Your dog's coat may be beautiful, but not when it's sticking to your clothes and furniture. While shedding is often unavoidable, there are things that pet owners can do to reduce the amount of hair being left behind.

For Your Dog

Shedding occurs in all canines. In most occurrences of shedding, the process is completely natural as old hair falls out to make way for new hair growth. In some cases; however, excessive shedding may be a sign of more serious conditions such as ringworm or mange. If you suspect your animal is losing too much fur or that something else may be wrong, please schedule an appointment with your veterinarian for proper diagnosis and treatment. If you feel your dog shows no other signs of infection or disease, but continues to lose large amounts of hair, try the following:

Develop a Bathing/Grooming Routine

1. To keep hair deposits at bay, start by bathing your dog in lukewarm water using hypoallergenic/moisturizing dog shampoo.

2. After bathing, be sure to blow dry fur on a cool setting to reduce matting and clumping.

3. Brush your dog with a slicker comb, horse brush, or other grooming brush at least once a day.

4. Use thinning or trimming shears on thicker coats or areas most prone to mud and dirt.

Proper Nutrition

Healthy coats come from healthy nutrition. A diet rich in nutrients helps thwart premature aging of hair follicles and hair loss.

1. Be sure your dog is eating food high in essential fatty acids Omega 3 and Omega 6. Most dog foods contain these nutrients, but your dog can also get them from eating supplements of salmon and flax seed.

2. Do not feed your dog more or less than he or she needs for good nutrition. Follow vet recommended serving sizes.

3. Give your dog plenty of opportunity to exercise outdoors for fresh air and sunlight.

For Your Home

Complete elimination of pet hair on furniture and clothing is virtually impossible if you have an inside dog. Nevertheless, there are ways to minimize the amount that gets on you and your things.

1. Block off areas where you do not want your dog to access.

2. Cover furniture with throw blankets or plastic sheets in areas where your dog typically likes to lie down.

3. Keep your dog contained while you are away and train him or her to stay off furniture and bedding.

4. Vacuum floors and furniture regularly using high suction tools.

5. Keep clothing behind closed closet doors until you are ready to wear them. Once on, avoid sitting in areas where dog hair may be present.

6. For clothing, try using a lint roller, dampened cloth, or rubber gloves to quickly remove stuck on hairs.

7. Change ventilation filters at least once a month and have vents cleaned once a year.

8. Buy clothing and furniture that are least likely to attract dog hair.