That's right! Spring is the time of year when dogs tend to shed the most, getting rid of excess fur and making way for a thinner, lighter coat for spring and summer.

To keep shedding under control and preserve your own sanity, brush your dog regularly. Depending on the type of coat your dog has, you may want to get a specific type of brush. After brushing, give your dog their own spring cleaning with a bath! Oh, and make sure your vacuum is up to the task.

Now that you've got your dog's shedding under control (or at least, you've tried to get it under control), here are five more ways you can prepare your dog for spring and warmer weather:

Protect Against Fleas, Ticks and Heartworm

If you use medicine to prevent fleas, ticks and heartworm all year long, skip to the next suggestion. If not, it's time to start the process.

As the weather warms up, pests come out and you'll likely be spending more time outdoors. Fleas and ticks are difficult to remove once they're in your dog's coat, which is why it's important to try and prevent these parasites from attacking your dog. Consult your vet about what medicines are right for your dog.

Take Care of Any Other Updates

Besides vaccines, now is a great time to make sure your do's license, microchip and any other important documentation is up to date.

Ease Into the Outdoors

If you kept your rigorous dog walking schedule all through the dark days of winter, we tip our hats to you. If either you or your dog preferred to stay indoors where it's warm — we see you. If that's the case, ease back into a regular walking and exercise routine with your dog.

It's likely you didn't take any trips to the dog park either, and your dog may get overwhelmed entering a crowded space again. Take lots of treats with you to help your dog stay calm and obedient in the outdoors — or, sign up for a group obedience class at Dog Training Elite in Grand Rapids, MI which can help both of you socialize in a safe and comfortable environment.

Finally, if the doldrums of winter caused your dog to learn some bad habits, you can also contact Dog Training Elite in Grand Rapids, MI to have a trainer work one-on-one with you and your dog to brush up on training and reestablish good habits.

Enjoy the warmer weather!