If you want to bring a pitbull into the home and want to know more about its shedding habits, you’ve come to the right place. Do Pitbulls shed? The short answer is yes, pitbulls shed quite a substantial amount of hair. This is not good news if you have allergies, but if your home is allergy free, shedding shouldn’t put you off getting one of these incredible dogs.
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For many years pitbulls were incorrectly labeled as being dangerous, an unfair description that people now recognize as being wrong. The reason for this misconception dates back to the origin of the pitbull.
Early pitbull breeds came from the Old English bulldog, which has similar features to today’s American Pitbull Terrier. Around the early 19th Century, there was a common bloodsport known as bull baiting.
This grim sport saw two bulldogs bother, bit, and harass a bull until it collapsed or succumbed to its injuries. The sport was soon outlawed, which gave rise to a different sport called ratting.
Dogs would compete against each other to see who could kill the rats in the quickest time. Owners would aim to breed the perfect dog for this gruesome sport. The ‘pit’ in its name, is there because of the pit in which the rats were placed.
The origin of the pitbull made many assume that it was aggressive, but this isn’t the case at all in the modern day.
Now, back to shedding. Pitbulls shed a lot, and they are considered moderate shedders. This dog’s coat is short and smooth, with small, bristly hairs. Pitbulls have a single coat, protecting the muscular body below.
As you may know, double-coated dogs blow their coat twice a year, losing the undercoat ahead of warmer or cooler seasons. Single-coated dog breeds like the pitbull, on the other hand, do not have a shedding season.
Pitbulls will shed loose hair throughout the year, and the volume of fur they lose is consistent regardless of the season. There are 4 types of pitbulls, and there is very little difference between each’s shedding habits. These are:
No matter which of these pitbull types you are considering, the shedding behavior will be moderate, year-round, and consistent.
A pitbull with a healthy coat and balanced lifestyle will shed its shot hairs, to make way for stronger and healthier hair. This process is the same in all dog breeds, as they naturally get rid of damaged and dead hairs, to grow a stronger coat.
The dog’s coat helps to regulate body temperature and protect the skin from the sun’s rays. The coat must be in top condition, to provide this protection.
Pitbulls will also shed their coat when they are puppies, making way for the stronger, adult coat that they will have for the rest of their lives. The only other time that a healthy pitbull will shed more, is after the female has weaned the litter. This is a natural process most dogs go through.
Excessive shedding outside of these events is a cause for concern. Pitbull owners will need to know how much fur is too much so that they can take appropriate action. Physical ailments and emotional anguish can result in increased shedding.
Any would-be pitbull owner needs to understand what could cause an increase in shedding.
The key to reducing how much fur the pitbull sheds is focusing on giving the pitbull the healthiest lifestyle possible. Beyond serious medical conditions, the dog’s health comes down to the owner.
Any pitbull shedding more than it should most likely have an issue that could have been easily avoided. This is not to say that everything is in the owner’s control of course. As long as they know what the pitbull needs for a healthy lifestyle, and deliver it, they can expect to reduce their dog’s shedding levels.
Several health conditions could increase the amount of dog hair around the home. These include:
If you do begin to notice increased levels of dog fur, it could be one of these issues. Some of these conditions cannot be prevented.
Keeping the dog healthy, however, will ensure that they have a strong immune system. This reduces the risk of infections, and the body’s response to them, such as excessive shedding.
A poor diet is bad for your pitbull on so many levels. This can lead to nutritional deficiencies, weight loss or gain, low cell production, and poor organ function. And the symptom that all of these problems have in common? You’ve guessed it, increased shedding.
Pitbulls like the Staffordshire Bull Terrier require a slightly different diet than other dogs, especially pups. Most dogs should avoid carbs, as their bodies don’t have much of a dietary requirement for them. Pitbulls are different, they’ll need a diet made up of 40-45% carbs when pups, and 40% as adults.
These should be complex carbohydrates, as found in vegetables, lentils, and cereals. Any dog owner should seek to use natural ingredients when feeding their dogs, and pitbulls benefit from an all-natural diet.
To keep the pitbull’s coat looking good, the rest of its diet should contain the following:
Dog breeds like pitbulls can comfortably make a switch to a raw-food diet, without it upsetting them too much. Whether you opt for raw or wet food, ensuring that you give feed pitbull breeds high-quality dog food is essential. This will keep the dog’s skin and coat in good health, and reduce shedding too.
Pitbulls like the American Staffordshire Terrier are strong, and energetic and have a great gas tank on them. For this reason, owners need to ensure that the dog gets at least 1-2 hours of exercise each day.
Exercise is great for the body and the mind, and can reduce shedding around the home. Dogs like the pitbull have a real sense of duty to protect their owners. Because of this, they are always alert, and somewhat anxious. As this stress and anxiety build, dogs shed more hair.
When exercising, pitbulls can burn off this anxiety, improving their emotional well-being. Pitbulls shed less when they can run around, play with other dogs and burn calories.
As a bonus, the dog will shed its short hair as it runs around, meaning less cleaning up for the owners.
These dogs do a great job at keeping clean. Pitbull shedding helps to keep the coat strong and healthy, the natural oils in the coat repel moisture and dirt, and they gleefully use their tongue to stay hygienic.
Given this natural approach to staying clean, single-coated dogs don’t need much help from us. Regular grooming will be needed, and a monthly wash will be enough to keep them clean and reduce any excess shedding.
The biggest issue with how pit bulls shed is the type of hair that they drop on the floor. This short hair can get into just about every nook and cranny if you let it. Owners need to have a solid plan in place to take care of where the dog hair falls, and how they clean it up.
Before looking to bring an American Pitbull Terrier into the home, you’ll need some tools and a plan to manage all that shedding.
Start getting to know that vacuum cleaner, as you’ll be spending a lot of time with it when you’ve got a pitbull. Keep an eye out for HEPA vacuums, as these are the best option to cope with large quantities of dog hair.
Pet hair on clothing doesn’t look good, so be sure to invest in a pet hair lint roller. These rollers use layers of adhesive strips to pull loose hair and fur off your clothing. Pet rollers can be used on soft furnishings too, and are great for pulling excess hair off cushions and sofas.
A pet hair removal tool is a handy gadget too. This is the best option for grabbing all of that short pitbull hair away from sofas. These short hairs can soon dig into the fabric, becoming very difficult to remove. This tool uses a little strip of rubber to collect those tiny hairs, clumping them together for easy cleaning.
The best way to minimize shedding around the home is to create no-go zones in the home. Pitbulls shed wherever they go, so it makes no sense to have them up on the sofa or your bed.
Zoning off areas of the home can be done with gates, or simply through training the dog. It is important to note, that dogs should have a nice setup in the rooms where they are allowed to be.
Pitbulls love to have their own bed and area, and this will encourage them not to break the rules.
Daily Event
If you have a dog like an American Pitbull Terrier at home, it will require lots of your time. Not only will owners have to invest time exercising the dog, but also cleaning up after them.
If pitbull owners do a little cleaning each day, the job will be swift and easy. Allow hair to build up for a couple of days, however, and it becomes a greater challenge. If possible, keep the pitbull outside in a yard or garden on sunny days, to reduce shedding in the home.
For your pitbull grooming is something that they will enjoy. For owners, it is a good way of getting rid of loose fur and managing where that happens. Owners can also use this time to give their pitbull the once over.
Any health conditions such as dry skin, injuries, or infections, are usually picked up during a grooming session.
Brush the dog every day to keep that coat nice and shiny. A pin brush is best here, given how thin the pitbull’s coat is. Unlike with a double-coated dog, you won’t need to brush too deeply into the pitbull’s fur when grooming.
Brush in a circular motion to help with blood circulation, and to evenly distribute the dog’s natural oils. Pitbulls shed as they are groomed, so be sure to have that vacuum cleaner handy.
Bathing once a month will be enough, you could leave it for up to 3 months, and that single-layer coat will still be pretty clean. Brushing pitbull coats is more important than washing them, helping to remove dirt and spot any skin problems.
When bathing, use natural dog shampoo, and not human shampoo. These dogs have sensitive skin, and the chemicals in human shampoo can cause skin irritation. Pitbulls are very strong, so washing the dog can be a challenge. Our advice would be to do it outside.
If you own a pitbull, shedding is part and parcel of looking after it. Once you have the right tools and a good system in place, you can manage it without much hassle. All dog breeds shed hair throughout the year. Few, however, can offer the same level of protection, loyalty, love, and intelligence that a pitbull can.
This is a dog breed that is happy inside or outside. Given the size and strength of the dog, keeping them in a small home or apartment may not be wise.
Pitbulls are surprisingly affectionate, much more so than other dog breeds of their size.
No, Pitbulls are not hypoallergenic, because of their shedding habits. Hypoallergenic dogs shed minimal hair and dander, and that is why
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