Due to their fluffy luxurious coat, many potential owners may wonder if Leonbergers shed regularly. Are they hard to maintain, and do they shed a lot?
Leonbergers do shed a lot. However, you can do a few things to curb the amount of fur getting everywhere, mainly brushing them daily with a special brush routine. Otherwise, feeding them a healthy diet and making sure to brush them during their coat changes should stop the worst of it.
Leonbergers are amazing dogs but do have a problem with excess shedding. If you are interested in learning more about handling that, keep reading.
How much do Leonbergers shed?
Leonbergers are a breed that tends to shed quite heavily. They have a thick, water-resistant topcoat and a dense undercoat and shed all year round.
This is particularly the case during the spring and fall. Therefore, brushing a Leo can take a long time to get out most of the fur and keep shedding to a minimum.
They come from Germany’s cold climate and other working dogs like the St. Bernard. Working dogs of this type all have heavy shedding, double coats. There are two main historical reasons why they shed so much fur.
First, because they are so large, they have a lot of surface area of fur. Big dogs don’t shed more than smaller dogs.
They simply have more fur. Even if a big dog only sheds a moderate amount of hair, it’ll still be much more in volume than a smaller dog.
Second, it’s because they have a double coat. This thick, dense coat is the best recipe for tons of shedding. The topcoat is a water-resistant coat, but then for warmth, they have a lush, fluffy undercoat.
The difference between a double coat and a single coat does affect how much shedding dogs do and when.
A dog with a double coat tends to shed a lot more during the spring and fall. This is when they are preparing for the upcoming season change.
However, we’ll explore some great ways to handle shedding later in the article. So there’s no need to be too intimidated by this aspect of the breed.
What situations would cause Leonbergers to shed excessively?
Two main situations cause excess shedding to be aware of:
- First, during the spring and fall seasons when their coats are changing. They shed their winter coat to prepare for the warmer temperatures in spring. Then, they shed their summer coat in the fall and build up their winter coat.
- Second, they’ll start excess shedding when their skin is dehydrated. This can be due to the weather, a bad diet, or an illness. Finally, daily brushing can help keep their skin moisturized.
How to reduce shedding with your Leonberger?
A regular brushing routine is the best way to reduce the amount of fur getting everywhere. The reason this works so well is not just that it pulls out all the dead fur and keeps it in one spot. But, it also evenly spreads the oils in their coat and over their skin, maintaining a healthier coat overall.
Dry skin can be one of the major causes of excessive shedding, so spreading the oils can make a difference over time. It’s essential to keep their skin from drying out too much, although there isn’t too much to be done in this regard.
You can avoid excessive bathing and keep a healthy diet, both of which we’ll discuss more later in the article.
Omega 3s are especially important and simply a diet filled with quality ingredients to get everything their skin and coat needs.
There’s no real magic solution for shedding. The best thing to do is keep to the regular brushing and be ok with having dog hair around if you get a Leo. These tips can help, but there’s no miracle solution.
Wash them as required
Only wash them when they need it, as too much bathing can strip their skin of moisture too often and cause it to dry out. This, in turn, can cause excess shedding.
Use a high-quality dog shampoo with few minerals to reduce the amount of stripping and only bathe them when they need it.
Brush them every day
Brushing them every day is the most critical thing to keeping their fur from getting everywhere. You’ll not only take out all the dead fur, but you’ll also be evenly spreading their oils, keeping both their fur and skin moisturized and protected.
Brushing will be a constant in your life with a Leo, so make sure to invest in quality brushes and other grooming equipment.
What’s the best approach to grooming your Leonberger?
Unfortunately, grooming your Leonberger won’t be the most straightforward task. Thankfully, they’re not the most difficult dogs to groom, but they have to be done regularly because of the sheer volume of shedding.
To reduce the amount of fur floating around in the house, you’ll want to brush them quite regularly – every day if possible. Because of the amount of fur, you’ll need a high-quality brush.
For their outer coat, a slicker brush is best. This helps eliminate matting and knots more efficiently and removes dead hair, dirt, and debris more efficiently.
For the undercoat, using an undercoat rake or de-shedding tool works best. It depends a bit on your budget and preferences.
To brush, start with the slicker brush. Then, once you’ve gone over the coat a few times and removed the bulk of the day’s fur, go over once more slowly, reaching down into the undercoat to remove any loose undercoat fur.
In the end, it shouldn’t be a complicated process, but it is important to brush your Leonberger at least once per day and at least once per week, giving them a good thorough brushing.
It’s a big commitment, but the process shouldn’t be too painful overall.
Methods for keeping your house clean
There isn’t a unique recipe for keeping the house clean with a Leonberger beyond the daily brushing and taking care of their skin and coat.
There will always be some leftover shedding, and if you need to clean the place up for guests, you can use a lint roller or similar on the main furniture.
It can also be worth the investment to consider furniture and flooring that doesn’t hold as much fur. For example, velvet would be a bad choice, while leather tends not to hold onto much fur.
Hardwood flooring, vinyl, and tile will also be easier to clean than carpet, but this is probably not worth making major changes. You can still vacuum up the carpet just fine with a Leo in the house.
Key factors to consider regarding your Leonberger’s shedding
One of the critical factors to consider about shedding includes understanding the seasonal cycle for when there will be more shedding.
Remember, fall and spring are when they are changing coats, so it will be crucial to do the daily brushing.
Also important is a good diet and good skincare without excessive baths. Leonbergers love to swim because they love going in the water. Other than that, there’s not much more that can be done.
Therefore, it’s essential to recognize you’ll be living with a lot of hair around the house and how you want to handle that.
Use a quality dog shampoo with minimal chemicals
When you bathe your Leonberger, make sure to use a quality dog shampoo so that they don’t lose all the natural oils on their fur. Too much use of shampoo can dry their skin and fur, leading to even more excess shedding.
Ensure a healthy, well-balanced diet
The Leonberger is a massive dog with a huge appetite. Therefore, their diet should consist of plenty of animal proteins and carbohydrates for energy.
Plus, they need all their essential vitamins and minerals for digestive and immune health. Omega fatty acids are necessary for their coat and skin.
Premium dry food is the top choice for a good, healthy diet. However, generic dog food is not recommended for dogs, as it contains a lot of cheap filler ingredients.
The typical adult Leonberger will need about five cups of dry food per day across two meals. As a puppy, this will be only about three and a half cups per day across three meals per day.
Contact your vet if you are concerned about excessive shedding
While it is expected that Leonbergers will shed quite a bit, be mindful of excessive shedding. This could indicate other factors impacting their health, in which it may be time to call your vet.
It can be a symptom of a more significant health problem, but only if the shedding is truly excessive.
