Question

My six-month-old Labrador sheds heaps and heaps of hair. We brush him regularly but this does not seem to help much. Is there anything we can do about it?
Labby Lover

Answer
provided by Dr Paddy Batch BVSc

Other than seasonal shedding, which is harder to keep up with, your problem probably relates to the brush you use. The ones with pins on one side and bristles on the other are great for preparing dogs for shows, but are useless for removing the excess coat. The "Lawrence tendercare slicker" is quite useful and carried by most pet shops. It is a dense bed of hooked nails with a rubber backing that flexes for comfort. My Golden Retrievers prefer this one as do thick coated Labradors.