Long story shortโleft my dog at the groomer, and asked him to give Fido a killer cut, and what did I pick upโa shaved dogโARGH!
My groomer says that shaving my dogโs hair can make it grow back faster and thicker, but this is far from true!
Your dogโs coat is perhaps its most identifiable characteristic! Whether itโs long, short, silky, or scruffy, every Fido is covered with hair or fur.
If youโre wondering how long will it take for my dogโs hair or fur to grow back, the short answer is it depends on its breed, age, and diet, but generally takes a couple of weeks after it’s shaved.
Keep Reading to Find Out About:
- 1 Dog Breeds and Dog Hair Growth
- 2 How Does Age Affect Dog Hair Growth?
- 3 How Does Dog Food Affect Dog Hair Growth?
- 4 How Fast Does Dog Hair Grow Back After Being Shaved?
- 5 Does Shaving Dog Hair Make It Grow Faster? ย
- 6 Reasons You Shouldn’t Shave Your Dog
- 7 How Can I Make My Dogโs Hair Grow Back Faster?
- 7.1 1. Create a Feeding Program
- 7.2 Diamond Naturals Skin & Coat
- 7.3 Blue Buffalo Wilderness Wet Dog Food
- 7.4 Purina Pro Plan
- 7.5 2. Add Supplements to Dogโs Diet
- 7.6 Doggie Dailies Joint Supplements
- 7.7 Shed-X Dermaplex Liquid Daily Supplement
- 7.8 Nordic Naturals Special Dog Formula
- 7.9 Nutramax Laboratories Welactin
- 7.10 Natural Dog Company Coat Supplement
- 7.11 3. Regular Brushing or Combing
- 7.12 Pet Bull Professional Pet Grooming Kit
- 7.13 Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush
- 7.14 Pet Neat Pet Grooming Brush
- 7.15 4. Oatmeal Skin Treatment
- 7.16 Burt’s Bees Puppy Shampoo & Conditioner
- 7.17 Wahl Dry Pet Shampoo for Dogs
- 7.18 Pet Oatmeal Shampoo & Conditioner
- 7.19 Are Keratin Shampoos Good for Dog Hair Growth?
- 7.20 Donโt Miss Our Related Article – “How to Pick the Right Shampoo for Your Dogโs Coat?”
- 7.21 CHI Keratin Reconstructing Shampoo, 12 Fl Oz
- 8 Final Thoughts
- 9 Sources:
Dog Breeds and Dog Hair Growth
All dogs, regardless of their breed have the same hair growth cycle, which is divided into four stagesโanagen, catagen, telogen, and exogen.
- Anagen โ during this initial stage, your dogโs hair is actively growing. Your dogโs hair grows the fastest during this stage of new hair growth until it reaches its genetically determined length.
- Catagen โ the catagen stage is also regarded as the transition stage, and is where your dogโs hair follicles cease to create new hair growth.
- Telogen โ the telogen stage or the resting phase is a time of no new hair growth, but the hairs in this stage are still attached to the hair follicle.
- Exogen โ this is the stage where your dogโs hairs reach the end of their lifecycle, and shed, and the follicles begin transitioning back to the anagen phase.
Even though all dog breeds go through the same hair growth cycle, their hair does not grow at the same rate.
For example, short-haired breeds such as French bulldogs will grow their hair back to normal length faster than long-haired breeds like Afghan hounds.
How Does Age Affect Dog Hair Growth?
Just like people change as they get older, so do dogs, and one of the most noticeable changes is in their hair growth rate.
Older dog coats may also be thinner than younger dogs, mostly because theyโve developed alopecia or hypotrichosis (thin coat). In this case, the dogโs hair will not grow back quickly, and may even cause bald spots.
How Does Dog Food Affect Dog Hair Growth?
Your dogโs skin is the largest organ of its body. The skin of most dog breeds is covered with hair, which is being shed regularly, or is growing constantly in non-shedding dog breeds.
In order to keep your dogโs hair in a healthy condition, it requires a well-balanced diet that contains:
- High-quality digestible carbohydrates
- Proteins
- Fats
- Minerals
- Vitamins
A dog with a poor diet that doesnโt meet his needs will often shed excessively and have a dull, dry coat.
If you notice these symptoms in your dog, itโs best to get in touch with a vet for advice on the perfect diet that is right for your dog.
How Fast Does Dog Hair Grow Back After Being Shaved?
Barring any medical condition, your dogโs fur should grow back quickly at about half an inch per month. But the speed at which your dogโs hair will grow back depends on your dog, the season, and how closely it was shaved.
If your dog has been shaved, it should start to look fluffy again in a couple of weeks, and be fully coated with hair in a few months.
But while Fidoโs hair is growing back, you should keep an eye out for sunburn, and tuck him up in a sweater when the weather turns cold.
If youโre going to take your furry friend out and about with next to no hair, it’s recommended that you apply a safe sun protector spray to protect its skin from the harmful rays of the sun.
Emmyโs Best Pet Products Dog Sun Skin Protector Spray – Safe for All Breeds with No Zinc Oxide – Pet Protection and Moisturizer for Skin, Coat, Nose, Ears – Non-Greasy, Soothing
Itโs also worth mentioning that some dog breeds such as Pomeranians have two coats of fur โ one fluffy, long and soft, and another shorter undercoat.
Both the undercoat and topcoat grow at different rates, so you may feel itโs growing back weird, but give it some time, and the two coats will eventually be the same size.
| Dog Breed | Hair Growth After Shaving |
|---|---|
| Retrievers (Labrador) | 14.6 weeks to 15.4 weeks |
| German Shepherd | 4 to 6 months |
| Retrievers (Golden) | 3 to 4 months |
| French Bulldogs | |
| Bulldogs | 4 to 6 months |
| Poodles | Up to 24 months |
| Beagles | 2 to 3 months |
| Rottweilers | 2 to 3.5 months |
| Pembroke Welsh Corgis | 3 to 4 months |
| Dachshunds | Few Weeks to 3 months (single coated dog) 6 months+ (double coated dog) |
| Yorkshire Terriers | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Australian Shepherds | Less than 6 months |
| Boxers | 4 to 6 months |
| Siberian Huskies | 2 to 3 months |
| Great Danes | 1 to 2 months |
Does Shaving Dog Hair Make It Grow Faster? ย
The roots of this myth may be tied to the fact that dog hair looks different at first compared to regrowth, partly because it hasnโt been exposed to natural elements โ sun, dog soaps, dog shampoos, and other chemicals. Just like taping dog ears, shaving a dog’s coat is often also done for aesthetic purposes.
But whether hot or cold, dog coats serve as protection from the weather, and need a fair bit of upkeep including cleaning, conditioning, brushing, combing, and most importantly regular de-shedding.
Donโt Miss Our Related Article – “How to Deshed Dog at Home?”
Despite preconceived notions, shaving your dog greatly reduces the insulating effect, and exposes it to the sunโs harmful rays, which in worse cases can permanently damage the hair, causing it to grow back too fluffy, coarse, thin, and/or patchy.
If you shave your dogโs hair, there are a few things that can happen:
- It may end up shedding more hair than theyโre used to.
- Can cause skin irritation caused by the chemical and abrasive shavings.
- Can develop spots of alopecia โ also known as spot baldness, a condition in which hair is lost from some or all areas of the body, especially seen in dogs who are shaved frequently.
Your Best Friendโs coat is natural to him, and is a vital part of the dog youโve grown to love!
Dogs have denser hair and much thinner skin than you and I do, therefore donโt have the same natural coat protection when shaved, regardless of the season of the year.
Another big reason to refrain from shaving your dogโs hair is the fact that some breeds have thin hair naturally, whereas others may require regular grooming.
And how do you think your dog would feel if you told him that youโre about to shave his hair? Not very happy โ I bet!
Reasons You Shouldn’t Shave Your Dog
There are several different types of canine coat categories, but in a general breakdown boils down to two coat typesโsingle coat and double coat.
| Single Coat | Double Coat |
|---|---|
| Dog breeds with only top (or over) coat that grows all over the body with no different undercoat. Single coat dog breeds include Silky Terriers, Poodles, and Bichons. | Dog breeds with a double coat have a top (or over) coat made of tougher guard hairs and a bottom or (under) coat that is thick and soft.Double coat dog breeds include Pomeranians, Shetland Sheepdogs, Siberian Huskies, and Samoyeds. |
| Single coat dog breeds can be shaven, and the only thing that can happen is the coat can become softer or it may have a slight colour change. | Double coated dogs need to be groomed by brushing throughout the year but most heavily done in the spring when a major shedding period occurs. |
| Single coated dogs should not be shaved right down, especaially in the summer, as doing so may expose them to the possibility of sunburn. | Shaving a double coated dog may not keep it cool even if it is out of the sun. The top coat of double coated dogs helps keep the heat off the dog's skin, and unlike people, dogs do not sweat through their skin |
| Since there is just one coat, the hair of single coat dogs grows back normally and even after a shaving. | If you do shave a double coated dog, and when the hair grows back, strange things can occur such as patches that donโt grow at all, and donโt grow both types of coat layers. Dogs with patches of no hair generally appear as though they have thyroid issues. |
How Can I Make My Dogโs Hair Grow Back Faster?
Whether youโve shaved your dog or he has a condition thatโs causing hair loss, you may be running out of patience waiting for his coat to grow.
But thereโs good newsโthere are several ways to make your dogโs hair grow back faster and healthier.
1. Create a Feeding Program
Proper nutrition is very important for your furry friend, so make sure you read the labels first, and look for foods that are high in proteins, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, because theyโre important for the growth of his hair and muscles.
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If your dog doesnโt get adequate proteins through its diet, the hair of your dog will dry out, and lose its sheen.
Food Options for Dog Hair Growth
Diamond Naturals Skin & Coat
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Wet Dog Food
Purina Pro Plan
2. Add Supplements to Dogโs Diet
Speak to your vet about adding supplements to your dogโs diet.
Supplements such as omega-3 and omega-6 can reduce the inflammation of the skin, resulting in healthier longer hair. They also reduce hair loss by preventing your dog from scratching.
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There are many herbs and vitamins available to accelerate hair growth in your dog. These herbs and vitamins can work in one of two different waysโeither they nourish the hair directly or support other functions that ultimately help hair grow.
Supplement Options for Dog Hair Growth
Doggie Dailies Joint Supplements
Shed-X Dermaplex Liquid Daily Supplement
Nordic Naturals Special Dog Formula
Nutramax Laboratories Welactin
Natural Dog Company Coat Supplement
3. Regular Brushing or Combing
Brushing Options for Dog Hair Growth
Regularly brushing or combing your dogโs hair doesnโt only make it look neat and tidy, but also affects the growth of new hair.
Brushing your dogโs hair gets rid of the dirt and debris, and the dead hair, while simultaneously spreading natural oils across its coat, which helps stimulate hair growth.
Plus, brushing your dog daily also helps it relax, and feel loved. But whether youโre brushing or combing your dogโs hair, you need to be gentle, and not apply too much pressure when its hair gets tangled.
Pet Bull Professional Pet Grooming Kit
Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush
Pet Neat Pet Grooming Brush
4. Oatmeal Skin Treatment
Oatmeal Options for Dog Hair Growth
Just like you and me shampoo our hair to nourish our hair and scalp, your dog needs a regular bath with a shampoo that contains natural formulations of oatmeal or tee tree oil.
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These topical ingredients offer several benefits for your dog, especially if itโs suffering from skin problems including moisturizing and soothing itchy skin.
Further, oatmeal dog shampoo also helps relieve symptoms of hot spots, allergies, dry skin, and flea and tick problems.
Burt’s Bees Puppy Shampoo & Conditioner
Wahl Dry Pet Shampoo for Dogs
Pet Oatmeal Shampoo & Conditioner
Are Keratin Shampoos Good for Dog Hair Growth?
Keratin treatment repairs damaged hair, strengthens weak hair, and also considerably improves the rate at which your Fidoโs hair or fur grows.
Donโt Miss Our Related Article – “How to Pick the Right Shampoo for Your Dogโs Coat?”
Keratin in the following products will penetrate and seal Fidoโs hair shaft to repair it, while increasing strength, resulting in glistening dog hair growth.
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Whether it’s dog hair or fur, you can apply a keratin treatment such as CHI for Dogs Keratin Shampoo to soften your dogโs coat, restore its shine, clean and hydrate, and remove dirt and debris.
Further, the CHI for Dogs Keratin Shampoo is paraben and sulfate-free, and is safe to use on all dog breeds, and dogs that are at least eight weeks old.
CHI Keratin Reconstructing Shampoo, 12 Fl Oz
Final Thoughts
Regardless of whatโs causing your dogโs hair loss, it will grow back eventually, and there are several ways to help your dog grow back its coat back faster and healthier.
But if you feel itโs one or more health issues that are causing your dogโs hair loss, then you should speak to your vet first before trying any of the aforementioned remedies to make your dogโs hair grow faster.
Sources:
http://blog.aspca.org/content/heat-wave-should-you-shave-your-pet
http://www.examiner.com/article/why-you-shouldn-t-shave-your-double-coated-dog
http://www.chetekvetclinic.com/groomingblog/postclippingalopecia.html
http://woof.doggyloot.com/truths-and-myths-about-shaving-dogs-with-double-coats/
http://blog.sergeants.com/2012/05/22/to-shave-or-not-to-shave/
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