Huskies have a lot of fur and shed twice a year, but don’t let it intimidate you: Grooming is easy if you know the secrets (hint: never shave your Husky’s coat!). Tim Vogel, CEO of dog grooming franchise Scenthound, combs through his top three Husky grooming tips.
How to groom a Husky
Tip 1: Never shave a Husky’s coat
Huskies are double-coated, meaning they have a top coat of longer, harsh hairs and a soft, down-like hair undercoat that provides heating, cooling and protection. Shaving a Husky can make him hotter and cause his skin to sunburn. Shaving also damages the top coat and disrupts the hair growth cycle, meaning it may take years to grow back correctly, Tim shares.
Because Huskies naturally shed, there’s no need for regular trips to the groomer. Focus on brushing and quickening the shedding process with the right tools (listed below) to keep your Husky’s hair and skin looking healthy.
To maintain healthy nails, read our guide on trimming your dog’s nails at home, or visit your professional groomer every 4 to 6 weeks.
Skip the shave for these other dog breeds.
Tip 2: Establish a Husky grooming routine
Husky grooming should include monthly baths and weekly brushing, at the least. This keeps the undercoat from matting, Tim says. A tangled coat is more than just unsightly — it’s straight-up painful, says Tim.
Keeping track of your weekly grooming schedule in a journal helps establish and maintain good habits.
Tip 3: Groom more often during shedding season
Lastly, Tim urges Husky parents to do extra grooming during shedding seasons, which typically occur twice a year in the Spring and Fall. During this time, Huskies shed their undercoats, also referred to as blowing their coats, which regulates their body temperatures during different seasons. Bathe them weekly and brush daily. This removes the loosened coat and prevents matting, Tim says.
Shedding seasons also means hair everywhere! Here are our top picks for cleaning up dog hair.
Tools for easy Husky grooming
The four most important Husky grooming tools are:
- Specially-formulated de-shedding shampoo and conditioner | Dogster’s pick: Furminator Ultimate Hair Reduction System
- High-velocity pet blow dryer to quicken the de-shedding process | Dogster’s pick: K-9 Fluffer Dryer.
- A good quality slicker or pin brush to get past the top coat and untangle the undercoat | Dogster’s pick: Andis Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush
- A de-shedding tool | Dogster’s pick: Andis de-shedding tool, which can reduce shedding by 90%.
With the right tools and knowledge, dog parents will find it easy to keep their Husky tangle free.
