Briards are typically really beautiful dogs, and they can be your family’s companion for an entire decade! But like any other dog, Briards have a downside to them as well – the shedding. Let’s take a closer look at Briards and Shedding— When, How, and Where to Handle It.
The coat of this breed is long and light, coarse due to the undercoat, when passed through the fingers, a dry rustling sound is created. The entire body of the dog is covered with fur, especially the eyes and ears which quickly overgrow. Therefore, when choosing such a dog, remember that you cannot do so without a groomer. In the shoulder region, the hair length reaches 15 centimeters or more.
Briards have hair that is over the top! No one will be able to deny that your dog will shed a lot every time he or she hangs out in your home.
Then again, you may not have to worry about it especially if you groom your dog regularly. No matter the case, it is still hard to avoid a certain amount of shedding in your home.
It’s important to take the time and learn about how to maintain a happy and healthy Briard just like you would with any other pet in your home.
When do Briards shed? (Time of year, how often, etc.)
Briards boast a shaggy and long double coat, which is considered as very low shedding. The outer coat is coarse, falling in long gentle waves and their long coats require extensive grooming.
Even though Briards are low shedding dogs, there’s no such thing as ‘non-shedding canine’. Their thick fur gets tangled and matted and needs maintenance. Leaves, debris, mud, and fecal matter among other things cling to their wavy coats.
The Briards have no record of shedding in any particular month of the year. If you have seen a Briard shedding, one of the reasons could be their age.
Since Briards shed very little, consult your vet if you ever feel like they are shedding too much.
Whatever be the reason for the shedding, what matters the most is how you can take care of your dog.
How To Handle Briard Shedding
The easiest thing you can do every day is to comb your Briard. This removes the old hair and helps in the growth of new ones. Moreover, you get to clean his fur from debris, leaves, small twigs, etcetera.
Here’s another bonus: if you comb your Briard every day, you will have to take up a broom less often.
To remove tangles from the undercoat, you need a comb, preferably nickel-plated. For delicate areas, a slicker brush is useful. To remove dead hairs, use a silicone glove brush.
For proper combing, comb strictly in the direction of hair growth, slightly pressing down on the tool. Do this carefully so as not to hurt.
It is important to know that you cannot comb a dry-haired Briard. Before combing, moisten his furs with special cosmetic products for combing. You can also use water from your spray bottle.
The brush should go deep enough to pick up the bottom coat. Even though for other furry breed dogs it’s recommended to brush twice a day, you don’t need to do that with Briards. Just once a day is enough.
Mats most often appear in those dogs that are little looked after, and this can also indicate health problems.
It is necessary to turn to products for dog hair care because without them you can hurt your dog a lot! If the tangled hair appears nevertheless, you need to act according to the mind.
How to remove and unravel the tangled hair
Moisten the fur. With a wide-toothed comb, comb the hair from the side of the mat towards the dog’s body. This will help unravel the matted coat a little.
Try to make out the mat with your fingers. Do not wrinkle it in your hands, it will become even more tangled. Better to pull gently along the hair.
The unyielding mats are treated with a special agent to facilitate unraveling: a grooming spray or powder sprinkled on the mats.
Mink oil combing sprays have proven themselves well. If the spray has worked, the mat is disassembled with your fingers, then combed.
Tangled hair that could not be combed even after using the spray is removed with a furminator.
Do not leave tangles: this is an excellent breeding ground for harmful bacteria and inflammation that can appear on the Briards’ skin.
Tip: If you don’t have a spray on hand, you can use regular sunflower oil. Fur is impregnated with it, after which it is easier to disassemble.
To prevent mats from forming, it is worth it to, if such a problem exists, wash the Briard with a special anti-mats shampoo.
It will help untangle the mats and moisturize the long coat, making it more elastic.
After washing, dry and comb him immediately – this will protect it from mats for a long time.
Herbal conditioners can also be used. They will stiffen the delicate coat so that it does not fall off so easily.
Most often, tangles form in hard-to-reach places: under the armpits, on the chest, abdomen, and inner thighs. This is where the dog needs to be examined most thoroughly.
Important: Do not brush a Briard with a lot of tangles as it may only hurt him. Remove it first.
Where Should It Be Handled
Pieces of hair in an apartment don’t bring pleasure to anyone. So try to do the combing in a place where you can easily clean it with a vacuum cleaner.
Briards are energetic and playful and they don’t like to stay at the same place for long. Try to comb it at such a place, where it’s open and he doesn’t feel like he is held captive.
There will be no better place for this work than the backyard of your home.
Tips on Handling the Shedding
Suffering from a bad hair day due to dog shedding is something most of us wish we didn’t have to deal with. This becomes one of the most challenging problems that pet owners must deal with. However, Briards don’t shed as much, but other breeds of dogs go through the shedding phase once or twice a year.
You can already prepare yourself for the time when your dog starts shedding. Meanwhile, take a look at the tips that are sure to be helpful at the time of the shedding phase of your dog.
Get your dog used to the comb
First of all, you need to understand that brushing is an integral part of grooming your dog. If you are convinced of this, you can act without hesitation, and it will be easier to train your dog.
You should begin to teach the puppy to get combed very early – from 1-3 months. While he is getting used to it, you can comb it in any order and direction, sometimes in several stages.
The main thing is that the puppy should not be afraid while combing. And over time, he will let you comb from his head to the tail.
While the puppy is inexperienced, it is important to be very careful, gently handle his skin and coat, not to scratch or tug.
Any pain will be perceived and remembered as a negative experience associated specifically with brushing. In the future he will begin to hide, just seeing the comb in your hands.
You can check the safety of the comb by sliding it over the palm of your hand. If the teeth of the comb don’t feel good on your palm, then change that comb.
Before combing, pat on the back. When combing, talk to him affectionately. Praise him and give him treats.
In no case should you shout at the dog or hold it by the force of several people – she will perceive this as a betrayal on the part of the owner.
By following these recommendations, you can teach your dog to calmly respond to brushing within a month. A properly trained Briard will perceive the procedure as pleasant, and you will have a great time together.
Keep him hydrated
Dehydration causes dry skin which leads to excessive shedding. Make sure that your dog always has access to clean and fresh water. Alternatively, you can feed him wet food which has almost 75% water content.
This will keep your dog’s skin hydrated and he will shed less.
Control Fleas
Fleas and bugs irritate your dog and make him scratch himself heavily causing hair fall. He’ll stop scratching himself if you rid him of fleas. Then you can decide where you would like to comb him to get rid of excessive hair. This way you will be able to keep your house clean without putting much effort.
Summary
Briards shed less than other breeds of dogs and have no phase of shedding. However, that doesn’t mean that they don’t shed at all. They have hair all over their top which keeps getting tangled upon negligence and lack of maintenance.
Briards only shed excessively when they get old or have any sort of disease. You can take care of their excessive shedding by combing them daily and following the tips mentioned in the article.
If you think I missed something, let me know in the comments.