If you're searching for how to deshed a husky, there's a good chance you're currently wearing more of your dog than your dog is. Deshedding simply means removing the loose undercoat before it lands on your floors, your clothes and your dinner. Done right, it keeps your husky comfortable and your house (mostly) fur-free. Here's the routine that works.
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What deshedding a husky actually means
Huskies have a double coat: a dense, fluffy undercoat for insulation and longer guard hairs on top. The undercoat is what sheds, lightly all year and in huge clumps during a coat blow, when your husky is blowing coat (sometimes called a husky blowout). Deshedding pulls that loose undercoat out while leaving the guard hairs alone. If you're not sure what's normal, our grooming guide explains how much huskies shed through the year.
The tools you need
- Undercoat rake: the main deshedding tool. Its long pins reach through the guard hairs and pull out loose undercoat.
- Slicker brush: for finishing, and for softer areas like the legs, tail and behind the ears.
- Metal comb: your final check. If it glides through to the skin, you're done.
- High-velocity dryer (optional): blasts loose undercoat out fast, especially after a bath. Start on a low setting.
About blade-style deshedding tools: they can work, but use them gently and only occasionally. Pressing hard or going over the same spot again and again can cut and thin the guard hairs your husky needs.
How to deshed a husky, step by step
- Go outside if you can. Deshedding a husky indoors is like opening a feather pillow in a fan factory.
- Start with a quick once-over using the slicker to loosen the top layer and find any tangles.
- Work in small sections with the undercoat rake, starting at the back end and moving forward. Brush in the direction the hair grows. Many groomers "line brush": hold the coat up with one hand and brush down a thin line at a time, so you reach the undercoat close to the skin.
- Spend extra time on the dense spots: the neck and chest, the "pants" on the back legs, and the base of the tail.
- Finish with the comb. Anywhere it snags still has loose undercoat.
- Check the skin as you go. Look for redness, flaking or bald patches.
- Reward your husky. Treats and short sessions make the next one easier.
How often should you deshed a husky?
Most of the year, one or two sessions a week is plenty. During a coat blow, aim for 10 to 15 minutes a day. Short daily sessions are easier on both of you than one marathon on a Sunday, and they keep the fur from spreading through the house. A warm bath midway through the blow, followed by a thorough dry, loosens a lot of undercoat at once. See our guide to bathing a husky during shedding season.
Deshedding mistakes to avoid
- Shaving. Never shave a husky to stop shedding. The double coat protects against heat, cold and sunburn, and it may grow back unevenly.
- Only brushing the surface. If you skip the undercoat, the loose fur stays trapped and comes out on your couch instead.
- Brushing too hard. Gentle and consistent beats harsh and fast.
- Ignoring the skin. Patchy hair loss, sores or constant scratching aren't normal shedding. Read normal shedding vs. skin problems and check with your vet if something looks off.
The fur will win some battles
Even with perfect deshedding, a husky home is a furry home. For the rest of the war, here's how to get husky hair off furniture, clothes and the car. And if your husky treats every brushing session like a tragic opera, they may already be a member of the Husky Drama Club.
What's your best deshedding trick? Share it with the Simply Husky pack in the comments.
Photo: Charles Chen on Unsplash