Why Is My Dog Shedding So Much? A Natural Guide to Coat Health, Moulting, and the Right Nutrition

You pull on your favourite dark jumper, glance down, and it’s already claimed by a fine layer of fur. The sofa has a new texture. There’s dog hair in your coffee somehow. And your dog? Blissfully unaware, tail wagging, completely unbothered by the seasonal chaos they’re leaving in their wake.

If you’re standing there wondering why is my dog shedding so much, you are not alone, and your dog is not broken. What you’re witnessing is one of the most natural things a dog’s body does. But there’s a big difference between normal seasonal shedding and the kind of excessive moulting that signals something’s off. Here’s everything you need to know.

Why Dogs Shed More in Spring

Here’s something that surprises a lot of people: the trigger for seasonal shedding isn’t temperature. It’s light.

As the days grow longer after winter, your dog’s body senses the change in daylight through their eyes and skin. This tells the brain that spring has arrived, which in turn prompts the coat to begin transitioning. Dogs that live outdoors or spend a lot of time outside tend to experience this shift more dramatically than dogs that live in artificially lit homes, but most dogs will shed to some degree regardless.

What’s actually happening is a process called coat blow. Dogs typically carry a dense winter undercoat that they’ve been building since autumn, designed to keep them insulated through the colder months. Once the body registers longer days, it begins pushing out that old undercoat to make way for a lighter, more breathable summer coat. The result? A lot of fur, all at once, for several weeks.

This is completely normal. It’s not a sign of illness, stress, or poor diet. It’s your dog doing exactly what evolution designed them to do. Double-coated breeds like Labradors, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Border Collies, and Huskies tend to have the most noticeable coat blows, but all dogs moult to some extent in spring.

What Makes Shedding Worse Than It Needs to Be

Normal seasonal shedding is one thing. But some dogs shed excessively year-round, or produce dull, brittle fur that breaks easily and seems to come out in handfuls. When that’s happening, the coat is usually telling you something.

Diet and nutritional gaps are the most common culprit. A coat is made almost entirely of protein, so a diet low in quality animal protein will show up quickly in the quality of your dog’s fur. Ultra-processed dry foods with long ingredient lists, high cereal content, and vague “animal derivatives” often don’t deliver the building blocks a coat actually needs.

Not enough good fats in the diet is another big one. Dogs need certain fats, particularly the kind found in oily fish, to keep their skin healthy and their coat in good condition. Without enough of them, skin becomes dry and flaky, the coat loses its shine, and shedding increases. We’ll talk more about this in the next section.

Dehydration is easy to overlook but matters more than most people realise. The skin needs to be properly hydrated from the inside to stay in good condition. Dogs on dry kibble-only diets often don’t drink enough water to compensate for what’s missing from their food, which can contribute to dry skin and increased shedding.

Infrequent grooming during the coat blow season can make things significantly worse. When the old undercoat isn’t being helped out through regular brushing, it can mat against the skin and slow down the shedding process, while still coming off all over your furniture.

How Nutrition Affects Your Dog’s Coat

This is where we can actually make a real difference, and it’s something we feel genuinely passionate about at Sash & Pepps.

Think of your dog’s coat like a plant. If the roots aren’t getting the right nutrients, it’ll show in the leaves. For dogs, the single most important nutrients for a healthy, shiny coat are what we call good fats, specifically the type found naturally in oily fish like salmon, mackerel, and herring. These fats, often listed on packaging as omega-3, are what help keep the skin comfortable and well-nourished, and the coat soft, strong, and glossy from root to tip.

The problem is that most dogs simply don’t get enough of them. Many popular dry foods are made up largely of cereals and grains, with relatively little quality animal fat in the mix. Over time, that gap in the diet tends to show up quite visibly: a coat that’s lost its shine, skin that’s dry or flaky, fur that feels coarser than it used to, and shedding that seems to go on longer than it should. If any of that sounds familiar, the food is often the first place worth looking.

The good news is that it’s genuinely easy to top things up. A good quality fish oil supplement added to your dog’s daily meals is one of the simplest things you can do, and most dog owners notice a real change in their coat’s condition within a few weeks. If your dog is treat-motivated, fish skin treats do the same job in a more exciting format, and dogs tend to go absolutely mad for them.

You might also come across flaxseed or other plant-based oils suggested as alternatives, and while they do contain fats, dogs can’t use plant-based fats nearly as well as the kind that comes from fish. So if you want to see real results in the coat, fish is the one to focus on.

A Simple Spring Coat Care Routine

You don’t need an elaborate routine to get through coat blow season with your sanity (and your furniture) intact. A few consistent habits make an enormous difference.

Brush more often, and use the right tools. During peak shedding season, daily brushing is ideal for double-coated breeds. A slicker brush works well for surface fur, but an undercoat rake or de-shedding tool like a Furminator-style brush is what actually gets into the dense layer underneath. Don’t skip brushing just because your dog doesn’t enjoy it. The more you remove with a brush, the less ends up on everything else.

Bathe strategically. A bath mid-coat-blow can help loosen the old undercoat significantly. Use a gentle, natural shampoo that won’t strip the skin’s natural oils, and follow up with a thorough blow-dry and brush-out while the coat is still slightly damp. One well-timed bath can release a surprising amount of fur in a controlled setting.

Review what’s in the bowl. This is the moment many dog owners find that their dog’s food is doing them a disservice. Look at the ingredient list: is meat the first (and ideally second and third) ingredient? Are there identifiable, named protein sources rather than vague “derivatives”? If the food is primarily cereal-based, it’s worth exploring a natural complete dog food with higher meat content and better-quality fats.

Add a daily fish oil boost. A high-quality fish oil supplement added to your dog’s daily meals is one of the most straightforward things you can do for coat health. It takes a few weeks to see a visible difference, but the results in shine, texture, and reduced shedding tend to be noticeable. Fish skin treats are a brilliant option too, especially if your dog is treat-motivated: they get the good fats alongside the chew satisfaction.

Keep water available at all times. Especially if your dog is on dry food, make sure they’re drinking regularly. Adding a splash of warm water or bone broth to dry food can also encourage better hydration.

From Us at Sash & Pepps

Shedding season doesn’t have to mean resignedly hoovering three times a day, though we won’t pretend it doesn’t help. The good news is that with the right nutrition and a consistent grooming routine, most dogs come through their spring moult looking better than ever on the other side.

Our own dogs Sasha and Pepper both go through their annual coat blow, and we’ve seen first-hand what a difference good-quality food and a regular fish oil supplement makes to how quickly they transition and how healthy their summer coats look. It’s one of the reasons we’re so particular about the products we stock.

We carry a range of fish oil supplements, fish skin treats, and natural complete foods chosen specifically because we’d trust them with our own dogs. If you’re not sure where to start, we’re always happy to chat. Pop into the shop, drop us a message, or give us a ring. We love nothing more than helping dogs thrive (and giving their owners their sofas back).

 chosen specifically because we’d trust them with our own dogs. If you’re not sure where to start, we’re always happy to chat. Pop into the shop, drop us a message, or give us a ring. We love nothing more than helping dogs thrive (and giving their owners their sofas back).

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does spring shedding last in dogs?

For most dogs, the main coat blow lasts between three and eight weeks, typically from late February through to April or May depending on the individual dog and how much time they spend outdoors. Double-coated breeds often have the longest and most intense seasonal moults. Regular brushing throughout this period helps speed the process along and keeps the shedding manageable.

Does fish oil help with dog shedding?

Yes. Fish oil is one of the most well-supported natural supplements for coat health in dogs. The good fats it contains help keep the skin properly nourished and the coat in better condition overall. Most dog owners who add a fish oil supplement to their dog’s diet notice an improvement in coat shine and texture within four to six weeks, along with a reduction in excessive shedding outside of the normal seasonal period.

Is it normal for my dog to shed excessively in spring?

Heavier than usual shedding in spring is completely normal. It’s your dog shedding their winter undercoat to make way for a lighter summer coat, and the trigger is longer days rather than warmer temperatures. That said, shedding that continues heavily year-round, or that is accompanied by bald patches, very dry or flaky skin, or a dull coat, is worth looking into. In those cases, diet, whether your dog is getting enough good fats, and hydration are all good places to start before consulting your vet.

What’s the best supplement for dog coat health?

A good quality fish oil supplement, typically salmon oil or fish liver oil, is widely considered the most effective single thing you can add to your dog’s diet for coat health. Look for one that comes from a named fish source and is free from artificial additives. Fish skin treats are a natural alternative that deliver the same coat-supporting fats alongside a satisfying chew. For best results, combine with a high-meat, natural complete diet and regular grooming.