Husky Winter Coat vs Summer Coat

Owners of any ‘fluffy’ breed of dog, Huskies included, will know all about shedding. If you have made the decision to own one of these breeds, then you will hopefully already know that to love a Husky means to accept the fact that dog hair will now be a part of your life.

So what do new Husky owners need to know about Husky shedding? When do dogs shed their winter coats? And what about your Husky in the Summer?

Read on to find out all you need to know about the Husky Winter Coat vs Summer Coat.

Husky Shedding

Your Husky is a very smart dog. Did you know that your Husky will only drop its coat depending on the weather?

Yes, that’s right. If you live somewhere cold, expect that your Husky will shed their coat twice a year.

They will drop their fur in Spring to get ready for the warmer Summer months.

They will shed again in Fall/Spring, to prepare for Winter coat growth.

If you live in a warmer climate, your Husky will shed more often, to accommodate the change in temperature.

This may be annoying for owners, but it is really important for the dog, in order for it to feel cool and comfortable.

In the Winter, you do not need to brush your Husky all that often. Once a week should suffice.

In the Summer, your Husky will start to drop big tufts of fur. By this stage, you will need to brush your Husky every day or two until the shedding phase ends.

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When Do Dogs Shed Their Winter Coat?

Generally speaking, your Husky will drop a huge amount of fur twice a year. This is also called ‘molting’.

The reason for this is because Huskies were bred to endure colder climates. The Husky has what is called a ‘double coat’. It has a soft and fluffy undercoat, which is designed to trap air inside the strands. This keeps the dog warm.

The thicker, coarser, outer coat is sometimes referred to as a ‘guard coat’. As the name suggests, this guard coat keeps out rain and snow, keeping the undercoat dry.

Given that the dog will not need this undercoat during warmer weather, these are the fibers that your Husky will shed when the temperature rises.

Breeders and people in the Husky world often refer to this major shed or molt as ‘blowing the coat’.

Husky In The Summer

As previously stated, your Husky will drop much more fluff in the warmer months.

Don’t worry, this is normal. It is an adaptive feature of the breed designed to keep your Husky cool during the Summer. Just like humans, who layer their clothing depending on the season, so too does your clever dog!

Therefore, you will need to invest in a very good quality dog brush.

One good option is a double-sided paddle brush, with metal teeth on one side. These wire teeth will remove the soft undercoat hairs that are beneath the guard coat.

The other side of one of these brushes has soft bristles. These will smooth down the guard coat and remove any hairs that the wire teeth of the brush missed.

When To Brush?

It is best practice to brush your Husky when they are a pup, even if they do not need it. Puppy fur is not the same as adult fur. But do it anyway, but be gentle. This is more to get your Husky used to having its coat brushed, rather than to remove excess fur.

This way, you Husky can become accustomed to the sensation of having a brush run through its coat. Some dogs even come to enjoy the brushing!

But if your Husky gets ‘nippy’ or bares its teeth at you, back off. It has clearly had enough for one day, or you have been too rough with the brush. Leave it for today and try again tomorrow.

Small tidbits of dog treats are a good way to go if you have a dog who hates to be brushed. Go slow, be reassuring, and offer food rewards for good behavior.

Other Husky Brushing Advice

If possible, it is best to brush your Husky outdoors. Expect there to be lots of fur.

Your Husky will need extra brushing around the tail and on their underside/belly.

It is also a good idea to keep a disposable rubbish bag with you during brushing sessions. Otherwise, your house or yard will have lots of hair blowing about, and no one wants this! You will need to pull the hairs out of the brush frequently, to ensure that it is working to the best of its capabilities.

Another tip is to invest in a roller brush so you can quickly and easily remove dog hair from your clothing and your furniture. Also, invest in a good quality vacuum cleaner that is specially designed to pick up dog hair – you’re going to need this.

Please refrain from having a groomer ‘strip’ the coat. This involves having the hair pulled out by the root. OUCH! This is unnecessary for the Husky breed.

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