The blog is written by Mari Tiira, the founder of Elsan Ekopaja.
Spring is at its most beautiful, and the sun's rays reveal everything... including the black dog hairs floating on light-colored floors! When the vacuum cleaner bag is full of hair, it's time to do something about it.
A brush is a good tool to use daily during shedding. It makes cleaning easier by picking up loose hairs before they reach the floor. Brushing also somewhat alleviates the itching caused by shedding.
When shedding reaches a certain point, it's time for more effective measures. The need for washing can be noticed by a few different signs:
1. The dog's coat is dull, gray, and lacks shine.
2. Dandruff and grease start to emerge from under the coat so much that the coat looks dirty.
3. The dog is clearly uncomfortable, and its coat looks itchy.
However, don't use just any soap for shedding washes (although I've heard that dogs are washed with dish soap, among other things), because a dog's skin and coat need specially developed, high-quality products.
Elsan Ekopaja's Elämäni koirat product line has been developed specifically for sensitive dogs and their owners.
In this shedding wash, the products used were Hessu skin-calming shampoo bar and Maisa coat-shining conditioner bar.
The purpose of a shedding wash is to soothe shedding, reduce the dog's itching, treat the skin under the coat, and restore the coat's vitality and shine. We perfectly achieved these goals in the shedding wash for Siru, a short-haired retriever. Here are pictures of her coat before and after the wash:
How to perform a shedding wash at home:
1. Thoroughly wet the dog with a shower, including the belly, paws, and head (be careful not to get water in the ears).
2. Take the Hessu shampoo bar and rub the bar onto the dog's coat with back-and-forth and circular motions. Rub all the way down to the base of the fur. Continue to lather with your hands.
3. Use the bar to wash the belly, armpits, and paws. Washing the paws of a larger dog is easy with the Hessu shampoo bar by rubbing the bar between each paw pad, as if from each corner. This ensures the shampoo gets everywhere. Also, wash the head and neck area, but be careful not to get shampoo in the eyes.
3. Let the shampoo's nourishing and soothing ingredients work while gently massaging the dog for a few minutes.
4. Then, rinse thoroughly. Hessu shampoo bar rinses out very easily, and you'll notice from the color of the rinse water when you've rinsed enough. Shower well under the armpits and between the paw pads.
5. Next, take the Maisa conditioner bar and wet it. Rub the conditioner bar into the coat so that it also reaches the dog's skin. Let the conditioner sit for a few minutes.
6. Rinse the conditioner out. Rinsing with water activates the conditioner bar's emulsifier, which spreads the conditioner even more evenly and makes the solid conditioner water-soluble. The rinse water will lather, and rinsing thus enhances the absorption of the conditioner. The conditioning ingredients in the bar receive manifold benefits from this emulsification. The conditioner contains, for example, panthenol, which soothes itching and moisturizes the skin and hair, and jojoba oil, which makes the coat shine and strengthen.
4. Dry with a towel and, if necessary, a blow dryer. Powerful grooming dryers can work wonders during the shedding season for an undercoat. When the dryer has enough power, it blows away loose hair. (This should be done in a room that is easy to clean, as hair will end up everywhere. Also, protect your own respiratory tract with a face mask during the process).
5. Reward your dog for good behavior to ensure a pleasant memory of the wash. Remember also that a dog that fears washing will remain relaxed if you yourself are relaxed. Your dog senses your emotions, and if you are nervous, it will surely transfer to your dog.
Washing with a bar has many astonishing benefits that you only realize once you've tried it for the first time. Many dog washers experience a great sense of relief from the first wash and vow never to switch away from bar soap again.
The unbeatable advantages of washing with a bar:
1. You will never again have to worry about solution strength or dilution. The bar releases just the right amount of shampoo, and there's no risk of overdosing.
2. You will never again experience product waste in the form of a spilled shampoo bottle. The dog can move freely during the wash because they can't knock over the shampoo bottle. This makes both of you more relaxed.
3. You can hold your dog in place with one hand throughout the wash, as you only need one hand to wash the dog. You completely eliminate the stress of juggling a bottle when everything you need stays in one hand.
4. The belly, armpits, and between the paw pads are thoroughly and easily cleaned when you don't have to fight against gravity with liquid shampoo. Both you and your dog will enjoy the wash as you have continuous skin contact with each other, and you'll feel good about the easy washing method.
5. Dog bar products are water-free, meaning they are lightweight and easy to use. Bar products also do not require the addition of preservatives, which sensitize skin to problems. In bar products, nature's own raw materials truly shine with their effectiveness and act immediately during the wash.
Siru's coat was in excellent condition after the wash
The coat was clean, shiny, and looked vibrant. Siru's itching stopped completely with just one wash.
I warmly recommend this wash to all households suffering from shedding. Dog shedding is completely natural and cannot be stopped or prevented, but the dog's well-being and the itching and discomfort caused by shedding can be influenced with the right products.
Want to watch the shedding wash on YouTube?
