Pitbull grooming: do they even need it? I mean, their short coat constantly sheds, so they basically groom themselves. Right?! Spoiler alert: No, your dog can't groom himself and yes, you need to do some grooming for your Pitbull. In this grooming guide, we tell you what's important/not, the best brush for Pitbulls and explain step-by-step how to groom them.
Here are our best Pitbull grooming tips (and the best grooming tools for the task).
Best Pitbull Grooming Tools
#1 Pick
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Just check out what your fellow Pit lovers are saying about these grooming gloves:
“They get rid of an amazing amount of hair off my Pit and it’s easy to get in tight spaces like behind his ears and around his legs.”
Best FURminator for Pits
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This brush is worth every penny!
“WOW! I have a 90lb pitbull and I cannot believe how much dead hair came off with this brush.”
Best Pitbull Slicker Brush
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“My pit bull has short, clingy hair. We’ve tried other brushes..and giving him constant baths.. and with little success. There would still be constant traces of his hair everywhere. Not anymore!!”
Best Pitbull Shampoo
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Are Pitbulls Hypoallergenic?
No, Pitbulls are not hypoallergenic. They blow their coats twice per year. This makes it so that their dander will have a greater likelihood of having an allergenic impact.
Short, but Double-Coated
Although Pitbulls have short hair, they have a double layer coat. This means a top coat that is mostly waterproof, and an undercoat for insulation.
It is this insulation layer that leads to most of our allergy problems. No, not the fur itself, but the saliva, urine, and dander that are present on the loose fur when it sheds.
Some people may include sweat on the list above, but dogs do not sweat. Rather they release heat by panting.
No Such Thing as Hypoallergenic
There are no dogs that are truly hypoallergenic.
Some dogs such as Poodles have a tendency to shed very little. Thus they are considered hypoallergenic as their dander is not easily spread throughout the house to cause a hypersensitivity reaction.
In these breeds however, the proteins that cause us trouble stays on the dog’s coat. Therefore, excessive playing with these dog breeds can cause a reaction in hypersensitive people.
How, you may wonder?
The proteins from the coat can be transferred to a person’s hand or clothes. From there it’s just a hop, skip, and a jump to the face where watery eyes and runny noses prevail.
Sneaky Allergies
Pitbulls have a short coat, so the hair is not as noticeable as it would be with a long hair dog. Because of this, the hair that gets shed can be a sneaky allergin trigger to hypersensitive individuals.
Proper dog grooming is essential to maintaining a reduced allergin environment in your home.
Also, It is important to clean regularly in order to remove potential allergens from around your home.
Pitbull Shedding: Do Pitbulls Shed a Lot?
Yes, Pitbulls shed. Although Pitbulls blow their coats twice per year, many Pitbull parents report that their dog continuously sheds throughout the year.
Pitbull Shedding Season
Shedding season happens twice per year with Pitbulls.
Each season typically lasts for about a month but can last longer. These changes typically happen when the season change in late spring and late fall.
In the spring, they shed their winter coats. In the fall, these dogs will shed their summer coats.
These shedding patterns are based on the dog’s circadian rhythm. This means that the day/night cycle your dogs sees determines when he sheds.
How to Stop a Pitbull from Shedding
Sadly, there is no way to stop your pooch from shedding completely, but there are some things you can do that will mitigate the problem:
1. Keep Your Dog Hydrated
Dogs that are often dehydrated tend to shed more. Like humans, the skin of your dog relies on having enough moisture to properly maintain healthy cells. When skin and hair cells are healthy they are able to perform at their best.
This means less shedding for your dog. And that is great news for you and me.
2. Brush Your Dog Daily
Daily brushing is one of the best ways to get rid of dead hair throughout your home. When you brush your dog, you help to remove loose hair that is being released from the dog’s body. Thus, you are staying ahead of the game instead of needing to vacuum constantly.
Also, brushing your dog daily allows the natural oils produced by your dog to be distributed evenly across his coat. You should notice that your dog’s coat has a slight sheen to it once you are through with your daily brushing. If the coat seems dull, your dog may need more water or food that is more nutritious.
3. Provide Your Pitbull a Proper Diet
Every dog has their own needs when it comes to food. This will be dependent mainly on three things:
- Breed
- Age
- Lifestyle
A proper diet is a key to a healthy coat, and a healthy coat helps to prevent excess shedding.
1. Breed
While we are on the subject of Pitbulls, and these dogs are known to be fairly active muscular dogs. That said, your dog needs a healthy dose of protein with some veggies.
For the love of Pit, select a good food for your dog. And stay away from food that lists corn or cornmeal as one of the first four ingredients.
2. Age
Your dog’s needs will change with age. As he matures, you may notice your dog starting to pack on the pounds. If this happens it is time to back off on the protein portion of the dog food and get some more greenery in his diet.
Refer to your chosen brand’s guidelines and cut out one cup from what they suggest. Then supplement this with a can of green beans. These are great because they have good nutrients, don’t typically cause gas, and most dogs love them. I can tell you from experience my dog Peanut gets excited for green bean time.
3. Lifestyle
Is your dog lazy or active?
Does he want to play fetch all day or would he rather lay down and cuddle?
Remember, tailor his food to his needs. The more active he is the more protein needs to be in his diet to maintain his body mass.
Other Things That May Cause Your Dog to Shed
There are a number of things that may cause shedding in your dog outside of its normal shedding routine. A few of them include:
- Parasites
- Pregnancy
- Excessive Licking
- Some Medications
- Sunburn
- AutoImmune Disease
- Endocrine Disease such as Cushing’s
- Skin Infection
- Chemical Irritation
- Anxiety
- Scratching
- Abrupt Change in Diet
- And Cancer
If for any reason you believe that your dog is losing more hair than usual, consult your veterinarian.
Can You Shave a Pitbull?
No, never shave a Pitbull. Pitbulls have such short hair that shaving them is unnecessary. While they have a double layer coat, shaving a Pitbull should never be done except in extreme cases such as needed by your veterinarian.
Why Shouldn’t I Shave My Pitbull?
Shaving a dog with a bi-layer or double coat can permanently damage the fur.
When the fur grows back there are a number of problems that your dog may have. These problems include:
- Patchiness in the coat
- Overly coarse fur
- Fur that is too fluffy
- Coat color change
In addition to the problems listed above, shaving your dog’s fur increases the chance of:
- Overheating
- Sunburn
- Skin Cancer
- Bacterial and Fungal Infection
- Hypothermia
Shaving a dog with a double coat like a Pitbull will NOT decrease shedding. It will not help with allergies associated with owning a double coated dog either.
One thing that shaving the will do is reduce your dog’s protection to the sun and biting insects.
Best Brush for Pitbulls
A rubber brush is far and away the best brush that you can use to get rid of unwanted fur.
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You can pick up some that are gloves and double as lint brushes for your furniture.
Best Pitbull Shedding Brush
Rubber brushes use static to remove the dog hair while not scratching your dog’s skin.
In addition, you can find a duel option in a mitt. These rubber mitts are great for everyday grooming and in the shower.
They also have a side that allows you to use the mitt as a lint brush and remove dog hair from furniture or clothes.
Best FURminator for Pitbulls
Furminators are great overall brushes for any dog that has a double coat.
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Furminators do a great job of reaching the undercoat of dogs while still being gentle to their skin.
These brushes are effortless to clean and generally come with a button to remove the hair from the brush.
This Slicker Brush Works Well for Pitbulls
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Most dog experts advise against using slicker brushes on Pitbulls. The most common arguments against this type of brush for Pits are:
- The hair on a Pit is typically too short for these brushes to be of much use.
- The pin brushes can scratch your dog’s skin causing hotspots which can otherwise be avoided.
These arguments are mostly true for most slicker brushes. And it’s definitely true if you rush through brushing without taking the time to learn how to use the brush on your dog.
But we actually tested this slicker brush…and guess what we found?
It is EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE on short hair dogs…like your beloved Pitbull!
How Often Should I Bathe My Pitbull?
Pitbulls need baths about once per quarter, or about four times per year. Pits are generally not dirty dogs and should not get bathed more than once every three months.
How Often Should I Bathe My Pitbull Puppy?
Puppies need about much bathing as adults save for the fact that they get into stuff more often. 🙂
So for your Pit pup, keep about every three months in mind as a general rule.
But if they get into something stinky, such as rolling around in poo, you might want to do it a little sooner.
It is important that you do not over-bathe your pooch.
Washing your pup too much can cause serious issues starting with dry skin and leading to hot spots and infections.
Best Pitbull Shampoo
There are so many shampoos out there that it can be hard to figure out where to start.
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Let’s start with your specific dog.
What does your Pitbull need?
Pitbulls are notorious for various skin problems.
Most of the problems are attributed to allergies. But there are other skin conditions such as dandruff, excessive shedding, infections, and even critters like fleas. All of which have special shampoo formulas.
Below is an overview of what to look for in your shampoo based on your dog’s specific issues.
Allergies
This is by far the most common issue with any dog breed. A dog with allergies will be constantly scratching. Before grabbing a shampoo for allergies, verify that there is not another cause such as fleas or just an infected spot.
The top two ingredients that you want to look for in something that will work well for your dog with allergies will be Olive Oil and Aloe Vera. Other ingredients that will help for sensitive skin is Vitamins A, D, and E.
Allergies should be dealt with immediately as it may lead to infections if these issues are not addressed.
Dandruff
If you notice that your pooch seems to have a lot of dandruff, refer to their diet. If you are sure diet is not the problem or if you want to get ahead of the game and clean your dog while switching foods, you can use a shampoo with Oatmeal.
Oatmeal is also excellent for soothing dry skin. Additional ingredients that may help Aloe Vera and Shea Butter.
Bacterial or Fungal Infections
Coal Tar, Clay, Salicylic Acid, or Ketoconazole are some of the ingredients you want to look for with a medicated shampoo. Medicated shampoos will help your dog recover quicker from skin infections.
Although these are recommended ingredients, we always recommend discussing options for a medicated shampoo with your Veterinarian.
Fleas and Other Critters
Let’s face it, sometimes you just need to get your hands dirty and your dog clean. If you are going to use a flea and tick shampoo remember and ask two things.
Shampoos will deal directly with the critters on your dog, but what about the rest of your home?
Your dog’s skin is probably pretty sensitive due to the parasites, how can you help your pooch?
To answer the first question, you need to find a shampoo that is not only going to kill the adults, but also the eggs.
Then you will want to make sure that it is going to last for at least a month.
Then get your fur baby on a preventative to prevent future outbreaks.
Common ingredients that will work for killing and keeping them gone are Pyrethrins, Piperonyl Butoxide, and Pyriproxfen.
You can also use shampoos that contain lemongrass or geranium oils as these oils are natural insecticides.
As for the sensitivity issues, oatmeal, lanolin, and aloe vera are good ingredients that won’t further irritate your dog’s skin.
Okay, so there are better solutions than shampoo for Fleas and Ticks. That is simply prevention using a product like Simparica. Your dog can take this as a chewable tablet and it works well all month.
Best Shampoo for Pitbull Puppies
Sensitive skin problems can be decreased in adults when they are properly cared for as puppies. When looking for a good puppy shampoo, you cannot go wrong with oatmeal and aloe vera when it comes to Pitbulls.
Oatmeal and aloe shampoos permeate the market for one reason…
They work!
These two ingredients are gentle to the skin and can be soothing to areas irritated by the environment.
Other ingredients that can help are Vitamins A, D, and E. These will help replenish the vitamins in Your Pitbull’s skin if there are any damaged areas.
Signs That Your Dog’s Coat is Unhealthy
Remember, if you bathe your Pitbull too often, you can cause issues such as dryness or trigger skin sensitivities. Here are a few signs to look for that may indicate your dog’s coat is unhealthy and needs attention.
1. Dandruff
Is it snowing in your house?
I certainly hope not. Dandruff can be a sign that there is something seriously wrong with your dog.
Common causes of dandruff are external parasites and hormone imbalances.
If your dog has dandruff, make an appointment with your veterinarian immediately.
2. Dry Fur
This is usually due to over-washing your dog or using a shampoo that is not made for use on dogs. Make sure that you always use a shampoo that was formulated for dogs.
Pitbulls (having short hair) usually do not have a problem with their hair matting. Overly dry hair in other dog breeds may cause their hair to mat. This can create sore and other skin issues with your dog.
3. Dull Fur
If your dog’s loose fur is shiny it indicates that the natural oils are present and your dog is getting everything she needs in her diet.
Dull fur can mean that there is something your pooch is missing from their diet and it should be addressed.
4. Greasy Fur
There are two main causes of greasy fur:
- The first is that your pup decided it was a good idea to roll in something greasy. If that is the case, well it is time for a bath. Dawn dish soap might be the only thing that can get the grease out of your furbaby’s coat.
- The other common cause is that your dog is lacking proper nutrition from his diet. If it isn’t just time for a bath, a trip to the vet it should be.
5. Fur Loss
If you notice that your dog is losing their fur and not just through a typical shedding cycle it is time to see the vet.
Hair loss can be triggered by a number of hormone-related problems from stress to Cushing’s disease.
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