Hello my name is Steph

[Stephanie Mclean]

New Member.I'm wondering what I can do about my corgi's shedding

[Michael Romanos]

Hi Steph
First up, is your Corgis coat healthy? If your Corgi is a veteran then he/she is likely to shed more coat and more often. Do you live in a warm to hot climate because this affects coat shedding ie the hotter the climate the more a Corgi sheds. Is your Corgi extra heavy coated.

Normally, Corgis shed in abundance twice yearly but this can vary and in other times it can be a constant flow of loose hair or almost zilth.

There are a few things you can do. Groom your Corgi daily for around five minutes - using a steel comb with narrow teeth and then a hard brush and finishing off with another comb down. Bath your Corgi monthly or every three-four weeks. Use good quality shampoo. If your Corgi swims in salt water, always give him/her a fresh water soak down as soon as possible following the sea water swimming.

If you can get your Corgi comfortable with hairdryers and vacuum cleaners then a hairdryer giving out mildly warm heat will of course be much quicker in drying your Corgi after a bath, and the vacuum cleaner will be effective for taking loose hairs straight from your Corgi's coat .

On the amusing side - buy carpet that matches your Corgis coat and then loose Corgi hair and the matting will blend in. Gather up all the loose hair and bag for a couple of years and you or someone you commission will be able to make a garment out of it - and believe me Corgi hair garments are fantastic and they are a terrific personal reminder of your Corgi.

[Stephanie Mclean]

Thank you Michael.I'll try some of these tips.I hope something will work.I just got my Corgi on Sunday so it's all new.

[tandemgal]

Hi Stephanie,

There isn't a lot you can do about shedding except like Michael said about brushing. I tried a liquid that says it reduces shedding but I didn't see a difference. Sometimes I wonder how Emma can have any hair left - after she blows her coat in the spring and we brush for a week non-stop LOL The birds love having her around when they start building their nests.

I don't let Emma on the furniture or bed - too much hair! She is very content sleeping under my side of the bed. I just say "nite nite Em" and off she runs to the bedroom.

If you are just getting started I would also suggest a crate for her to stay in while your gone. It is also a "safe cave" for a puppy to feel comfy. Em has a crate - we took it down a little while back for more room but if you have the space check into it. Also during the potty training times it's great - your puppy wont go in her crate. Gives you a little more control over that at night ;-)

[Michael Romanos]

Hi again
There are a couple of things I missed saying. A hydro bath is marvellous for ridding Corgis of loose hair. Trouble is a hydro bath costs about $70 at a grooming salon in the USA. ( I have seen a NZ$18 and another at NZ$40 fee for a hydro bath in NZ - so I suppose fees will vary in the USA as well. It will probably pay in the long run to buy your own equipment if you want to go to that expense.

If Corgis are confined mostly inside a house they are certainly going to shed more coat more often than in being mainly outside. I would most definitely recommend a compromise in this regard as my Corgis are part of the family and inside is mostly where the family is.

Like T-gal, my Corgis have never been allowed on my couches or the master bed for similiar reasons.

[Jhemphill]

We have two shedders at our house our Pem Maximus and an American Bulldog Medjai. They both have the run of the house, they sleep and lay on anything they want. We brush both of them but there is still hair. We have come to the conclusion that we will just have to vaccume more often and keep a lint brush handy for clothes. We do have a cover on the couch which keeps the hair off the couch, but it is mainly there so that the American Bulldog's nail do not tear the fabric. We really do not mind the fur, it remindes us of them evertime we see it.

[Jane Austen]

What do I look for in a "good" shampoo? Other than a brand name product I am not sure.

[Michael Romanos]

Hi Jane
Ah, looking for a good, quality shampoo for Duchess. It's tricky because if you ask a retailer (pet shop etc) they might sell you a dud - one that gives them the biggest profit margin or some old stock or just something fairly useless and actually damaging to a Corgis coat.

So you have to ask people in the know. People who spend heaps on their dogs to get the best results possible - people who have top quality confoirmation show dogs. Of course, some shampoos are designed for certain results - eg eradicating ticks and mites; coat gloss or gleam etc

Of course no one would ever use shampoo for humans on a dog.

Here are the top shampoos recommended to me (some if not all would be available in the USA): All Systems ( at top of list for sure), Lambert King (includes a range of shampoos. I use Grass Roots), Rings 5, Winners Circle.

[darci]

I have heard people raving about Plush Puppy, I havent tried it yet though.