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When you’re considering which breed of dog to get as a guard dog that will also be a loved pet and family companion, there are many considerations to think about before you choose one.
Firstly, which breed is best as an all-round protection dog that will also be a loving companion? While we’re not saying that pitbulls are the best dog for this spec, you could certainly do worse than to choose one.
Pitbulls are great guard dogs but can also be fiercely loyal and great with kids if raised right.
Characteristics aren’t the only thing to consider though. What about the maintenance of getting a dog? Some dogs require frequent brushing and trips to the dog salon to tame their mane, while others don’t even seem to shed.
If you’re planning on letting your dog set one paw inside your house you’re going to have one question on your mind: Do they shed their fur?
In terms of cleaning up after them, it’s an important question to ask, before you absolutely decide on a breed.
Let’s take a look at the facts around pitbull’s fur and shedding habits, so you can make an informed decision about whether a pitbull is the right breed for your situation.
Do Pitbulls Shed?
All dogs shed, so do humans, we are constantly losing dead skin and hair from our bodies. So the real question is how much will a pitbull shed?
Pitbulls shed all year round which sounds worse than it is. All dogs shed year round, but some dogs have two coats of fur whereas other breeds have single coats.
A dog with a double coat of fur will shed excessively during certain seasons of the year to get rid of their winter undercoat ready for warmer weather and this is generally what people mean when they ask if a dog sheds or not.
Double-coated dogs will shed a lot of fur at certain times of the year and shed their topcoat normally year round too. Because of the volume of undercoat fur they shed in preparation for summer, people barely notice the shedding of the topcoat for the rest of the year.
Pitbulls shed as much as any single coated dog would. They generally have short hair and come in many different colors.
In answer to the question, yes, pitbulls shed but not nearly as much as a double coated breed and some pitbulls appear to shed more than others.
The Color Factor
Some pitbulls may appear to shed more than others because of the color of their fur. It sounds unlikely, but hear us out.
First, we’re not saying that certain colors of Pitbull shed more than others. What we’re saying is that the color of their fur can make it look like different colors of Pitbull shed different amounts of fur.
Imagine you have dark hardwood floors and a dark-colored couch. If you have two pitbull dogs in that house, one with light-colored fur and one with dark, it would seem as if the light-colored one was always shedding whereas the darker one barely did.
That is just the perception of our eyes though, because in reality, the two dogs will shed the same amount, but because your furniture and floors are dark, the light hair will show up more against it while the dark hair blends in.
If you replaced your floors and furniture with lighter-colored items, you’d find that you’d suddenly be moaning about the other darker dog.
American Pit Bull Terriers can come in pretty much any color and often have more than one color to their coat, so just think about the color combinations of your house and any prospective pup.
Then again, you might prefer to be able to see every stray hair so you know your house is really clean when you’re done vacuuming. That’s your choice.
What Kind Of Brush Does A Pitbull Need?
Pitbulls need a little rushing to make their coats shine and help to keep them clean. They don’t need nearly as much care as a double-coated canine or a long-haired single coat one though, so don’t worry.
There are a couple of different types of brush that will work for a Pitbull’s short slick coat. The first is a shedding brush.
- Shedding Brush – Shedding brushes are used to help gather and collect dead shed hair before it falls. Brushing your Pitbull Terrier with a shedding brush every couple of days will significantly decrease the amount of fur you find around your house and you will be able to see how much fur they typically shed.
- Bristle Brush – These synthetic bristled brushes are very common for pitbulls because they help remove dust and dirt from the coat and help add shine and smoothness to a pitbull’s coat.
Some brushes are equipped with fine metal teeth, but natural fiber, rubber, or silicone ones would be better for your Pitbull’s short coat. Metal ones are better for dogs with longer coats or double coats.
Some great ideas for brushes for pitbulls might be:
- Burt’s Bees for Dogs Palm Brush with Hemp Bristles – If you want an eco-friendly natural bristle brush to help remove dirt from your dog’s short coat which will add some shine, then this one is a great choice.
- Thunderpaws Professional De-Shedding Tool – This is suitable for all breeds of dogs and cats including those with short coats. It claims to reduce shedding by up to 95% so if you’re worried about getting dog hair all over the house and doubling your cleaning chores, this will surely help put your mind at ease.
- 2 Pack Dog Grooming/Bath Brush – These are great for use in the bath as well as for brushing your dog’s coat. The little rubber bristles make it very comfortable for a short-haired breed as there is no sharp metal against the skin.
Find Pet Grooming Brushes at Petsmart
Final Thoughts
If you’re deciding on which breed of dog to get, you couldn’t do much better than a Pitbull Terrier.
They get a very bad reputation because they were originally bred as fighting dogs and due to many irresponsible breeders and owners who do not socialize or train their pitbulls correctly, people tend to be wary of them.
They are truly a very gentle and loyal breed when brought up correctly and they can make excellent guard dogs as well as family pets.
If you’re deciding between a Pitbull Terrier and, say a German Shepherd breed based on shedding alone, you’ll want to go for the Pitbull.
German Shepherds come from a cold climate and so have two coats to keep them warm, so unlike pitbulls, they’ll shed a lot of fur at some times of the year, and shed their long topcoat as well year-round.
Whatever dog you do get, it’s a great idea to invest in a vacuum cleaner that is specifically designed to tackle pet hair, because as we say, all dogs shed to some degree.
