If you are reading this, you are either considering getting a Husky and are concerned about the shedding factor, or you are currently being driven mad by the amount of hair your Husky is dropping.
How can we stop a Husky from shedding?
Deep down, we all know the answer to this question is – you can’t.
But this article will look at some Husky shedding tips, like the best Husky brush, to at least make things a little less painful for you and your dog.
Tip 1: Get To Know Your Dog’s Shedding Cycle
Huskies blow their coats twice a year, in readiness for changes in the weather that a new season brings.
Blowing the coat means that the Husky will drop the undercoat, which are the fine hairs beneath the outer guard coat, that act as insulation in cold weather by trapping air between the fibers.
If you live somewhere warm, expect that this process will happen more regularly. It is the dog’s body’s way of adapting to hot weather, to help it stay cool.
Tip 2: Commit To A Regular Grooming Routine
When your Husky is in a shedding phase, you have to brush them every day. This means using a rake brush to remove the undercoat, and finishing off by using a slicker brush on the outer guard coat. Yep, it’s a full-time thing, and simply a part of life with a Husky.
Even when a Husky is not in a blow-out phase, they still need to be groomed using this regimen at least once a week.
Tip 3: Invest In Good Grooming Gear
This means getting a good rake brush, and a good slicker brush.
A rake brush has metal pins that pick up the dead undercoat hairs. Make sure you are slow and careful with the brush so you don’t get these pins snagged on the dog’s skin.
You check out for rake brushes on Amazon here. The Furminator is probably the best-known rake brush on the market currently. Some people swear by it, but it has to be used correctly to avoid damaging a Husky’s guard coat. There are plenty of YouTube clips online that can show you how to do this properly. You can view this one here, made by a veterinarian clinic, so you know it’s trustworthy.
Tip 4: Invest In Good Cleaning Gear
In order to minimize the amount of dog hair in your house, in your car, and on your clothes, you will need some supplies.
The first thing you want to invest in is a vacuum cleaner that has been designed specially for households with pets. The Miele Cat and Dog is amazing.
It may cost a little more, but they last for years. This vacuum cleaner has a head with a rotating brush inside it which picks up pet hairs from carpet and furniture. It also comes with various nozzle attachments for the hose so that you can get into the nooks and crannies that the regular head can’t reach, like down the sides of the sofa for example.
Roller brushes that have adhesive tape which can be torn off after one use are fantastic if you are headed out the door in a rush and realize your clothes are covered in dog hair.
Tip 5: Head Outdoors To Groom
If you have somewhere safe and secure outside, it makes sense to groom your Husky in your backyard (weather permitting). A windy day is great because you just let all of those big tufts of hair blow away!
If you don’t want hair in your yard (or in your neighbor’s yard, for that matter), take a large rubbish bin liner with you to stuff the hair clumps into as you work, for easy disposal when you are finished.
Tip 6: Do Not Shave A Husky
Their beautiful coat will never grow back the same if you do this. Shaving will not stop the shedding either.
Tip 7: Train Your Husky To Be Groomed
Make sure you get your Husky used to grooming from a young age, so at the very least when you do groom them you only have to contend with hair, and not a boisterous dog jumping all over you trying to escape the brush!
Tip 8: Practice Acceptance
You can’t have your cake and eat it too, as the saying goes.
If you love the look of a Husky (and let’s face it, who doesn’t), then you have to accept their shedding too. It’s just a part of Husky life! They are totally worth the effort.
Tip 9: Consider Getting A Husky Hybrid
Huskies are sometimes crossbred with other purebred dogs to produce a dog that looks similar to a Husky but does not shed as much as a Husky.
These breeds include Poodles (who have non-shedding, hypoallergenic coats), Whippets (which have short, fine, low-shedding coats), and Doberman Pinschers (which also have this type of coat.)
Learn more about: Husky Mixes That Don’t Shed
Tip 10: Take The Best Of Care Of Your Husky In Other Ways To Reduce Shedding
This means only bathing them each 3 to 4 months. Over-bathing might be tempting as a means of removing hair, but ultimately this will dry the dog’s skin out and lead to other problems (and Huskies are prone to skin problems in the first place.)
Feed your Husky the best nutrient-rich diet you can afford. You can buy dog food that is specially designed for dogs with sensitive skin.
Exercising your Husky daily means that not only will they be in tip-top condition both mentally and physically, it means that some of the loose hairs will come out during a vigorous work-out.
We hope that these tips are helpful when it comes to dealing with Husky shedding. Instead of viewing grooming as a hassle, try to see grooming sessions as an opportunity to bond with your Husky, and a chance to spend some quality time together.
Read more about: 7 Of The Best Deshedding Tools For Huskies
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