The dog hair dilemma!!!!

[activistamamacita]

Beloved family dog: Max, 4 year old short hair German Shepard with floppy ears, very well behaved, laid back. Child: 9 month old female crawling and eating machine.

The problem: the hair!!!! It is soooooo everywhere and impossible to keep up with. I sweep (hardwood floors) everyday and vacuum (couple area rugs) every other. He is brushed most everyday. But to no avail. It's like whatever I clean is instantly replaced! To make matters worse, I have started noticing a large amount of dog hair mixed throughout her poo. It makes my stomach turn and I can't even imagine how much hair she is ingesting.

I have suggested we get a bed for him and hope that he will take to it, but dh doesn't think it will work. I can't imagine relegating him to one area of the house because he is such a part of the family and dd loves him.

I'm looking for tips, what worked for you, advice, etc. Getting rid of the dog is not an option at this point.

I'm so sad and frustrated by this, I'm almost crying right now.

Thanks for any help.

[nd_deadhead]

Is the hair a new thing, or is it just bothering you more now because your dd is mobile and crawling around in it?

If Max suddenly sheds a lot more than normal, I'd have him checked out by a vet.

Our Corgi is double-coated, like a GSD, and he blows his coat a couple of times a year, which results in massive shedding for a few days. Even on a good day, he can shed a lot (more than our lab, who was twice as big!). I have found that brushing even once or twice a week helps a LOT.

I wish I could be more helpful - good luck!

[Mom2M]

I know what you mean, I have a large, shedding dog and an 8 month old!
However, we have carpet and I think it holds the hair down better and makes it easier to control with the vacuum.
We got a vacuum that is especially designed for pet hair and she does get some hair in her mouth when I don't catch her in time (why do they like to eat it??)
Maybe you could temporarily put down more carpet.
ugh, it is a problem!

[lonegirl]

I have 2 shedding cats and I work in a veterinary hospital....We always have hair on the floors/furniture....everywhere. I grew up with pets and am sure eating pet hairs wont do any serious damage
That said...daily brushing may help control it. Do not over bathe though as this can dry out the skin and exacerbate the problem.
Invest in a Swiffer

[PuppyFluffer]

Try a Furminator tool. It's a deshedding device. Take dog outside and brush away. It really does remove a huge amount of coat. You have to be careful with it not to scratch the dog's skin - don't run it over the same area repeatedly. Carefully used, it is an amazing help in dealing with hair.

[activistamamacita]

Thanks everyone! I think I will try that furminator tool, but I guess I just have to learn to be okay with the fur. I am so not a dirt is dirty mom either, but when I saw the hair in her dirty diaper, I just....yeccchhhh!

[PuppyFluffer]

I meant to tell you, the Furminator tool is available retail at large pet stores but it's an expensive tool! You can order it from some online suppliers for a lot less. I'll PM you with a few choices.

[lifeguard]

We have a german shephard mix who sheds constantly as well but she tends to really blow her coat 2-3 times a year. Last year we discovered that our local petsmart has a "furminator" package. I don't truly know what they do but it is incredible. They can get her from that thick, bulky, wool like fur that comes out in clumps to a thin, run your fingers through it fur. Well worth the cost.

That said, I found the crawling stage to be frustrating for the fur but now that ds is walking (& has been for some time) it's no longer that much of an issue.

[zebra15]

Another vote for the 'furminator' Either purchase the tool or get it done at the groomers.

[nd_deadhead]

Another Furminator vote here! I was shocked at how much it cost, but a coworker swore by it. I brushed my dog (a double-coated Corgi) with his old brush, and again with the Furminator, and it was unbelievable how much more hair I got!

[HappyMommy2]

Originally Posted by PuppyFluffer

I meant to tell you, the Furminator tool is available retail at large pet stores but it's an expensive tool! You can order it from some online suppliers for a lot less. I'll PM you with a few choices.

Please PM me with the online stores that have it cheaper. My DH has wanted this for awhile (he does the vacuuming and we have a yellow lab). I have been reluctant due to the price!

I also chickened out at the groomers! The regular bathing/brushing
was $26 and the furminator was $55. Yikes!

[lonegirl]

Originally Posted by HappyMommy2

Please PM me with the online stores that have it cheaper. My DH has wanted this for awhile (he does the vacuuming and we have a yellow lab). I have been reluctant due to the price!

I also chickened out at the groomers! The regular bathing/brushing
was $26 and the furminator was $55. Yikes!

I have to say that isn't that bad a deal....Our groomer (at the clinic) charges $55ish for a standard groom.

[Doodlebugsmom]

Another vote for the Furminator. It did wonders for our husky/lab mix. We got the treatment done at the groomer's as well, and it was worth every penny!

[azdesertrn]

WE love the furminator here too. I use it on both our cats and dogs. (I use the dog size on both) When I was buying it, the cheapest price was at Amazon.com, but I haven't checked recently.

[*Eva*]

Check out ebay for the furminator. I got a large one for $14 including shipping.

[Mom2M]

ok, I am getting one of these!!
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss...160_505&fsc=-1