I didn’t forget the shedding….it’s typically caused by dry skin. This time of year, lots of doodles spend time in the water with their humans. It’s lots of fun for the entire family and I’m not suggesting a change in activities, simply a suggestion that you address the dry skin caused by lot of baths and swimming. Always wash off all salt or chlorinated water when the swimming is over, additionally, you need to make sure you’re supplementing his diet with the extra oils and enzymes mentioned above.
All doodles are going to shed their puppy coat as their adult hair comes in, typically around 7 months. This is a good time for a haircut and a daily brushing. In the 3 1/2 years we’ve had Winston in the house we’ve never found a hair on the floor. My doodle isn’t any different than yours, but I do follow a routine that keeps him from shedding.
I keep his coat trimmed the same length all over – I do this by clipping him 3-4 times a year. Between haircuts I brush him (maybe) once a week. Baths are about every 3 weeks – basically whenever he begins to smell “doggy”. He gets Prozyme and fish oil daily all year. If he wanders to the river or creek, he gets a three day treatment with Panacur because protozoa are in the water that runs through the neighbor’s fields and it will cause intestinal upset in addition to hair loss.
I try to tell everyone that all dogs shed if you allow their hair to get to it’s full length. It’s like our eyelashes, it will come out. Unlike a purebred retriever or spaniel that is constantly shedding, the doodles typically don’t shed their hair until it reaches it’s full length. People that allow their doodle’s hair to grow, or leave a long tail with a shaved body (gasp!) understand that long hair will find it’s way to the floor – it’s a choice. If, however, you’re following the same protocol I follow with Winston and you still have shedding – send me a photo with an email and I’m happy to discus possible remedies.