Both Australian Kelpies and all other Kelpie breed offshoots are considered to be low maintenance despite being moderate shedders. Excessive shedding is a significant factor you’ve got to consider when choosing a new dog, especially if you like to keep your house clean.
Will owning an Australian Kelpie require you to vacuum more frequently? Read on to find out!
Australian Kelpie dogs shed quite a lot for a shorthaired dog. They’re constantly losing hair, which will stick to your carpet and furniture if you neglect to groom your pup regularly. Still, given that they’re medium-sized and only have short hair, you won’t notice the shedding as much as you would from a large, long-haired dog.
However, no matter how much you groom them, you’ll still find excess dog hair lying around, which may increase your hoovering frequency.
A Kelpie will grow a thicker outer coat for the winter to keep warm. Come spring, Kelpies shed hair heavily. In the lead-up to summer, you may find your Australian Kelpie shedding excessively. Throughout this period, you’ll most likely have to increase your grooming to around twice per week – potentially even more!
There is no evidence to suggest that Kelpie puppies shed any more than adult Kelpies. Throughout puppyhood, grooming your Australian Kelpie dog once per week should still suffice.
Like some dogs, the appearance of a Kelpie dog may change slightly as they grow into adulthood. During maturity, they may shed more than usual as they get rid of their puppy hair.
Despite being short-coated, the hair on a Kelpie dog serves many functions. Specifically, Kelpies have a double coat. The undercoat is a lot denser than the outer, which provides them with warmth and also protects them from the harsh summer heat of Australia.
On the other hand, the outer coat is thin, with each hair lying straight and flat. This style of outercoat and hair allows rainwater to run off the dog breed, meaning their hair is somewhat water-resistant! The reason that Kelpie dogs shed hair so much is due to this double coat – particularly the thick inner coat.
Despite the level of shedding, the coats found in this naturally healthy breed will remain mostly the same throughout their lives, particularly in terms of colour. A Kelpie’s coat will come in a chocolate, red, or black coat. Some hairs of a Kelpie can also appear as a slightly different shade, such as red or fawn, which gives the dog’s coat some streaks.
Australian Kelpies need to be groomed regularly like all dog breeds to minimise shedding. However, there are some other steps you could take to keep your Kelpie from shedding excessively.
Brushing is the best way to remove dead hair from your Kelpie’s coat and should be done at least once weekly. However, you may find your dog requires more than this, particularly during grooming season in the spring. Use a standard dog brush and aim to brush for around 10 minutes.
Although Kelpies aren’t particularly fond of water, giving these high-shedding dogs a regular bath will reduce the amount of hair lying around your house.
The water will also loosen up dead hairs, so it’s a good idea to brush them directly after washing them to catch all of them.
Given the amount of hair that Australian Kelpies shed, finding loose hair on your furniture or stuck to your carpet is unavoidable. So, if you’re considering getting a Kelpie, getting a good-quality hoover is also necessary.
If you suffer from pet dog allergies, a Kelpie dog would not be a good option. Despite being such a shorthaired dog, Kelpies shed a lot and can trigger allergies year-round. Therefore, Kelpies cannot be considered a hypoallergenic dog breed.
Kelpie dogs shed hair – it’s unavoidable! Although otherwise low maintenance, a grooming schedule does need to be set up for all Kelpie dogs. Still, grooming a Kelpie dog doesn’t need to be a chore; they’re an obedient breed, and you could turn weekly brush time into a fun bonding experience.
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