It should also be mentioned that you may notice some
color
changes during this time as well. Most are not drastic, however the adult coat may come in a bit darker, or lighter - and with some dogs this will change the shininess of the coat.
Genetics
Genetics play a role in how much a Boxer dog will shed. First, we must factor in texture - German, UK or American lines will have different textures. In addition, thickness of the coat can vary even with puppies from the same litter - some may take after the sire and some may take after the dam.
Care Elements
Exposure to sunlight, the area in which you live, the supplements that you do or do not give to your dog… all of these elements come together and affect the shedding process.
Seasonal
When people talk about seasonal shedding, many assume that it is the change in temperature that causes a shed. However, it is the amount of sunlight in the day that actually triggers the change (and this does of course correspond with temperatures).
Whether or not your Boxer dog experiences this seasonal shed will depend on where you reside. In areas that have drastic changes of sunlight hours in the fall and then again in the springtime, a dog's body will respond.
In locations that receive 6 to 7 hours of sun in
the winter
compared to 13 or 14 in the summer, the dog's pineal gland will be triggered which sends the signal to the body to shed the coat.
As you probably know, a thickening of the coat will begin as the days become shorter and in the spring, as days become longer, this thicker coat will begin to shed off.
For many, the heaviest shed with occur with the spring seasonal shedding phase - April through May. It is usually this phase that has owners wondering why their Boxer is shedding like crazy.
Food and diet
affect shedding and this is because if a dog is receiving the right balance of nutrients, both skin and coat will be healthy. Alternatively, if a dog is not receiving the proper vitamins and nutrients that are needed, this makes for an unhealthy coat that will be much more prone to shedding off, regardless of the time of year.
You'll want to choose wisely in regard to main meals (Read more in the
Feeding section) and in addition to that 2 elements are important:
1- A daily vitamin and mineral supplement may be needed. This is pertinent to dogs that eat whole home cooked foods (though super healthy, just like high quality commercial brands, this should be mixed in). And for other dogs under certain conditions.
2-
An Omega fatty acid supplement is often needed to keep a Boxer's skin and coat healthy, especially since this breed can be prone to having skin issues.