The Siberian Husky is a gorgeous, majestic dog breed. But if you’re not familiar with huskies and you’re considering owning one as a pet, you’re likely wondering if huskies shed or how much they shed. In today’s article, I’ll discuss that and much more that relates to huskies and their shedding habits.
Do Huskies shed? Yes, Huskies shed and they are moderate shedders, releasing fur consistently and then ramping up their shedding two times per year. These are seasonal shedding spikes that help the dog prepare for winter and summer, respectively. Regular grooming is a great way to control excess shedding!
Ahead, I’ll elaborate even more on how much the Siberian Husky sheds, when its rate of shedding is abnormal, and how to control shedding so your home doesn’t become overrun with tufts of dog fur.
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Do Huskies Shed a Lot?
The Siberian Husky is a moderately high shedder. I would rate him a 3 out of 5 on a 5-star scale.
To help you better understand a Husky’s rate of shedding, he sheds less than the Akita and Alaskan Malamute but more than a Havanese or Maltese.
Why is the Husky a moderate shedder? Let’s take a look.
Thick Fur
Well, for one, the Siberian Husky has rather thick fur.
That simply means there’s more hair to go around, and go around it can.
Fortunately, I’ll tell you in the next section how to keep your Husky’s shedding under control, so make sure you keep reading.
Short Fur
Secondly, the Husky is a relatively short-furred breed.
Before I can explain why this contributes to his rate of shedding, I need to discuss how dogs grow their fur.
All dogs grow hair in four stages. These are anagen, catagen, telogen, and exogen.
- The anagen stage is when the hair grows. For a shorter-furred breed like the Husky, anagen does not last long.
- Then, the hair moves onto the catagen stage, where growth stops.
- Next is telogen, a period of rest.
- Finally, the hair actively releases during exogen since the hair’s lifespan is over.
This hair growth and shedding cycle repeats infinitely over a dog’s lifetime.
Keeping that in mind, a short-haired dog will go through the cycle a lot faster than a longer-haired breed such as the Afghan Hound. Thus, short-furred dogs shed more.
Double-Coated
I saved the most significant reason for last.
The Siberian Husky is a double-coated dog. Considering the dog survived the brutally cold winters of Siberia, it makes sense that he’d have an extra layer.
A double-coated dog has an undercoat and an outer coat.
The undercoat is usually close-cropped but woolen fur that allows a dog to trap heat close to its body.
The outer coat is comprised of guard hairs, which are longer, sleeker hairs that repel dirt and grime.
A double-coated dog does something that single-coated dogs do not, and that’s shed especially heavily twice per year.
The phenomenon is known as blowing his coat.
The first time this will happen is in the late spring. During this period, the Husky is eager to slim down his heavy winter coat so he can stay cool for the summer.
It’s not all that different from how you begin transitioning out your winter wardrobe for your summer wardrobe once the days get longer and warmer.
Summer ends eventually, and autumn brings colder shorter days. Before the coldest stretch of winter gets underway, your Husky will shed again.
This time, he’s dropping that thin summer coat for a heavier, bulkier winter coat.
Both periods of seasonal shedding tend to last for several weeks at a clip.
How Can I Control My Huskie’s Shedding?
All dogs shed to at least some extent, and that’s the case for the Siberian Husky as well.
However, you don’t have to stand idly by as your house collects mountains of dog fur that stick to your furniture and stand out on every dark-colored outfit you wear.
Instead, try the following measures for reducing your Siberian Husky’s shedding.
Brushing
By far, grooming your Husky is the best way to control his shedding, as brushing is beneficial in a variety of ways.
First, as you comb through your Husky’s fur, your brush is catching and collecting the loose hair before it can fall off your Husky’s body.
Each time you give them a comb-through, you should collect puffs of hair. That’s hair that won’t end up on your couch!
The other reason that regularly grooming your dog is so advantageous is this. When you brush your Husky, you’re spreading skin oils across its body.
This keeps their skin moisturized and supple. Dry, itchy skin will cause your dog to scratch, and all the irritation from scratching can make their fur come out.
You can’t just use any type of brush for the Siberian Husky. Remember, this is a double-coated dog with rather thick fur. I would suggest a slicker brush or a pin brush for the job.
A slicker brush is a firm-bristled wire brush that’s recommended for de-matting, de-tangling, and loosening knots.
A pin brush is usually a wooden brush that features a series of wire pins throughout. Each pin has a ball attachment to protect your dog’s skin.
I would recommend weekly brushing when your Husky isn’t going through seasonal shedding. During those periods, it’s a good idea to brush your dog every single day.
Bathing
A clean dog is a happy dog, and that goes for the Siberian Husky as well.
Since he has a dirt-repelling outer coat, the Husky admittedly doesn’t need a bath all that often.
If yours is an exploratory dog that loves to spend time outside, then you might bathe your Husky every week.
For those who keep a primarily indoor dog that doesn’t get into messes often, it’s okay to wait upwards of six weeks.
Tools
Besides your arsenal of brushes, I’d also suggest investing in a pet hair vacuum cleaner.
These aren’t the standard type of vacuums, so you will have to go out and buy one separately.
A pet hair vacuum cleaner has more suctioning power to collect even small loose hairs.
An included air filtration system can lessen the amount of pet dander in the air. Should you share the house with anyone who suffers from dander allergies, this is huge.
Plus, you get specialized attachments such as a motorized roll brush so that no pet hair remains on any surface in your home.
My Husky Is Shedding More Than Usual – Why?
It doesn’t matter whether your dog is typically a low-shedding breed or a higher-shedding one, at any point, they could shed more than their breed standard calls for.
This is usually indicative of something being wrong, so let’s take a look at the causes of your Husky shedding excessively.
Nutrient Imbalances
I would recommend starting with your Siberian Husky’s diet first.
What kind of food are you giving your dog? Is he eating a nutritious, balanced diet, or is his food full of processed ingredients?
A dog needs a diet with carbohydrates for energy, minerals and vitamins for health, fats for brain functioning, and proteins for muscle health.
If your dog is deficient in one or more of the above areas, then they might begin shedding more often than they should.
Check that your Husky’s diet doesn’t include too many fillers. If you see a lot of rice and grains on the ingredients list of their food, they’re probably not getting enough protein.
You don’t necessarily have to buy your Husky the most expensive dog food on the block, but it is worth it to change food brands if their food has more preservatives than anything else.
Food Allergies
Another food-related issue that could cause your Siberian Husky to shed more is having a food allergy.
Yes, just like you and I, your dog can develop a food allergy.
The list of allergens that can trigger allergy symptoms in a dog is long and includes soy, lamb, chicken, eggs, wheat, dairy, and beef.
When a dog is allergic to ingredients in its food, one of the chief symptoms is hair loss.
Additionally, you may notice that your dog also has recurring ear infections, diarrhea and/or vomiting after eating, red eyes, and eye discharge.
They may also develop leathery-feeling skin or skin pigmentation, rashes and hot spots, and itchy paws. Your dog may sneeze a lot, and their rate of ear and skin bacterial and/or yeast infections goes up.
I would advise you to bring your dog to the vet if they’re experiencing any of these symptoms. Your veterinarian can examine your Husky to determine if they may have a food allergy.
To confirm it, the vet will typically change your dog’s diet to foods and ingredients he’s never had before. Then, after a while, you’d slowly reintroduce your Husky’s usual foods.
If your dog’s symptoms return, then he has a food allergy.
There is no treatment for dog food allergies. All you can do is keep the allergen(s) out of your Husky’s diet moving forward.
Overbathing
I mentioned before that Huskies don’t have to be bathed often.
If you’re plunking your dog in the tub twice a week or more, that’s likely too much.
Dog shampoos, even though they’re formulated for four-legged friends, can still cause your Husky’s skin to dry out if you apply the shampoo too frequently.
Try cutting back on how often you bathe your dog for weeks. If the itching and shedding symptoms subside, then you’ll know you need to scale back on bathing in the future.
Flea Infestations
Is your Siberian Husky on an anti-flea medication? If not, then it could be a flea infestation that’s causing their itchiness and shedding.
The only way to be sure is to take your dog to the vet.
Your vet will do a skin test and a visual examination. On adult dogs, after all, a vet can use their trained eye to spot fleas, typically without any kind of optical tools.
If your Siberian Husky has been suffering from a flea infestation, he’ll need an anti-flea medication such as a flea collar, pills, or even a medication injection.