Huskies shed and they shed a lot! Every husky owner knows that proper grooming goes a long way with a husky. Here are some grooming tips and ways to cut down on shedding for your husky.
Shedding
There are two types of shedding that occurs from both of my huskies: the constant shedder and the twice-a-year shedder. Each husky is unique and they're shedding schedule will vary, but normally huskies will blow their coat (shed) at least once a year and it will last about 4-8 weeks.
Here in Florida, the shedding season for Smokey is typically in the Fall around October/November and again in Spring around March/April and lasts about 4-6 weeks. My other husky, Spaz, sheds year round and while it is quite daunting, there are some things you can do to help control the shedding.
Please note that you should never shave a husky as this will damage their coat and is unnecessary. While we may think that shaving the husky's coat will help to keep him cool, dogs are actually very different from their owners. They have very sensitive skin and if you shave their coat, they can actually get a sunburn. A husky's double coat acts as protection from the elements in both hot and cold weather. In the summer, their coat protects them from harmful UV rays, fleas, and other insects while acting as insulation to keep their body cool. In the winter, their coats will keep them dry from the snow and also insulate them from the cold to keep them warm.
Dog Rake
A dog rake is probably your best bet for a deshedding tool. This is my preferred tool to rake through the undercoat of my huskies. It helps to get so much hair out of their coat without harming their coat. I found that this is one of the best tools as compared to a bristle brush, slicker brush, comb, or shedding blade (aka curry comb). This is what I used in the above image of Smokey laying next to his hair.
With a dog rake, you can get out all of the mattes and it will reach the undercoat fairly easily. There are single row dog rakes and double row dog rakes available and either one will work to remove the loose hair from their thick, heavy coat.
FURminator
Ah yes, the FURminator which is a deshedding tool that claims to reduce shedding by 90%. There are many mixed reviews on this particular deshedding tool. Some dog owners claim that the FURminator will cut the dog's coat and leave behind a destroyed coat which will never grow back the same. While I have never used the FURminator, I suggest that you do your own research and make your own informed decision on whether to try this tool or not.
If you do choose to use a FURminator, please be sure to choose the FURminator that is made for long hair and be sure to get the right size for your dog, such a a medium or large. I believe the biggest mistake that owners make is that they probably used the short hair version instead of the long hair version. So please use caution when choosing the right FURminator for your husky.
Kong Zoom Groom
This handy little tool is quite magical. It is mostly used as a grooming tool, however it can also be used as a deshedding tool. The little rubber nubs will attract loose dog hair like a magnet and help to remove the loose hair from your dog's coat. The KONG ZoomGroom is also beneficial for your dog as it stimulates the capillaries and natural oil production for a healthy skin and coat. My huskies love it. They think they're getting a massage and even the hound wants in on the action when I break out the zoom groom.
Deshedding Shampoo
A deshedding shampoo can help to greatly reduce the amount of shedding while you groom your husky. I've never used a deshedding shampoo since I only recently found out about them myself, but I do plan to try this one out. I've heard great reviews for the FURminator deShedding Ultra Premium Shampoo and the matching FURminator deShedding Ultra Premium Conditioner. If you've used a deshedding shampoo, please let me know how it worked out for you - I'd love to hear your results!
Vacuum Brush Attachment
If your husky is not afraid of the vacuum or if you can get your husky used to the vacuum, then there is another alternative - a pet brush vacuum attachment. Personally, I have not had the opportunity to try any of these, as my huskies run whenever I get near them with a vacuum ... which they run away quite often because I try to vacuum at least 5 minutes per day.
The benefit of using the pet brush vacuum attachment is no mess left behind. You brush your dog with the attachment placed on the end of your vacuum hose. For example, with the Dyson Groom, you hold down the button as you brush. When the brush is full, simply let go of the button to enable the vacuum to suck all of that fur into the vacuum and voilá! No Mess! Seems simple enough... if only I could get my huskies to sit still for that one.
High Velocity Blower/Dryer
The high velocity blower/dryer is another one of my favorite tools, if not THE favorite tool of mine. I use my Mini K-9 Blower/Dryer for grooming, as well as, deshedding the huskies. For deshedding the huskies, I will put my husky on a leash, tie the leash to a tree in the backyard, and go to town! It is best to use the blower in an open space, as it will get messy! Hair will fly everywhere... and I mean everywhere. Simply use it like a blow dryer and blow the husky's coat thoroughly. All of the loose hair will fly all around you, but once you've removed most of that loose hair, then you'll find that there will be dramatically less shedding in your home.
When grooming, I recommend you de-shed with the high velocity blower before you bathe your husky. There will be less matting as you bathe the dog. What's great about the blower/dryer - after the bath, you can use it again to dry your husky's coat! A wet husky is stinky and smelly and it takes much longer for their coat to dry in a cold environment, so I use the blow dryer to get most of the wetness off of their coats before I let them back inside my house.
Tips for dogs who may be afraid of the blower dryer: Use a cotton ball and place one in each of their ears. This will reduce the noise from the blow dryer and cause less stress on your dog if it's your husky's first time. I used this method the first 3 times with my scaredy-cat dog, Spaz, and now he just ignores me while I blow dry his coat. I no longer need the cotton balls in his ears. While there are larger versions of the K-9 Blower/Dryers, I find that the mini version is the right fit for me. There are some less expensive options that you can check out, although I would be careful because some of them may not be as powerful as you need to remove the loose hair.
Visit my other blog post for more tips on how to deshed your husky with a high velocity blow dryer.
