A Tale of Two Coats;
- Your husky's fur coat is made up for two layers - their top layer acts as a natural protective barrier against dirt, debris, UV rays, and excessive moisture. As you may have already guessed, this layer is called the Guard Coat.Underneath they have what's called the Undercoat - this hair is softer, insulating, and used to regulate body temperature (keeping them cool in the summer, and warm in the winter). While most people brush their Husky on a regular basis, they aren't getting deep enough to brush out that undercoat.If you notice a huge increase in shedding during spring and fall, you can blame the undercoat for shedding and preparing itself for the new season.
Shedding Season;
- Double-coated breeds will naturally adjust the thickness of their coat based on temperature and daylight hours, therefore you can expect two big spikes in shedding every year - Spring and Fall. We call this "Blowing their Coat", and it often causes husky owners to question their own sanity.This hurricane of shedding typically lasts for 4 - 6 weeks, during which owners have to weather the storm until it's over. Thankfully, there's a few tools that can make a massive difference(deshedding treatments and brushes)
Other Health Factors;
- Excessive shedding may also be the result of other health concerns that require the help of a vet to properly investigate.If heavy shedding is also accommodated by dry and flaky skin, a dull coat, and rough feeling fur, it may be the result of nutritional deficiencies, allergies,physical pain, or stress.Sudden outbursts of shedding can also be related to hormonal changes, sometimes from pregnancy or recently being neutered. Or it may be related to extreme stress or pain. It chiness can lead to more scratching, which can lead to a lot of extra shedding. Check your dog for fleas, tickets, or parasites,or if they may have developed allergies.In each case you must consult with a vet to better understand the root of the problem, so that you may resolve it.
Get Control of Shedding;
- I hear the complaints everyday in my grooming shop "My Husky NEVER stops shedding!" Trust me, I know.The bad news is you can never completely stop husky shedding (husky hair is a force of nature after all), but there are some steps we can take to really take back control. As a groomer, and a husky owner: here's all our little secrets to cut down on shedding...
Brushing with the Right Tool;
- Our primary defense against shedding is simply brushing, and you?the best brush for husky is the the amazing,Undercoat Rake. It's simply a soft pinned rake that gets deep into your husky's coat? and effectively
brushes away trapped and dead hair. Thankfully this ?tool is very affordable and easy to use.
How to Reduce Shedding with an Undercoat Rake:
-Use an undercoat rake once every 3 days, gently gliding through your
husky's entire coat.
-Apply gentle pressure, and mind sensitive spots such as behind the ears
and armpit.
-Don't overdo it - dog's love the feeling of being brushed but overtime
it can cause discomfort. Don't go over the same spot more than ?three
times. Repeat the process in a few days.
What Not To Use;
- I don't recommend you Furminators or other similar deshedding tools on your husky. While they do indeed get a lot of hair out, these deshedding tools actually cut the cut hairs instead of brushing them out. This
results in a very choppy and rough looking coat over time. A slicker brush is a very effective tool for dogs that have thick coats prone to matting (such as Poodles or Shih Tzus), but not usually necessary (and not as effective) for your husky's coat.In either case I recommend you stick with the a good ?dog brush or undercoat rake instead.
Bathing with DeShedding Treatment;
- In order to get the most out of thick double-coated dogs, we often use a deshedding shampoo. These are full of extra conditioners and omega oils that slick the hair down and allows for easier removal. And it works!
Simply bathe your dog like you normally would, while applying a generous amount of deshedding shampoo to scrub into their coat. Let the shampoo works it's magic for 5 minutes before thoroughly rinsing and drying.While they're still a bit damp, gently brush them out with an undercoat rake,and just see how much extra hair comes off, it's actually quite amazing.
Blowing Out Their Coat with a High Velocity Dryer;
Many professional groomers have a high velocity dryer which blows all the loose hair off your dog in a short amount of time. Think of a leaf-blower with a hose, designed specifically to dry and remove dog hair. It's
extremely effective, and reduces shedding for 2 or 3 weeks afterwards.Another option is to buy your own high velocity dryer, which can save you many trips to the groomer, and be a huge life saver in terms of shedding.