If this question revolves around your head, then hear it from us – Yes! Mixed-breed canines do shed.
But how often and how heavily the fur will waft off your furry baby onto the floor and furniture largely depends on the gene pool your mixed-breed puppy draws from. It is worth noting that designer dogs are different from mixed-breed dogs.
A mixed breed pup’s DNA profile is a combination of genes of various breeds. This is precisely why dog DNA kits are so prevalent in pet households, and owners would want to know the health conditions they should be watching for in the long term. Some breeds are more prone to certain conditions than others.
This makes it all the more important to have a medical financial backup in terms of pet health insurance. Consider buying puppy insurance, as pet insurance cost can be more bearable than surprising vet bills during distressing health situations and emergencies.
Contemplate purchasing a policy to keep your pooch’s health guarded. Meanwhile, read this article to learn about shedding in mixed-breed dogs.
Shedding in mixed-breed dogs
It is easy to predict the physical traits and characteristics of designer breeds because they are a combination of only two purebreds. Also, qualities like friendliness, general temperament, and non-shedding in a designer pup can be forecasted based on the known percent. This is one reason why “Labradoodles”, “Shepa doodles”, and “Goldendoodles” are a rage these days; you can visit a dog park to believe it.
An “Oodle” or “Poo” should give you a hint that it is a designer pup potentially selected for its non-shedding quality. However, it hardly means that your standard mixed-breed mutt can’t be low shedding. The non-shedding gene in Poodles is also found in some Terriers and many small dog breed lines like Maltese, Lhasa Apso, and Bichon Frise.
Note that if a fur baby has low- or non-shedding variants of the MC5R gene in its DNA, then it is likely that the house remains fur-free. For instance, consider the mixed breed “Schnoodle” dog; its physical characteristics may say it is much beyond the parent breeds “Schnauzer” and “Poodle,” and its offsprings can be non-shedding due to the dominant low shed gene in the DNA.
Similarly, the genes of heavy-shedder dogs can be passed on to further generations when crossed. For instance, if a dog is crossed with a German Shepherd, Husky, Labrador, and Newfoundland, their offsprings will most likely have thick coats. In a case like this, the owners should brush the fur at least once or twice a week and take their pet to the groomers when seasons change, to help them de-shed.
However, know that apart from dogs with a double coat, smaller dogs like Beagles, Pugs, Dalmatians, and Dobermans can leave a trail of hair inside the house. If you find shedding very concerning, consider choosing a mixed-breed dog with Poodle or Terrier in its lineage. This way, you have less hair to deal with.
While shedding can be normal, it can be due to physical health issues as well. If you suspect something is wrong with your canine’s health, take it for a vet consultation immediately. Pet health insurance should help you manage unanticipated vet bills for covered health conditions and emergencies, so consider inquiring about pet insurance cost and buying a policy. You would want to see your pupper on the winning side of health, don’t you?