Do Rottweilers Shed? – Rottweiler Shedding

If you own a Rottweiler or planning to adopt one, you are probably asking yourself: do Rottweilers shed?

Some people may think that since Rottweilers do not have long hair, they do not shed a lot either, but the fact is Rottweiler shed a lot despite having short hair.

Rottweiler’s history dates back to the Roman Empire. They were hardworking roman drover dogs who used to guard livestock and drove.

Rottweilers are courageous, hardworking, and loyal dogs. Although some may find them intimidating, they are among the most loving and sweetest companions in the dog world.

Rottweilers have medium-length and dense coats, which shed around the year. You may find that it sheds more during fall and spring because they blow their coat.

It is perfectly normal okay for dogs with undercoats like Rottweiler to shed more. This is because of the hair growth cycle. Rottweiler shedding is a natural way of adapting from season to season.

Do Rottweilers Shed A Lot?

Rottweiler Grooming

Rottweilers have a double coat consisting of the topcoat and the undercoat. The undercoat is lighter in coloration and is also soft to provide insulation during cold and snowy seasons.

The layer is denser around the legs and the neck too. While the topcoat layer is a bit coarser and longer.

Do Rottweilers shed a lot? Rottweilers are considered to be moderate shedders. They will probably shed twice a year during spring and fall, so get prepared to deal with excess fur during such times.

They also need more grooming during heavier shedding episodes to avoid fur from getting every part of your home. Ensure that your dog has a balanced diet so that he’s got a healthy coat that does not shed more than it needs to.

Generally, Rottweilers are not heavy shedders so you don’t need to worry about clean up or prevention.

Rottweiler Shedding Frequency

Rottweilers shed all year round, but there are times when they will shed more than others.

During spring, they will shed to grow summer coats that will help them stay cool while during fall, they will shed a lot to grow a thicker coat in winter for warmth. This intense shedding will last for about three weeks at a time.

Other than this, the shedding will be moderate and can happen throughout the year. Therefore, Rottweilers will shed more hair twice a year and moderately throughout the year to allow them to live comfortably in different climates.

The Main Reason Rottweilers Shed

There are several reasons as to why Rottweilers shed. If you don’t know about this cause, it can help you reduce your dog’s shedding.

They are shedding their puppy hair 

You will notice your Rottweiler shedding their hair first when they are puppies. They usually shed the puppy to start growing their adult fur.

A puppy Rottweiler has thicker fur to keep warm and as they grow, they start shedding because they can now regulate their body temperatures.

Because of seasonal blowouts 

During a few weeks in spring and few weeks in winter, your Rottweiler will shed more fur. However, these seasonal blowouts don’t last long, thus no need to worry.

They naturally shed throughout the year – Rottweilers will have their hair shed all year because as the new hair grows it pushes the old hair out. This will help their hair stay thick and healthy.

Poor diet 

Poor nutrition can cause hair to shed more often. If your dog is fed poorly, their fur will tend to be brittle causing them to fall.

Rottweiler Diet

They are under stress 

Rottweilers can shed more than usual due to stress. If you notice that your Rottweiler is stressed, you most likely will notice its hair coming out easily.

Things like new noises, a new environment, and being away from their owner can cause Rottweilers to be stressed.

Allergies

When your dog is allergic to something, they scratch their bodies to relieve them from any discomfort. When they scratch their skin more, they may end up pulling the hair out.

Other reasons for the shedding of your Rottweiler are; parasites, sunburns, sickness, and changes in hormones.

How to Manage Your Rottweiler Shedding

It can be difficult to keep up with shedding when you allow it to go out of control. However, the following ways will help you control the amount of hair being shed:

Brushing

The best way to reduce shedding is to brush your Rottweiler’s hair. Brushing will help to remove fallen hair that is still tangled in the fur. Brush outside the house to let the hair be blown by the wind.

Be gentle while brushing their hair not is too rough because the main reason is to remove loose hair and not more. Brush against the growth line first, then with the growth line at the end.

Don’t forget the undercoat when brushing your pup and ensure to use the undercoat rake. The undercoat is where most shedding happens therefore while brushing you will remove loads of fur.

Use a slicker brush for your Rottweiler because of the double coat. It is best to brush your Rottweiler at least once a week to remove excess hair and let natural skin oils be spread around. Give them a good ten-minute brush to get them looking great.

Shampoo and Bathing

Shampoo and bathing make your dog smell great and keep their skin oils in check. However, it is good to reduce the bathing of your puppy.

Dogs or puppies should not be bathed until they get to the age of 7 to 8 weeks when they can regulate their body temperatures. When you bathe a pup, they are left chilled. It is also necessary to get a safe shampoo that can protect your Rottweiler’s coat.

Rottweiler Puppy Shedding

A safe shampoo will prevent your Rottweiler from scratching or itching because of using a shampoo that affects their skin. A dog can itch at a particular spot-causing loss of hair.

The skin of a Rottweiler can get flaky and dry when you bathe your dog so often, therefore bathing it once a month is good for their skin. Most importantly, maintain good grooming of your dog to keep their skin healthy and to avoid excess hair on the skin too.

Diet

Dogs who are given homemade food diets that lack nutrients, or those fed commercial dog food that is low quality can experience hair loss because they are not getting enough nutrients they need for a healthy and shiny coat.

Diet plays a role in how much the dog sheds. Essential fatty acid deficiency is said to cause excessive shedding and a dull coat leading to alopecia in extreme cases.

When there is a protein deficiency, the dog can also shed more. Therefore it is good to ensure that your dog gets a balanced diet with enough fatty acids and protein. These will help to keep their coat healthy, full, and shiny.

Supplements

Enhancing your Rottweiler’s diet by introducing supplements to help boost their immunity can lead to a reduced amount of shedding as their immunity improves.

The best way to affect the immune system is by adding vitamin E and Vitamin C to your dog’s diet. It is also good to consult with your vet if your Rottweiler can take vitamin supplements.

Flaxseed oil and olive oil are good sources of fatty acids that are important to your Rottweiler. Add these oils to your dog’s meal according to your veterinarian’s advice.

Rottweiler Coats

Rottweilers have double coats; the outer coat and undercoat. The layer that causes all these sheddings is the undercoat. It is a soft layer and acts as insulation and protects the Rottweiler from sunburns.

The undercoat is what makes the dog stay outside during the cold season. The outer coat is the coat we see and is a little tough and made to protect the Rottweiler from all outside conditions like wind and rain.

When your Rottweiler is shedding, the undercoat is coming out because it has finished its cycle. During this stage, you may find your Rottweiler’s fur to be less rough and softer.

What Is The Difference Between Shedding And Fur Loss?

Shedding is a normal process of your dog’s hair growth and maintenance. Hair follicles’ lifelong cycling is essential to maintain a healthy and full fur coat. The following are stages in the hair cycles which give the reason why dogs shed:

Growth phase (anagen) – is the stage of growing to a specific breed length;

Regression phase (catagen) – where hair stops growing;

Shedding phase (exogen) – where the shedding of old hair occurs.

Additionally, there is fur loss which is an abnormal shedding of a dog’s fur. This could be a sign that there something wrong because of parasites, stress, and poor diet.

Do Spayed And Neutered Rottweilers Shed Less

When there is excessive shedding in your dog, it can be a sign of hormonal imbalance due to be being spayed or neutered. Dogs can shed less after neutering or spaying if the surgery was done when they are older.

Rottweiler Shedding

Do Rottweiler Puppies Shed More Than Adult Dogs

You will see your Rottweiler shedding first when they are puppies because they need thick hair to keep them warm since they cannot regulate their body temperature. As they grow they need less of the thick hair so the body will shed it.

Puppies will shed more fur when they are transitioning into adult fur. This will cause your dog to have a lot of shedding up to three times a year during this transition.

Are Rottweilers Hypoallergenic

An important factor to consider when deciding on the best pet for you is allergies because you don’t want your new friend that will inadvertently make you sick.

Therefore it is good to know if your dog is hypoallergenic before you bring them home. Rottweilers are considered not to be hypoallergenic; however, they can trigger a reaction because of saliva, shedding, or pet dander levels.

Saliva can cause a rash when you let your Rottweiler lick or when you are playing with them. Pet dander or dandruff is a common allergy trigger caused by Rottweilers.

When their skin drys they develop dander that stays in their bodies or sticks to clothes and floors when they shed. This can trick allergies in the family members.

Do Rottweilers Smell

Almost every dog has some smell on them so it is not a surprise for a Rottweiler to smell. When a Rottweiler is healthy, they have a classic doggie smell. However, improper health issues and care can make a Rottweiler give off an unpleasant smell.

Rottweilers smell is manageable, and if it smells particularly bad there is something wrong.

The cause of bad smell often happens because of how they bathed and groomed, the food they eat, shampoos used to clean them, or an underlying health problem.

If it is not a good smell, pinpoint where the problem is, and seek advice from your veterinarian.

Do Rottweilers Shed More Than German Shepherds

Rottweilers and German Shepherds are seasonal in their shedding. German Shepherds are known for being particularly high shedders and are frequently ranked highly compared with other dog breeds.

Compared to Rottweiler, German shepherds have longer coats and are higher maintenance to look after, which contributes to the higher levels of shedding compared to the shorter-coated Rottweiler.

Rottweiler Shedding FAQs

Do Rottweilers Shed

What Time of the Year Do They Shed The Most?

Rottweilers shed according to the changes in season. During fall they shed its undercoat to keep cool because it is quite warm during this time.

While during the spring season the dog will keep its undercoat for the extra layer of protection against harsh cold weather. However, they tend to shed all year round because as the new hair grows it will remove the old hair causing the shedding to occur.

Puppies also shed more when they are growing their adult hair.

How Bad Is The Shedding To Deal With

Rottweilers shed moderately but tend to shed more during shedding season. Therefore it is not difficult to deal with it because it is easy to manage with regular brushing.

Shedding is a normal process in a healthy dog. Grooming and bathing alongside a good diet will keep your Rottweiler hair in check. Brushing frequently during the times that they shed more is important to keep them in check.

How To Brush Your Rottweiler At Home

Brush your Rottweiler about once a week to remove the shed hair. A little brush can do and it will also be comfortable for your dog. Make sure to brush in the way that the hair grows and brush down everything.

Also, ensure to brush your Rottweiler outside your house to keep the mess outside because the wind will carry away.

If you will brush your dog indoors, ensure to vacuum immediately and also light vacuum your dog to pick up any stray hair.

How To Protect Your Furniture From Dog Hair

When you allow your dog to sit on the couch you are most definitely going to experience fur on the couch. The most effective way to prevent excessive fur transfer to the couch is to teach your dog not to sit on the couch or a particular part of the furniture.

You can also place a blanket on the part you have taught your dog to sit on. Most importantly minimize your dog’s shedding as much as they are by keeping them well maintained and groomed to prevent fur from fall everywhere in the house. Keep your dog healthy too to maintain their healthy coat.

Final Words

Rottweilers are amazing dogs and they are one of the most popular in the world. Even though Rottweilers shed they are not difficult to maintain by brushing regularly.

Shedding is a normal process but it can be a sign that your dog is not well. More can be done to reduce the amount of shedding.

However, when you feel the shedding is abnormal, consult your veterinarian immediately. This will allow you to enjoy your dog’s çompany as well as have a home that is not full of fur.

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