What’s the best brush for huskies? This is undoubtedly a question that owners of this unusual and popular breed will ask themselves, especially when their beloved dog begins to shed!
The Siberian husky is a dog with a special coat that requires particular care to keep the fur in good condition.
In this article, we’ll look at how to choose the best brush for huskies and how to cope when they shed.
But first of all, let’s examine why the husky’s coat is so different from those of most other dog breeds.
The Siberian Husky Coat — Or Coats to be Precise!
Did you know that a Siberian husky has two coats?
The top layer of fur acts as a protective layer against UV rays, dirt, debris, and excessive moisture. This part of the husky’s coat is called the “guard coat”.
Beneath the guard coat lies the “undercoat”. The hair of the undercoat is much softer than that of the guard coat.
The undercoat acts as an insulator and temperature regulator to keep the dog warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Although most husky owners brush their dogs on a regular basis, they often don’t brush deep enough to remove loose undercoat.
That’s why they find great tufts of shed fur all over the house!
Siberian Husky Shedding
Your husky will shed his coat continually during the year, but there are two primary annual shedding times.
The main shedding events occur in the spring and fall, in line with temperature fluctuations and changes in daylight hours.
Your dog sheds his underfur in preparation for his new coat coming through according to the new growing season.
This process is commonly referred to by husky owners and professional groomers as, “blowing the coat.”
The Husky Shedding Season
The usual husky shedding season lasts between four to six weeks. During this time, you may feel as though your home has vanished beneath a blizzard of undercoat!
Thankfully, there are a number of grooming tools that can help you to cope during this time, including the best brush for the husky undercoat.
We’ll look at the best brush for a husky in more detail later.
Husky Health and Shedding
Shedding is a perfectly normal “husky thing.” However, excessive shedding can sometimes occur because of other health problems, and it’s important that owners are aware of this.
If your husky has flaky skin, a dull coat, and their fur feels rough under your fingers, they may be suffering from an allergy.
It could also be that their is a deficiency in their diet, or they may be suffering from physical pain or stress.
Sometimes, female huskies can experience sudden outbursts of shedding, due to hormonal changes during pregnancy or following neutering.
If your husky is showing signs of itching and scratching, look carefully among the thick hair to make sure that there are no fleas, parasites, or ticks present on the skin.
Skin allergies or coat problems should be referred to your vet for professional advice.
How to Groom Your Husky – Removing Loose Undercoat
Before you begin your search for suitable husky grooming tools, you’ll need to know how to groom your husky!
First of all, you must teach your dog to stand or lie still while you pamper him. Most dogs love this treatment so you shouldn’t have a problem!
If you decide to bathe your husky before you groom him, that’s fine. A good bath can help to remove any remaining loose hair and freshen-up your pup!
Just remember not to try to brush your husky until his fur is completely dry.
Use the rake or brush to groom the hair in the direction in which it grows. Keep on grooming your dog gently until all the loose undercoat is gone.
Grooming the Guard Coat
Grooming the guard coat is easier than tackling the undercoat. Here’s where you’ll need a wide-toothed comb to break down any mats and remove tangles.
You may find it easier on your pup’s skin if you use your fingers to detangle the hair first.
Work from your dog’s shoulder, towards his chest and stomach. Groom the back legs and tail last.
Brush the coat in the direction of growth and tackle small sections at a time.
Be sure to continue grooming your husky in the winter months. A husky’s coat will mat if it’s not brushed regularly.
Mats destroy the insulating properties of the undercoat, leaving your husky cold and shivering when the weather turns cold!
Husky Grooming Tools
When looking to choose the best brush for a husky, you’ll need to choose the right tools for the job.
Despite having such a thick and lustrous coat, a husky grooming kit doesn’t actually need many tools!
So, what’s the best brush for husky hair?
Brushing With the Right Husky Grooming Brush
When you’re trying to control your husky’s coat loss, the best brush for husky shedding is simply an undercoat rake!
An undercoat rake is the best de-shedding brush for a husky. The rake can be used to get deep into the coat, gently brushing away all the trapped hair.
You’ll need to use the undercoat rake once every few days, starting at your dog’s head and working right across his body through the whole coat.
As you groom, be very careful to apply only gentle pressure and avoid the sensitive areas of the armpit, groin, and behind the ears.
Any clumps of loose hair in these areas should be very gently teased out with your fingers.
Best Grooming brush for Huskies
Although your husky will enjoy being groomed, try not to go overboard!
Avoid brushing or combing the same spot twice. When your husky is shedding, repeat the grooming process every few days, once his skin has settled down.
Use your rake or a wide-toothed comb and a slicker brush to carefully groom your husky.
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Husky Dog Grooming Tools NOT to Use!
Although de-shedding blades and other similar tools can work very well on some breeds’ coats, they can be extremely destructive on your husky’s fur if you use the wrong kind.
But surely de-shedding tools do remove lots of loose hair! And they do!
However, these tools also slice through the cut hairs, rather than brushing them out. The result is often a rough, choppy-looking coat that lacks shine.
And that’s not what you want for your husky.
Best Brush for Huskies
You can use a long hair Furminator to groom your husky when they’re shedding.
However, you must use the Furminator very gently and as per the manufacturer’s instructions so that you don’t damage the shiny guard hairs that protect your dog’s undercoat.
The FURminator deShedding Tool for Dogs is the most popular de-shedding tool that’s currently on the market.
Regular grooming during the shedding season with a FURminator can reduce shedding by as much as 90%.
This is thanks to the tool’s ability to reach deep into your dog’s coat to remove any dead and loose underfur.
The FURminator is designed to sit comfortably in your hand as you groom your husky. That’s important, as it can take quite a while to work your way through all that thick undercoat!
Husky Undercoat Brush
Of course, there are lots of other husky dog brushes that can work really well for your pet, keeping his skin and coat in great condition.
We just love the Safari Pin & Bristle Brush! This brush is one of the best-selling husky brushes on Amazon and is ideal for large dogs with thick coats.
The bristle brush distributes the natural oils through your dog’s coat, keeping it shiny and soft. The bristles work by gently teasing out any dead hair and debris.
The bristles are plastic-ended so they won’t scratch your dog’s skin.
Another useful husky shedding brush that we like is the Glendan Dog Brush.
The pin brush is designed to pull out loose hair and dander while detangling matted hair and getting rid of accumulated debris and dirt.
Husky Undercoat Rake
The most important husky grooming tool in your armory is an undercoat rake. An undercoat rake can be used to remove mats from the fur, as well as to get rid of loose hair.
A popular product on Amazon is the Evolution Undercoat Rake, which comes in two different sizes.
The rake’s pins are fitted in a double row with a single row between. The pins rotate as you groom, effectively removing loose hair and preventing mats from forming.
Our second favorite undercoat rake is the PawsPamper Undercoat Rake.
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This cleverly designed husky grooming tool has rounded blade edges to protect your dog’s skin from scratching as it gently teases out loose hair.
The smart wooden handle is comfy in your hand – an important ergonomic consideration for busy owners and pro groomers alike.
Husky Wide-Toothed Comb
A very important tool in your husky’s grooming kit is a wide-toothed comb.
Our favorite wide-toothed comb is the Andis Pet Steel Grooming Comb.
After you’ve used the undercoat rake, use this comb to find any remaining mats that you missed on your first pass.
This is a perfect tool that’s super-affordable! The extra-long form makes this comb ideal for reaching hard-to-access areas to remove deep-seated mats and debris.
The one downside to this tool is that it may bend over time. However, the cheap cost of replacement more than mitigates this.
Best Brush for Huskies — Summary
When it comes to choosing the best grooming kit for your husky, you only need a few basic tools!
You’ll need a Furminator (especially for long-haired breeds), an undercoat rake, a slicker brush, and a wide-toothed comb.
Brush your husky regularly using these tools to keep his coat and skin in great condition, paying particular attention to him during his twice-yearly shedding sessions!
Do you have a Siberian husky? How do you manage when he’s shedding? What’s your favorite best brush for your husky?
Why not tell us all about your Siberian husky grooming adventures in the comments section below?
References and Further Reading
Siberian Husky Club of America
Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain
Nadine Rich says
Love the paws pamper undercoat rake, the best brush for undercoats hands down!
Srikanth says
Hey there!
I just got my husky groomed with a furminator. I read a lot of posts commenting not to do so.
The groomer definitely said she ll get rid of the loose hair that is just about to fall off.
Hope I did not ruin his undercoat by getting this done.