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Siberian Huskies shed a lot! Sometimes constantly, more often periodically through the year. What can you expect and how to deal with it? Here are our tips:

What to Expect

The shedding of the fluffy undercoat is also known as molting or blowing coat. As the new topcoat comes out, the undercoat is pushed out and deposited wherever the Husky goes. This will be in your yard, on the floor, on furniture, and on your hand if you stroke your Husky during molting season.

Typically your Husky will shed twice a year, once between September and February, then again between March and August. However, this isn’t a hard-and-fast rule. Some Huskies might shed just once, and others (particularly in warmer climates) will shed constantly through the year.

Shedding can take anywhere from two to six weeks, typically somewhere in the middle. During this time you will find yourself constantly vacuuming up the hair and fluff around the house. Many Siberian Husky owners suggest investing in a good vacuum such as a Dyson Vacuum to make the job easier.

First Shed

Your Siberian Husky Puppy will start shedding coat early on, from when you bring it home from the breeder, around 8 weeks of age. However, this might just be the odd hair. When the Husky is a bit older, around 6 months, you might experience the first coat blowing. Of course the larger the dog gets, the more coat it has, and more of a problem this will get.

Use the time early on to get the Husky used to be groomed. Even if the coat isn’t shedding, you can still practice combing your puppy and having it get used to the feeling of stroking it and pulling a comb through its fur. You might want to start off with a softer brush, and groom for short periods of time (5 minutes here or there). Have the puppy stand for you while you groom, and reward with a little food treat to help encourage this behavior.

Ongoing Grooming

Once the puppy is used to the sensation of a soft comb you might want to upgrade to one that is specially designed to extract dead hair. The “Furminator” is a very popular choice that is effective and lasts a long time, making it cost-effective. However, there are many brushes around and you can get advice at your local pet store if unsure. Check out our guide on the best brushes for huskies for more info.

Minimizing the Work

Nobody ever suggested owning a Husky would be easy! Grooming is one of the necessary jobs you need to do along with exercising and playing.

Shaving your Husky is a very big “no no”, no matter how warm your climate is. A Husky’s coat actually helps block out harmful sun rays and helps regulate the dog’s temperature. If you shave the coat off your Husky is likely to overheat or get cold very quickly, not to mention look ridiculous!

You can call in a professional dog groomer to help, but the reality is you can’t have them present 24 hours a day. You will just need to accept the build-up of fur around the home and try to deal with it the best you can.

Owners of smaller Husky dogs such as Minis and the Alaskan Klee Kai suggest the problem is more manageable because of the smaller dog size.

Wrapping Up

Owning a Husky comes with special responsibilities in the grooming department. Enjoy a positive attitude that after all the playful mess that your dog will leave during shedding season, you will have a very clean and good-looking dog for another 6 months!

Siberian Huskies are surprisingly good at taking care of themselves, licking themselves clean much like cats. However they do need particular attention paid to the coat when they molt, plus a regular grooming session once a week can help keep your Husky puppy looking fabulous. And who doesn’t want a fabulous-looking Husky?

Grooming For Young Husky Puppies

It is really important to start grooming Siberian Huskies early in the puppy stage. Their coats develop within weeks of birth. Also in the first 12 weeks of their life, they are most accommodating in learning new behaviors and routines that will last a lifetime. However if you have adopted a dog that has grown out of its younger puppy stage, it is never too late to start!

How often should you groom your Husky?

Once a week, for the life of the dog, you should do some basic grooming. It is important to stand the dog up to get it used to be groomed in this fashion. A standing dog makes it much easier for you to get through your grooming tasks efficiently and effectively.

A weekly brush of the coat will help keep it neat and tidy and dislodge any loose hairs or dirt that might be stuck in there. Brushing also helps avoid matting. Matting is likely to occur if you don’t brush your dog, and he or she likes getting wet in the rain, snow, and ice. You can find more tips about brushing, as well as our favorite tools we use right here – “The Best brush for Huskies“

Molting

The molting (hair shedding) process usually happens once a year as the weather starts to warm up in spring and summer. Some dogs might shed twice a year, and some none at all, depending on the environment. A young Husky puppy is unlikely to fully shed in its first summer but might drop a few hairs around. When your puppy reaches 10-14 months old a major shedding will occur as the “baby” coat makes way for a thicker adult coat.

The molting process will typically start with a few sprinkles of fur dropping loose before the real action begins. A Siberian Husky will shed a lot of hair. A LOT. The bigger the Husky is, the more hair it will shed. If you have ever seen how much wool a sheared sheep gives, you are on the right track.

You will need out your Husky with some brushing. You can start with a larger, wide-toothed comb and brush out as much loose hair all over the body. Look for a comb or rake with rounded teeth (like this one  –PawsPamper Extra Wide Undercoat Rake) to avoid scratching the dog’s skin. You can use a fine-toothed comb for the head and neck areas where the fur is thinner.

Here is a video that shows just how much effort is needed to keep your Siberian Husky looking good, and how much hair can be shed in just one grooming session:

Washing

Most owners will only give their dog a bath once a year, after shedding. You could get your dog professionally washed, or you could take your dog down to a local hydro-bath to do it yourself.

If you have the space you can do it at home – just make sure you use a shampoo formulated for pets and follow the directions on the bottle. After washing you may towel-dry your Husky and, if you feel it is necessary, a light blow dry with a hairdryer at its weakest heat setting.

After the dog tries this is a great time to apply any flea, tick, and other parasite controls that dogs in your area require.

Other Grooming Activities: Eyes, Ears, and Nails

For the eyes simply grab a damp cloth to wipe the area clean of excretions, dirt, etc.

For the ears check once a month for signs of infection, mites, or other parasites. Any redness, discharge, or unusual odor will require a visit to the vet to check it out. There are also ear-cleaning lotions available that you can apply yourself if you want your Husky to look its best.

Nail clipping needs only be done from time to time. Once a month have a look and see if the nails need a trim. It really depends on the environment your dog is into whether nails are under control or not. Like all grooming, the earlier you start the better. You can start clipping the nails of a puppy at just 4 weeks old to help it get used to the sensation of the clippers.

Things To Avoid 

•   Over-washing your Siberian Husky is a no-no. Oils secreted by the skin help protect the dog. Bathing will wash those oils away. A bath just once or twice a year is fine, or of course if your dog finds its way into something really messy and needs a helping hand.
• Shaving the coat of your Husky is also to be avoided. The outer coat helps repel water, whilst the inner softer coat insulates the dog from both the heat and the cold. Let the coat do its job and you will have a happy Husky.

Finally, like all pets, clipping whiskers is not necessary. The dog doesn’t like it.

Your lovely young cute Siberian Husky puppy is going to molt. You can not avoid it, so get used to it! Importantly, start with some basic grooming as early as possible so that your puppy gets used to being handled. You might have to brush and vacuum up the hair left behind, but think of it this way: at the end of the molting process you are going to have a dog with a lovely coat to protect him or her for months!