How to Minimize Shedding in Siberian Huskies
By Shelly Navarro, ABCPG
With the weather turning a bit chilly to downright cold, it is only appropriate to focus on grooming one of the breeds meant to withstand freezing temperatures. Hailing from the bone-chilling tundra of Siberia, the marathon runner of the dog world has managed to become a favorite not only in colder, but also the warmer climates around the world. Even though Siberian Huskies do not need their thick fur coats in all the regions they have spread to, they have packed it along and are more than happy to share it with their owners.
Is Your Husky Blowing His Coat?
One important thing to take notice of before you begin is whether or not your dog is blowing his coat. Blowing the coat generally happens twice a year, in which the shedding becomes excessive. It will be easy to notice as you will be able to remove clumps of fur with just a pinch of your fingers. If this is the case, you have a much hairier job than if your Husky were not blowing his coat. However, with the right array of tools, you should be able to help this process along so you’re not knee deep in fur around your house.
Deshedding a Husky
Start with a quick all-over with a slicker brush, taking care not to press so hard that you brush burn the dog. This will help pull out those easy-to-grab clumps of fur.
Next, run a shedding blade over the thicker parts of the dog, such as the back, neck and rump. Now take a carding tool (these are often marketed as deshedding tools in commercial markets) and card the coat. Be careful not to overdo it, as you could potentially leave your dog with a bald spot if you card too much.
Afterwards, use a rubber curry to help remove the remainder of the loose hair that the previous tools did not grab. Keep in mind, your Husky will still be shedding, but it will not be nearly as extreme as before.
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Alternative Deshedding Tool
There is a faster way to accomplish much of the same deshedding accomplished with the various tools listed above. The trade off, however, is it’s a much pricier option.
High velocity dryers have the primary purpose of blowing water off a dog after a bath, but can also be used as a fast and efficient deshedding tool. A good quality, high velocity dryer will set you back several hundred dollars though. Ultimately, it is up to you and your pocketbook as to which method will work best for you.
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