mastiff's coat and limit its shedding. Unless you desire a hair-covered couch, you will need to become an expert groomer as soon as possible! Read More Below...

Pro-tip: Ever try lifting a Mastiff? Their weight can hurt not only your back but their joints when they hop down from cars, sofas or even your bed. To protect your back and theirs check out the best Mastiff ramps on Amazon.com now.

Why Do Mastiffs Shed?

Similarly to other dog breeds, Mastiffs shed to get rid of damaged or dead hair and replace it with new, healthy ones. This cycle happens through three phases:

• Anagen phase: the growth phase of your dog's fur.
• Catagen phase: this phase is the briefest and lasts only about ten days. During this time, your dog's hairs do not grow or fall.
• Telogen phase: this is the shedding phase.
  

Aside from eliminating old hairs in favor of new ones, dogs also shed to adapt their fur to the seasons' different temperatures and climate. However, Mastiffs tend to shed all year round, with the most substantial shedding happening between summer and fall. 

Do All Mastiffs Shed?

Yes! All Mastiff shed, but they do so in slightly different ways. Here is an overview of the most common Mastiff breeds and their shedding habits:

• English Mastiff: they do not shed when they are puppies. Their shedding patterns can be influenced by genetics so that you might welcome a seasonal or all-year-round shedder.
• Bullmastiff: due to its single-layer, dense coat, bullmastiffs tend to shed quite heavily all year round.
• Tibetan Mastiff: this is one of the few Mastiff breeds with a longer, double-layer coat. Tibetan Mastiffs shed seasonally, usually during spring or beginning of summer.
• French Mastiff or Dogue de Bordeaux: thanks to its short coat, this breed sheds only moderately.
  

If you suffer from an allergy, you should know that none of these Mastiffs are hypoallergenic dogs. In this case, you should consider adopting one of the closely-related to Mastiff but less-shedding breeds, such as Cane Corso and Great Dane.

Pro-tip: Mastiff anxiety, aggression, destructive chewing, jumping up, fearfulness, and other behaviors can be controlled with the right training program.

Here’s a great course that addresses these issues along with many other dog training basics: Check it out now!

Why Is My Mastiff Shedding So Bad?

If you notice a heavy shedding from your Mastiff, there could be different influencing factors for this, such as season, age, diet and nutrition, exercise, health conditions.

The level of shedding of your Mastiff will change throughout the year and his life. Expect a peak in shedding when your puppy is about 5 to 6 months of age. Here is when your little Mastiff changes his puppy hair to an adult coat.

Might There Be Something Medically Wrong?

Before trying to control the shedding of your dog, it is worth checking whether there is an underlying health issue that causes the problem. Here are the most common causes of increased and unhealthy shedding:

• Skin fungal and bacterial infections;
• Allergies. These can be food or product-related; 
• Common parasites such as fleas, mites, or lice;
• Irritation of the skin or sunburn;
• More serious diseases such as kidney, liver or thyroid conditions or even cancer;
• Immune disease;
• Reaction to medications.
  

If the increased shedding comes with bumps and rashes on the skin, thinning coat, sores, and excessive licking, face rubbing, and scratching, you should take your dog to the veterinary immediately.

Our 5 Mastiff Shedding Control Tips...

Here are five easy tips you can introduce to attempt to control your Mastiff's shedding and some extra tips for the best results.

#1 Daily Brushing 

• When picking the brush, make sure it is adequate for your Mastiff's coat.
• Make sure the brush can trap the removed hair.
• You can use a shedding blade for even better results.
• Brushing should take place at least once a week. However, if you get the chance, brush your Mastiff once a day.
• Use circular movements to get rid of all damaged hair.
  

#2 Monthly Baths 

• Wash your pooch at least once a month.
• Warm water helps loosen up the hair.
• Use both shampoo and conditioner.
• Brush your dog properly straight after the bath.

Read more about grooming your Mastiff from this page on our site

#3 Ensure a nutritious diet for your dog

• Use high-quality food.
• Make sure your dog always has drinkable fresh water available. Dehydration can dry your Mastiff's skin, increasing shedding and itching.
• Add vegetables and fruits in your dog's diet to increase the nutrients he can get from it.
  

Learn more about the best food for a Mastiff

#4 Introduce supplements in your Mastiff's diet

Oils, such as flaxseed, olive, and fish oils can increase the levels of Omega-3 in your dog's diet and improve his coat. Alternatively, fatty acids natural supplements added to your dog's food can help reduce the levels of shedding.

#5 Use an undercoat de-shedding tool

Perfect for double-layer coats such as the one of the Tibetan Mastiffs, undercoat de-shedding tools can help you get rid of loose hair trapped under the first layer of fur. If you are the parent of a Bullmastiff, instead, check out the products in the next session!

If you have put in place all these practices and started to see results, everything left to do is to ensure that your house is relatively hair-free. To do so, use a lint roller for clothes and a vacuum cleaner for your home's rooms. Avoid using a regular broom as this will only lift the hair from the floor into the air.

Products We Recommend To Reduce Shedding

Due to their unique characteristics, there is no magic formula that works for all Mastiffs when it comes to shedding. Your choice of brush, shampoo, blade, or glove should reflect the needs of your dog. However, here we have collected some of the best products on the market for you to start your research!

Pro-tip: Mastiff's (and their owners) love dog crates…and for good reasons. Crates keep dogs from mischief while you're away, are perfect for house training, for traveling by car, and provide the dog a place to de-stress. Check out the best Mastiff crates on Amazon.com now.

Mastiff Shedding Control...Final Thoughts

Your Mastiff's shedding patterns are unique to their breed, so you should not be surprised if they shed seasonally, all year round, or only when they are adults. Yet, taking care of their coat, skin, and hair can help you live a much less-hairy life and maintain your dog healthy. 

While bathing, brushing, and properly feeding your dog are essential factors to groom your Mastiff, be aware that some medical conditions can worsen the amount of shedding he or she will go through. Lastly, grooming and brushing your pet is a moment for bonding, so have fun!

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I’m Ken Alden. This website
is a labor of love from years of research and personal experiences with Mastiffs.

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