Dog hair gets everywhere. Your clothes, your floor, your bedsheets—it even finds its way into your food on occasion!
For some people, shedding is a deal-breaker when deciding what dog to get; they either don’t like the hair, or they cannot commit to the grooming requirements.
So, what about Rottweilers? Do they shed a lot?
Rottweilers heavily shed twice a year, once in spring and once in fall. During these times, daily grooming minimizes the amount of hair dropped. Throughout the rest of the year, Rottweilers shed moderately, and once-a-week brushing is sufficient. Abnormal shedding can indicate a health problem.
Rottweilers can shed a lot, but only sometimes, and grooming is an excellent way of managing dropped dog hair.
In this article, we look at the shedding pattern of Rottweilers, the best grooming techniques, and also when shedding can indicate potential issues.
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How Much Do Rottweilers Shed?
Rottweilers have short to medium-length double coats. Their outer coat is straight, coarse, and dense, and it completely covers the undercoat.
Rottweilers are considered to be seasonal shedders. This means that twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall, they have what is known as a coat blowing. Coat blowing involves shedding the undercoat.
Throughout the rest of the year, a Rottweiler will only shed a moderate amount of hair.
Why Do Rottweilers Have Seasonal Coat Blowing?
Some dogs are unable to adapt to changes in the weather. Their coats remain the same throughout the year, and they may require assistance to cope with extreme temperatures.
This may mean a shave in hot weather for dogs with thick coats or jackets in cold weather for dogs with short coats.
Rottweilers, however, are one of the breeds that can adapt to the weather.
In the fall, their thin undercoats are shed to be replaced with thicker and warmer undercoats to trap heat against the skin and ward off the winter chills.
Then in the spring, this thick undercoat is shed to be replaced with a thinner and cooler coat that allows good airflow against the skin.
How To Minimize The Amount Of Hair Shed By Rottweilers
Technically, you cannot reduce the amount of hair that a dog sheds. However, what you can do is you can minimize the amount of shed hair that is dropped around the house.
You do this by grooming your Rottweiler.
During the coat blowing weeks, you will need to brush your Rottweiler daily to catch and remove the loose hair.
This doesn’t just prevent your house from wearing a black and tan coat; it also prevents mats from developing in the undercoat.
According to the AKC breed standard, the undercoat is thickest around the chest and thighs, so give these areas extra attention when grooming your coat-blowing Rottweiler.
Throughout the rest of the year, your Rottweiler will not require as much grooming, and you should be able to cope with the rate of shedding with a brush once a week.
Of course, daily grooming throughout the year will ensure that your Rottweiler is accustomed to a more rigorous grooming schedule as is required during their seasonal blowing.
Doing this will also provide a great way to bond with your dog, as there is no substitute for one-on-one time with your Rottie!
Which Grooming Tools To Use For Grooming A Rottweiler
You can really use almost any brush on your Rottweiler, but its coat is more suited to something with stiffer bristles, which are not widely spaced.
A great grooming item that you can get is something called a shedder tool. These are specifically designed to collect loose hair before it can be dropped out onto the floor or furniture.
It is important to use a good quality brush to do the job right. There are a number brushes on the market that will do the job well, but one that we often use is the Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush.
We especially like the push of a button retractable bristles which allows for quick and easy cleanup.
You can also bathe your Rottweiler to help remove the loose hair during their coat blowing.
Brush them beforehand and then again when they are dry, but you will also notice that a lot of hair comes off in the tub.
Be vigilant about rinsing off the shampoo, though. Leaving shampoo on the skin can cause irritation and further shedding.
Pro-tip for grooming: do it outside, and immediately place all removed hair into a disposable bag.
All it takes is a swift breeze and the next thing you know is that there is dog hair everywhere!
Can My Rottweiler’s Shedding Indicate That Something Is Wrong?
If your Rottweiler seems to be shedding at an abnormal rate, it can be an indication that it is suffering from a medical condition.
Poor Nutrition Can Cause Abnormal Shedding In Rottweilers
Your Rottweiler requires a balanced, quality diet in order for its body to maintain healthy skin and hair growth.
Your dog’s skin is actually a very good indicator of nutritional balance.
If you notice your dog is shedding more than usual, have a closer look at the condition of its skin.
Is it dry and flaky or very oily? Are their patches of redness or discoloration?
Sometimes, it is not the quality of the food that’s the issue, but the contents.
Rottweilers, like all dogs, can have food intolerances and allergies, so it is very important to choose a high-quality dog food.
Furthermore, inflammatory bowel disease and other such conditions can influence the absorption of minerals and nutrients into your Rottweilers body, resulting in a poor nutritional profile and abnormal shedding.
If you suspect nutrition to be the cause of the abnormal shedding, then try to change your Rottweiler’s food or consult a veterinarian on what could be lacking in your Rottweiler’s diet.
Stress And Anxiety Can Cause Abnormal Shedding In Rottweilers
Just as a human’s hair growth and hair loss can be affected by stress, so too can a Rottweiler’s.
If your Rottweiler starts to shed more than they should be, it can indicate that they are stressed or anxious about something.
Changes in the household, such as moving homes, getting a new pet, or having a baby, can cause stress.
Separation anxiety can also result in increased hair loss.
Your Rottweiler’s excessive shedding may also be linked to stress if you notice any other tell-tale signs of anxiety-like changes in eating, cowering or hiding, destructive behavior, apathy, etc.
If you suspect your Rottweiler is anxious or stressed, then try to identify the cause of the stress, and eliminate it if possible.
If it is not possible to remove the source of anxiety, then manage it through environmental enrichment, physical stimulation, and affection.
Quality hugs can go a long way towards reducing anxiety in your Rottweiler!
If your Rottweiler still shows no signs of improvement, then take them to be examined by a veterinarian.
Extreme anxiety may require management with a pharmaceutical anxiolytic, or the issue may not be anxiety at all.
Skin Parasites Can Cause Abnormal Shedding In Rottweilers
Excessive shedding in your Rottweiler may indicate that they have skin parasites like fleas, ticks, or mites.
If this is is the case, then you will also notice your dog scratching and biting at their skin.
If you find evidence of skin parasites, then treat your Rottweiler with an appropriate shampoo, spray, collar, etc.
Skin Allergies Can Cause Abnormal Shedding In Rottweilers
We have already mentioned food allergies, but skin allergies caused by pollen, shampoo, etc., can also lead to increased hair loss in your Rottweiler.
If you notice an increase in shedding after bathing your Rottweiler, try to change the shampoo and also make sure that you are rinsing thoroughly.
Hormone Imbalances Can Cause Abnormal Shedding In Rottweilers
Normal hormone changes as occur with pregnancy, and the adjustment period following a later sterilization of your Rottweiler can cause excessive shedding.
Give it time, and the hormones should settle down and the shedding along with them. If it does not, then take your Rottweiler for a check-up.
Hormonal imbalances can also be caused by diseases like tumors, hypothyroidism, and Cushing’s Disease.
If you cannot find any other cause of shedding in your Rottweiler, or they are displaying other signs of illness, then a consultation with a veterinarian is in order.
For an good visual illustration of the points we’ve covered in this article, be sure to check out the informative video below:
Final Thoughts
Rottweilers have double coats that shed moderately throughout most of the year and can be maintained with brushing once a week.
However, they are seasonal shedders, so twice a year, they will heavily shed their undercoats, and more rigorous grooming is required.
Shedding beyond what has is normal can indicate that your Rottweiler has a nutritional deficiency, high levels of stress and anxiety, skin parasites, skin allergies, or hormonal imbalances.