How to Reduce Dog Shedding at Home — Simple Methods That Work
Every dog owner knows the feeling — hair on the couch, hair on your clothes, hair in your coffee. Knowing how to reduce dog shedding at home won't stop shedding entirely — it's a natural and unavoidable part of owning a dog — but the right combination of habits and tools can make a significant difference to how much loose hair ends up around your house. This guide covers the methods that actually work, why they work, and how to build them into a routine that's sustainable long term.
Shedding often becomes more noticeable at certain times of the year — this guide on dog shedding season Australia explains when it happens and how to manage it.
Why Some Dogs Shed More Than Others
Before getting into solutions, it helps to understand what drives shedding. All dogs shed, but volume and frequency vary enormously based on breed, coat type, and season.
Double-coated breeds — German Shepherds, Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Huskies, Border Collies — carry a dense undercoat beneath their topcoat that sheds heavily during seasonal transitions in autumn and spring. These coat blows can last several weeks and produce an extraordinary volume of loose hair. Single-coated breeds shed more consistently but at lower volume. Curly and wavy-coated breeds like Poodles and Doodles shed the least because loose hair gets trapped in the curl rather than falling freely.
Knowing your dog's coat type tells you which shedding reduction methods will have the most impact and which tools you need.
If your dog is shedding more than usual, understanding the cause is key — this guide on why your dog is shedding so much explains what to look for.
Regular Brushing — The Best Way to Reduce Dog Shedding at Home
Consistent brushing is the foundation of any shedding management routine. It removes loose hair before it falls on your floors and furniture, distributes natural oils through the coat, and keeps the skin underneath healthy.
For heavy-shedding double-coated breeds, brushing two to three times per week during normal periods — and daily during seasonal coat blows — makes a dramatic difference to how much hair ends up around the house. The loose undercoat that would otherwise shed freely gets captured by the brush instead.
The right brush matters as much as the frequency. An undercoat rake reaches the dense undercoat layer where most of the shedding originates in double-coated breeds. A slicker brush works well for surface hair removal and finishing. A rubber grooming mitt suits short single-coated breeds. Our guide to the best deshedding tool for dogs Australia covers exactly which tool suits which coat type so you're not guessing.
Bathing — More Impactful Than Most People Realise
A proper bath loosens the undercoat and makes brushing significantly more effective. Bathing your dog and then thoroughly blow-drying the coat before a deshedding brush session will remove substantially more loose hair than dry brushing alone.
For heavy shedders, bathing once every four to six weeks — combined with a thorough brush session immediately after — produces a noticeable reduction in ongoing shedding. The bath loosens and lifts dead undercoat, the drying process helps separate it from the live coat, and the brush captures it before it sheds naturally.
Use a gentle, conditioning shampoo appropriate for your dog's skin type. Harsh shampoos strip the skin's natural oils, which can actually increase shedding over time by drying out the skin and coat.
Diet and Hydration
Understanding how to reduce dog shedding at home includes looking beyond grooming — what your dog eats directly affects coat health and shedding volume.
What your dog eats directly affects coat health and shedding volume. A diet deficient in essential fatty acids — omega-3 and omega-6 — produces a dry, brittle coat that sheds more heavily than a well-nourished one. Fish oil supplements are one of the most commonly recommended additions for dogs with excessive shedding, and many owners report a noticeable reduction in loose hair within six to eight weeks of consistent supplementation.
Hydration matters too. A dog that doesn't drink enough water has drier skin, which contributes to increased shedding. Making sure fresh water is always available is one of the simplest things you can do for coat health.
High-quality food with real protein as the primary ingredient supports coat health from the inside out. If your dog's shedding has increased noticeably without a change in season, diet is one of the first things worth reviewing.
The RSPCA recommends a balanced diet as a foundation for overall dog health, including coat condition.
Managing Stress
Stress is a commonly overlooked contributor to excessive shedding. Dogs shed more when anxious — it's a physiological stress response — which is why you'll often notice increased shedding at the vet, during thunderstorms, or in unfamiliar environments.
Regular exercise, mental stimulation, and a stable routine all reduce baseline stress levels and can help moderate stress-related shedding over time. Dogs that are physically and mentally engaged shed less from stress than dogs that are bored or understimulated.
Providing appropriate mental engagement through play is part of this — our guide to dog toys for dogs Australia covers how to match toys to your dog's needs and energy level to keep them genuinely stimulated rather than just occupied.
Reward-based training also contributes to a calmer, more settled dog over time. If you're building a training routine alongside a grooming routine, our guide on how to use a dog treat pouch for training covers how to use treats effectively to reinforce calm, cooperative behaviour.
Building a Shedding Management Routine
The methods above work best when combined into a consistent routine rather than applied sporadically. Here's what a practical weekly shedding management routine looks like for a moderate to heavy shedder:
Brush two to three times per week using the right tool for your dog's coat type. Bathe once every four to six weeks and follow immediately with a thorough brush session. Supplement with fish oil daily if coat condition is a concern. Ensure fresh water is always available. Provide regular exercise and mental stimulation to manage stress-related shedding.
During seasonal coat blows — typically autumn and spring — increase brushing to daily and consider an additional mid-cycle bath to manage the volume of loose undercoat being released.
Browse our dog grooming collection for brushes, deshedding tools, and grooming accessories suited to different coat types and breed sizes.
After a grooming session, give your dog somewhere comfortable to rest. Browse the full range of dog beds Australia to find the right option for your dog's size and sleeping style.
The Bottom Line
Knowing how to reduce dog shedding at home comes down to three things — the right tools used consistently, a diet that supports coat health, and a routine that addresses both the physical and stress-related causes of excessive shedding. You won't eliminate shedding entirely, but with the right approach you can reduce it significantly and keep your home noticeably cleaner between grooming sessions.