Why Your Dog Is Shedding More This Autumn (and What to Do About It)

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Every autumn, dog owners across the UK find themselves doing one of two things: vacuuming constantly, or wondering whether their dog is actually unwell. Clumps of fur on the sofa. Hair on your jumper before you have even sat down. A brush that fills up in three strokes.

You are not imagining it. Autumn is one of the two peak shedding seasons for dogs, alongside spring. And understanding why it happens makes it a lot easier to manage.

Why dogs shed more in autumn

Dogs with double coats, which includes breeds like Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Spaniels, German Shepherds, and Huskies, go through what is called a coat blow twice a year. In autumn, they shed their lighter summer coat to make way for a thicker, denser winter undercoat. In spring, that winter coat comes out to make way for something lighter.

The trigger is daylight hours rather than temperature. As the days shorten in September and October, your dog's body reads the change in light and kicks off the process. It is completely natural, completely normal, and entirely unstoppable. The only question is how you manage it.

How often should you brush during shedding season?

For double-coated breeds at peak blow, daily brushing is not excessive. It is just the reality of the season. The loose undercoat needs somewhere to go, and if you do not brush it out, it either ends up on your furniture or it mats against the skin, which can cause irritation and discomfort.

A good deshedding brush or an undercoat rake will reach the loose fur that a regular brush simply cannot. Start from the back of the neck and work methodically toward the tail, going in the direction of the coat. Short, focused sessions of 10 to 15 minutes are more effective than one long session your dog resents.

For single-coated or low-shed breeds, a thorough brush once or twice a week during autumn is plenty. The shedding is less dramatic, but the loose hair still builds up and still benefits from being removed regularly.

Should you bathe your dog more during shedding season?

A bath at the start of shedding season can actually help. Warm water loosens the undercoat and allows more of it to come out in one go, rather than trickling out for weeks. Follow the bath with a thorough blow-dry and brush session and you will shift a significant amount of loose fur in one afternoon.

After that, stick to your usual bathing schedule, around every 4 to 6 weeks. Over-bathing during shedding season can dry out the skin and coat, which makes things worse. A good mousse shampoo that rinses clean easily is especially practical when you are dealing with high fur volumes, because there is less handling time in the bath overall.

Top tips for managing autumn shedding at home

When does shedding become something to worry about?

Seasonal shedding is heavy but even. The coat thins uniformly across the body. If you notice patchy hair loss, bald spots, excessive scratching, red or flaky skin, or a coat that looks dull and feels brittle, that is a different story. Those signs can indicate allergies, thyroid issues, or a skin condition and are worth a vet visit rather than just an extra brush session.

Autumn shedding is one of those things that becomes much easier to live with once you have the right tools and a simple routine. A good brush, a gentle shampoo, and a little consistency are genuinely all it takes.