🦴 Updated on July 8th, 2023
Did you recently bring a Siberian Husky into your family or are you considering getting a Husky sometime soon? If so, then you might be wondering, ‘Do Siberian Huskies shed a ton?’
If you have had a dog in the past that shed a lot, then you know the annoyance of dog hair all over the couch, chairs, and even your clothes.
As such, you need to understand exactly how much a Siberian Husky sheds before bringing one into your home and how best to groom this canine. Otherwise, your dog may have matted fur and other complications while your belongings will be full of pet hair.
Read our guide to learn how to best deal with your Husky’s shedding.
What Time of Year Do Huskies Shed?
Unlike other dog breeds, you will find that the Siberian Husky does not shed all year round. This dog sheds during the season change and the heat sets in (usually twice a year).
Right before the summer heat stroke comes, the Siberian Husky will “blow” or shed their winter coat in only a matter of weeks. It usually takes about three weeks for the winter coat to go completely. It is usually the thick and heavy overcoat that sheds during this time.
When the overcoat is gone, a much lighter undercoat will keep your Siberian Husky cool in the summertime. There should still be a double coat, but the topcoat will be much lighter than before.
Husky Shedding Season
You will see that some Huskies shed their fur only during the spring to keep cool in the summer. However, other Siberian Huskies tend to shed some during the autumn to remove their summer coat.
The shedding that occurs in the fall isn’t as major as in the spring, but it does leave your home with a large amount of hair in a short amount of time. Once the summer coat is gone, your Husky will begin growing a much thicker winter coat.
While the two times per year that your pup sheds may be annoying since your home will have a bunch of Husky hair on top of everything, it’s great that the rest of the year your dog won’t lose its fur due to the husky shedding season.
Do Siberian Huskies Shed a Lot?
During the Husky shedding period, you will find that the Siberian Husky does shed a whole lot. If you live in a hotter location, such as the southern states in the US, you can expect even more shedding from your Siberian Husky.
It might surprise or even shock you to see the amount of shedding that occurs in the spring and fall. Grooming your dog regularly will help keep the shedding to a manageable level. Constantly brushing the canine’s fur and giving it baths regularly will help reduce the massive amount of shedding.
How a Husky’s Double-Coat Works
The Husky has a double coat that protects its skin from damage, which includes a topcoat and an undercoat. The straight topcoat has guard hairs to keep away dirt, bug bites, sun rays, and water.
The undercoat has short and soft hairs underneath the topcoat. This undercoat keeps the dog warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It protects the canine when the temperatures skyrocket.
The double coat acts as an insulator in the cold winter while the shedding before summertime allows for the thinner undercoat to keep the Husky cool.
The Main Reasons Huskies Shed
Huskies mainly shed in the spring due to the rising temperatures outdoors. They shed during this time of year so that they can stay cooler on hot summer days.
In addition, they shed their summer coat in the fall so that their topcoat can grow thicker in the winter to keep the canine warm on cold days.
Weather changes cause Huskies to shed. Additionally, other factors can lead to shedding, such as:
- A parasite infestation, which causes shedding and loss of fur patches
- Allergic reactions to grass, new foods, or other items
- Stress or negative emotions
Can I Stop My Siberian Husky From Shedding?
There are key steps you can take to keep your Siberian Husky from shedding too much during the Husky shedding season. The typical steps you should follow include:
- Make sure your Husky has a healthy diet and the right nutrition with plenty of meat
- Keep your dog physically active and exercising regularly
- Never shave your canine’s coat
- Develop a standard brushing routine for your dog’s double coat
- Use the best brushing tools to manage your Husky’s hair
- When your Husky is shedding, give it an additional bath
- Implement a deshedding dog shampoo during bathtime
- If you have a female Husky, get her spayed, as shedding could be due to hormonal changes
- Use a vacuum to suck loose hair from your Husky
These nine steps are essential to keeping your Siberian Husky from shedding too much and causing dog hair to fall all over your furniture.
Husky Grooming and Shedding Tips
Grooming your Husky is essential to keep it from hair loss and to keep its undercoat fur from matting and tangling. You should brush your Husky’s hair for at least 20 minutes every time. You can either groom your canine every day or at least two to three times per week.
This is the minimum amount to keep the Husky’s coat healthy. You’ll want to do regular brushing to remove the loose hair before it gets all over your furniture. You’ll also need to get the right brushing tools for grooming your Husky. Your local pet store is likely to have plenty of dog brushes and deshedding tools to choose from.
How to Groom a Husky
The most basic part of grooming your Husky is to brush the coat thoroughly at least once or twice a week. Use a wide-toothed comb to remove some of the tangles and matting in your dog’s fur.
Start brushing the undercoat and remove loose hair from the fur. When grooming the overcoat, brush in the direction that the hair is growing. During the Siberian Husky shedding season, you’ll need to brush more regularly. Lastly, bathe your Husky thoroughly to remove shampoo every month.
Why Husky Deshedding Is a Bad Idea
Shaving or deshedding your Husky is not wise, as it can leave your dog’s coat very tangled, messy, and matted. In addition, a Husky’s double coat insulates your dog from the cold during the winter.
During the summer, your dog may get overheated without a topcoat, which usually protects its skin from direct sunlight. If you shave or cut its hair, you’ll find that the topcoat grows back quickly in messy patches. This is why Husky deshedding may be a bad idea.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why is My Husky Shedding So Much?
Your Husky may be shedding too much because of food allergies. Try changing your pup’s food and see if it helps reduce shedding. High-quality dog food needs to have meat as its main ingredient without any fillers, like grains or bone.
What is the Best Husky Shedding Brush?
One expert guide found that the Thunderpaws Best Professional Deshedding Tool is the best overall Husky dog brush. This pin brush is the best one for removing extra hair when your dog starts shedding. It provides professional grooming at a very affordable price.
Are Deshedding Husky Protocols Safe?
It is not a good idea to use deshedding tools on your Husky, as they can cut the hair instead of merely brushing out loose hair. As mentioned above, deshedding a Husky can lead to matted hair. Also, it will leave your dog too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter.
Should I Bathe My Husky?
You should bathe a Husky about once per month. Essentially, whenever your canine starts to smell or the fur gets matted, it’s time to give your Husky a bath.
Should I Shave My Husky?
Shaving a double-coated dog like the Husky can lead to significant and irreversible health problems. Shaving its coat will damage the fur and get in the way of a healthy and normal shedding routine.
The coat layers will then grow at different speeds. It will lead to patches of fur and potentially painful matted fur for your dog. As such, it is definitely not recommended to shave a Husky.
Before You Go
Now that you know how to deal with your Husky shedding and how to groom it properly, you won’t be as irritated since you’ll see less dog hair on your furniture. Instead, you can go out and enjoy a great day playing catch with your Husky at the local dog park.
