ATT: Siberian Husky Owners

[AvaJoy]

. . . or, to be more politically correct, Siberian Husky "guardians". ;)

Here it is almost the end of summer and once again my 2 senior Siberians have only partially shedded out. I wonder if the delay is due to their age; it cannot be blamed on the weather, as it has been a very hot and humid summer and I feel so badly that they can't seem to completely lose their winter coats. Has anyone ever had their Siberian clipped? I contemplated requesting this from their groomer.

Well, I just wondered if other Husky people have had this experience with their dogs, and how they remedied it . . . my old girls seem so miserable! :(

[ownerof3dogs]

I work at a vet office and the Docters son has a Husky. He shaves her down every summer. The cut is so cute they shave everything but her head and her tail. He said that she LOVES the hair cut and seems so much happier AND cooler.

[Stenograsaurus]

I always thought that shaving a dog like a Husky was bad for them because their skin easily burns. My Dakota (Husky) is shedding his undercoat now too. I thought the same thing, this is wierd. He had the undercoat all summer long and now that fall is coming, he's shedding. I don't understand it. I'm taking advantage of the lack of undercoat though by bathing him now. ;) When he has that thick undercoat, it's impossible to bath them. It takes too long for him to dry.

[mkgwolf]

My husky Kodi is done shedding except for a few spots like at the base of his tail. He started shedding at the begining of spring then it mostly stoped then he finished last month. I didn't think you really shaved huskys unless there are having a real problem with the heat or you live in a really hot place.

[Balto]

Hi There,

Avajoy, if you have Siberian Huskies, you might like to check this out...

Welcome To The Home Of Balto. (http://www.baltothehusky.co.uk)

[3-greys-and-a-mutt]

Some people in my neighborhood have a Keeshond, which has the very dense, long, double coat like huskies. They shear the dog very short once a year, in late spring, and he spends most of the summer outside. He seems very happy and active all summer, even on the hottest days!

[AvaJoy]

Thanks to all for the input! Maybe come next summer I will have my girls semi-clipped. Sadie is still retaining coat around her shoulders and derriere. Flanks are clean. Shasta, however, is still almost fully coated. Strange! At least the weather is cooling off some.

Balto ~ I didn't realize it was your website I was visiting . . . when I read your post, I didn't take note of your user name! Anyway, the website is so creative and I enjoyed it immensely! I had Shasta "sign" the guestbook, and she is correct; my photographic skills are virtually nonexistent but I will try to find/take some worthy of inclusion on your terrific website. Wish me luck! :)

[tatsxxx11]

My husky/shep Cody is STILL shedding out too. She blew out most of her undercoat in spring. But all those silly q-tippy things are still popping out on her flanks, base of her tail and around her neck! I too thought about having her clipped in springtime. She is sooo hot in summer, always digging a cool hole in the dirt or sitting in the shade. Bathing with that undercoat is almost impossible!!! I can't even get her soaped up well...and drying takes hours. :D

[AvaJoy]

Tats ~ I can relate! That is why I take mine to the groomers . . . I could never do as good a job, and would feel like I wasn't getting all the shampoo out.

If Cody is digging off-limits, try this: Just take a shovelfull of poop and distribute at the site! My girls were digging under my miniature Japanese Maples and disturbing the surface roots; one tree almost perished last season, but has rallied back since I discouraged the dogs with that tactic. ;) There is plenty of other tree shade in the back yard for them to find relief.

[ownerof3dogs]

I've noticed lately that Felice my German Sheoherd/Akita mix is shedding like crazy. I mean clumps of hair are coming out! I have been using the shedding blade. It really works well. Just make sure you use it outside.AvaJoy, Have you ever tried the shedding blade?

[AvaJoy]

Absolutely YES to the shedding blade . . . I had one for my horse so bought another to use on the dogs. A regular brush simply cannot penetrate their multiple layers of coat. It's funny . . . when we brush them (or rather shedblade them) there are piles of fur on the ground, and I take clumps and decorate the trees so it looks like snow in summertime! Dog hair is also great nesting material for the birds, so maybe THAT is why we have so may bird families on our property. :)

[Ewoodward]

Is a shed blade the same as what I call an undercoat rake??

My two youngest think it is great fun to chase and "kill" the "critters" I pull off the rake...especially if I toss the clumps in the air and it gets caught in a light breeze. When they are done, they spit the clumps of hair out in slimey wads (eeewww!)....

Sometimes I get creative, and will brush Scarf (almost completely black GSD), then Pharlap (even though his gaurd hairs are black, his undercoat is off-white), then Scarf again, and when I pull the "critter" off the rake, it looks like a skunk, with an off-white stripe going down the middle!! :p

[ownerof3dogs]

Originally posted by Ewoodward:
<STRONG>Is a shed blade the same as what I call an undercoat rake??
</STRONG>

No the rake works more like a brush. The shed'in blade looks like a blade. it has little teeth it like a saw and grabs the loose hairs. It works really well.
Here's a picture: http://www.allpetsmarket.com/images/P4217.jpg

[ September 05, 2001: Message edited by: ownerof3dogs ]

[Cinder & Smoke]

Here's some more "curry combs" and rakes:

the plastic or rubber "dog style" (http://www.dogpark.com/dcury.html)

Multiple images of different curry comb styles (http://131.103.217.12/index.htm?http://petvetsupply.com/allpetvetsupply/horse-grooming-supplies-brushes-and-combs.html)

The "Reversable Curry Comb", made of metal, has several toothed rings mounted on a handle. Same idea as the Shedding BLADE, the teeth dig into and pull out the dead hair. The Comb version puts more "teeth per inch" onto the critter :eek: than the Blade does - but with either one you need to be careful. Too much pressure on lightly furred (SP??) (legs, joints, backbones, etc) areas can HURT :(. Works great on long hairs (Cinder) and short hairs (Smokey) for daily grooming and during the dreaded "shedding seasons".

Most "good" horse Tack Shops or Feed Stores have the metal styles as well as the rubber and plastic versions. Enjoy :D!

[harleychicken]

Wrong, Wrong, Wrong!

You are NEVER supposed to shave a siberian or any other dog that has a thick undercoat. Their coats actually help insulate them from the heat, as well as keeping them warm in the cold. Do your research folks. I'd be scared of a vet who doesn't know this. The best thing you can do for your dogs are to brush them regularly (stimulates follicles and gets rid of dead hair) and if they MUST be kept outside in the heat, make sure they have shade and water at all times. And, yes, a dog's skin is very easily burned by the sun (along with their noses).

[wolf_Q]

Sorry if I'm saying something that's already been said....I didn't read all the posts.

I work at a grooming salon and I have a siberian husky. DO NOT get your dogs shaved! It is not good for double coated breeds, such as huskies. The undercoat helps insulate them against heat and cold. I would suggest that you get a grooming rake. A pretty big one that will go down in deep. I know where you can order the kind we use, and it really works nicely to get that undercoat out! A slicker brush works good to brush them with that first, and then the rake...because the slicker won't get it all out by any means. That shed blade will not do much for a thick coat, it works better on a short haired dog.

Actually, if possible, take the dog to the groomer and ask if they can help you get the undercoat out. I had to do this with a collie that had a real problem. If they brush before, after, and during the bath...and also use those high powered dryers, they can blow the coat out pretty good.

[harleychicken]

Hi everyone.....I said this before on another post but you should never, ever shave a husky or any dog that has the double coat!!!!

Their coat is made to keep them warm in the winter and protect them from the heat in the summer. Any husky book you find will tell you this. I would be afraid of a vet who didn't know this! They will burn easily, too. Normally, they will blow their coats twice a year.....in the fall when their winter fur comes in and in the spring when they get rid of it. The best thing you can do is brush, brush, brush....gets the dead fur out and stimulates the skin. By the way, I live in Florida and although I wouldn't dream of keeping my dogs outside, they are fine with all their fur and their daily walks in the heat.