Do Curly-Coated Retrievers Shed?

You want to buy a dog, but you are worried about how much it sheds. 

A larger dog sounds like a good choice because they provide companionship while appearing to be wild animals. 

You have thought about getting a Curly-Coated Retriever because you like the size of the dog and adore the curly hair.

The furniture in your house is one hundred percent fine. 

You don’t want dog hair all over your furniture. 

Plus, you have a shag carpet that will trap dog hair and create a big mess. 

Will a Curly-Coated Retriever be a good option for you?

Do Curly-Coated Retrievers Shed?

Curly-Coated Retrievers, also called curlies, will shed a moderate amount. They typically shed only twice per year, so the amount of hair is manageable. If you groom your dog when it is shedding, you can cut down significantly the amount of hair that will be in your house.

Curlies are some of the best dogs to have with a family

They are not aggressive, but they will protect your family from aggressors.

Many people claim curlies are one of the most intelligent dogs. 

You just have to get over a prolonged phase when your dog will act like a puppy. 

You will need to train him early and often not to chew furniture, blankets and shoes. 

What Kind of Hair Will my Curly Shed?

Curlies are covered with a mat of curly hair. It is what protects them from cold water when they retrieve. 

The hair that you will find in your house will be about one to two inches long, and it will be curly.

Curlies have black to liver-colored hair. If you have a lot of white furniture, the hair will be noticeable. One thing that you could do is to get furniture that has a darker color.

The hair is a medium thickness and you can easily clean it up with a brush or a vacuum cleaner. It is best to use a mask just in case you are a little allergic to the dog’s fur. 

You might not notice an allergy for most of the year because the Curly-Coated Retriever will only shed once or twice per year. 

The typical seasons for your curly to shed are the spring and the fall when their coats transition from warm to cold weather or vice versa. 

Will the Hair Shed by My Curly Stink?

We consider curlies to be fairly clean dogs. You can bathe them once per month if you want to reduce the odor of the hair that the dog sheds.  

But if you are so concerned about the smell of having a dog, maybe you would be better off getting a cat instead.

Just about any dog that you own will have an odor. 

A lot depends on the health of your dog. A healthy dog that is fed nutritious food will smell better than an unhealthy dog that eats garbage.

One of the best ways to control the odor of your dog is to give him a bath about once per month. 

Do not use harsh detergents because they can damage your dog’s coat. 

Use a special pet shampoo you can get online or from a pet specialty store. 

The water should be slightly warm, not nearly as hot as you like to take a shower. 

Hot water can damage your dog’s coat and cause him to overheat.

Do Curly Coated Retrievers Shed 1 Do Curly-Coated Retrievers Shed?

Is There Anything I Can Do to Prevent my Curly-Coated Retriever From Shedding?

Shedding is a natural way that dogs maintain their healthy coats. A healthy dog needs to shed its hair. 

There is not much that you can do to prevent your Curly-Coated Retriever from shedding.

You can cut down on the amount of hair that will gather in your house if you groom your curly while it is shedding. 

Just be sure not to over groom because your Curly-Coated Retriever’s hair might get frizzy and dry.

Some people have tried vitamin supplements or herbal supplements to prevent their dog from shedding. 

This is not a proven method, and most people will say that it doesn’t work. 

The herbs and vitamins, if taken in excess, can damage your dog’s health. 

With a curly, it is best just to let him shed. It only happens once or twice per year and the amount of hair will be moderate.

The best thing you can do to limit the amount that your curly sheds is to make sure he is as healthy as can be. 

Use a specialty dog food such as Purina Pro because the more expensive brands offer a better nutritional balance that will bring out the most of your dog’s coat. 

A healthy coat will not shed as much, and when it does shed, the hair will be easier to clean up.

Is There a Use for the Hair that my Curly Will Shed?

Since the Curly-Coated Retriever has unique hair, some people collect the hair and made creative items with it. The curly hair looks great on dolls.

All you need to do is find a bald doll and paste the dog’s hair onto the doll’s head. 

It sounds creepy, but the results are really interesting.

The curly sheds dark curly hair that you can use as a stuffing. 

Take the hair shed by your curly and stuff it into a cloth that is shaped like a doll. 

While your dog is in its shedding phase, you should be able to collect enough hair to stuff several dolls.

Try mixing your own hair in with your dog’s hair to make the stuffing. 

Your hair and your dog’s hair mingle for eternity. 

Your friends will think that it is so cute that you have mixed your hair with your dog’s hair to make a doll.

What if I Am Allergic to my Curly-Coated Retriever?

The signs that you are allergic to your dog are various. 

You might sneeze a lot and have a steady runny nose. Your eyes might itch and you might get hives.

You won’t know for sure if you are allergic to your dog unless you go to the doctor.

Luckily, severe allergic reactions are rare, unless you suffer an asthmatic attack. 

If that is the case, consider giving your dog away.

There are steps you can take to cut down on allergens.

Vacuum your house frequently and wear a mask while you vacuum. Put special pet filters in your vacuum. 

You can try putting filters on the furnace or air conditioning vents in your house. 

Use a fine cheesecloth to put over the vents. 

There are also special pet filters that you can use on the intake of your furnace or air conditioning system.

You can try taking anti-allergy medicines but they can make you sleepy.

Then again, if your dog likes to sleep, you can sleep together. 

This way you can treat your dog allergy at the same time you’re cuddling with it.

If you develop a case of asthma from your dog’s dander, this can be a serious condition. Keep your house as free of the dog hair as possible. 

Your doctor may prescribe a bronchodilator and/or a steroid inhaler depending on the severity of your symptoms. 

Asthma is not something to be taken lightly, and you might get rid of your dog. 

There are many people who would love to adopt a curly at the local animal shelter.

How to Groom your Curly so that It Doesn’t Shed as Much

Two times per year you can expect your curly to shed. What can you do to cut down on all the hair in your house? Grooming your dog will help.

Use a rubber brush to groom your dog. It will trap most of the hair in its bristles and the dog will like how the brush feels. 

Don’t use metal brushes or combs because you can damage your dog’s skin. 

If you brush your dog too much, it can make his hair frizzy. 

You don’t want to do this because the curls in your dog’s coat protect him from the cold. 

The natural oils in his hair protect him from cold water when he swims.

Can you Groom Your Dog with the Vacuum Cleaner?

If your dog does not freak out when the vacuum cleaner runs, try grooming him with it. 

Do not use ordinary vacuum cleaner attachments. Use one that is specially made for dog grooming. 

Be sure that your dog is calm before you try this method.

Let him get accustomed to hearing the vacuum cleaner run. Let him sniff the vacuum cleaner because this will relieve his anxiety.

Just a few minutes of grooming with the vacuum cleaner is sufficient. 

You don’t want to groom too much because you can damage your dog’s hair. 

If his hair gets frizzy, you know it is time to stop.

Conclusion

Curly-Coated Retrievers shed a moderate amount once to twice a year. 

There are many steps you can take to decrease the amount of hair that will be in your house.

Don’t let your concerns about shedding deter you from buying a Curly-Coated Retriever.

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