Four days into Spring and Samurai's started to blow his coat. We noticed tiny bits of fur just hanging off which meant that his winter coat was due to go. I furminated him on September 4 and you will see the result below!
We try to furminate him daily to limit the amount of fur that falls off during the day and therefore covers our house. But now he's losing his cute little fluff and his "Bert" monobrow will soon appear. When we first looked into getting a Shiba Inu, we read horror stories that Shiba's would blow their coat noticeably and it would look like they had a skin disease.
Fortunately, this is not the case with Samurai. Generally, a Shiba's coat will blow for 2 – 4 weeks (less if you're lucky). Below I provide some more information on a Shiba Inu blowing coat and general grooming.
History
Shiba Inus date back to 7,000 B.C. They were originally Japanese mountain dogs accustomed to extremely cold temperatures. This long history of dealing with freezing temperatures has led to the breed developing a coat that
helps them stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Coat
A purebred Shiba Inu has a luscious, thick coat. While a Shiba's fur is medium in length, what really makes the coat thick and soft is the undercoat which makes the top coat stand out as thicker than it really is. This dense undercoat is characteristic in both male and female Shiba Inus and helps these small dogs regulate their body temperature.
Shedding
Shiba Inus will shed their undercoat twice a year. While the majority of Shibas, especially those that have more exposure to outdoor temperature fluctuations, shed in buckets full during these times, you may find that your Shiba will show minor signs of shedding during spring. During other times of the year, a Shiba who is regularly brushed may show little to no signs of shedding. Keep in mind whether your Shiba Inu sheds a lot or a little, blowing coat is a natural breed characteristic.
Blow Coat
As mentioned a Shiba Inu will blow its coat twice a year. This undercoat will loosen and work its way to the surface and stand out as patches on the fur. You can easily pluck the undercoat off without causing them pain. By the time they are done blowing coat, you will likely have collected enough fur to make a stuffed toy (I'm actually collecting all of Sammi's fur in a bag to make a toy at some stage).
Grooming
You will need to brush a Shiba Inu daily in the time it is blowing coat. You should get a dog brush designed for shedding (we love the furminator) and also treats to encourage your Shiba to stay put whilst you brush off its excess coat.
Happy brushing!
To end on a funny note, Sammi hates us blowing on his ears. He gets very annoyed at us, so much so that he cries. Watch and laugh.
Fortunately, this is not the case with Samurai. Generally, a Shiba's coat will blow for 2 – 4 weeks (less if you're lucky). Below I provide some more information on a Shiba Inu blowing coat and general grooming.
History
Shiba Inus date back to 7,000 B.C. They were originally Japanese mountain dogs accustomed to extremely cold temperatures. This long history of dealing with freezing temperatures has led to the breed developing a coat that
helps them stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Coat
A purebred Shiba Inu has a luscious, thick coat. While a Shiba's fur is medium in length, what really makes the coat thick and soft is the undercoat which makes the top coat stand out as thicker than it really is. This dense undercoat is characteristic in both male and female Shiba Inus and helps these small dogs regulate their body temperature.
Shedding
Shiba Inus will shed their undercoat twice a year. While the majority of Shibas, especially those that have more exposure to outdoor temperature fluctuations, shed in buckets full during these times, you may find that your Shiba will show minor signs of shedding during spring. During other times of the year, a Shiba who is regularly brushed may show little to no signs of shedding. Keep in mind whether your Shiba Inu sheds a lot or a little, blowing coat is a natural breed characteristic.
Blow Coat
As mentioned a Shiba Inu will blow its coat twice a year. This undercoat will loosen and work its way to the surface and stand out as patches on the fur. You can easily pluck the undercoat off without causing them pain. By the time they are done blowing coat, you will likely have collected enough fur to make a stuffed toy (I'm actually collecting all of Sammi's fur in a bag to make a toy at some stage).
Grooming
You will need to brush a Shiba Inu daily in the time it is blowing coat. You should get a dog brush designed for shedding (we love the furminator) and also treats to encourage your Shiba to stay put whilst you brush off its excess coat.
Happy brushing!
To end on a funny note, Sammi hates us blowing on his ears. He gets very annoyed at us, so much so that he cries. Watch and laugh.
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