29/05/2026
Deshedding season is here… and we’re right in the thick of it 🐾 Handsome Maui enjoying his pamper today ❤️
Why does my dog shed?
Before we pick up a brush, it’s important to understand why dogs shed in the first place. Shedding is the body’s way of getting rid of old, unneeded, or damaged hair to make room for a fresh, healthy coat.
What are the benefits of deshedding?
So, why bother with a full deshedding routine? Well, it’s about more than just a clean sofa.
* Prevents matting - When dead undercoat stays trapped against the skin, it quickly tangles with live hair, leading to painful mats.
* Improve coat health - Removing the dead weight allows the skin to breathe and natural oils to circulate, resulting in a shinier, healthier coat.
* Reduces allergens - Most dog allergies are actually reactions to dander attached to loose hair. Less hair in the home means fewer allergens in the air.
* Temperature regulations - A packed undercoat acts like a heavy woolly jumper in the summer. Deshedding helps the dog stay cool and comfortable.
Signs your dog needs deshedding:
Sometimes, a quick once-over with a standard brush isn’t enough. If the dead undercoat isn’t removed, it stays trapped against the skin, which can be extremely uncomfortable. Here are the key signs that it’s time for a professional-grade deshedding treatment.
1. Visible clumps and tufting
The most obvious sign, particularly in double-coated breeds like Huskies or Golden Retrievers, is the appearance of small tufts of fur sticking out from the coat.These are clumps of dead undercoat that have detached from the follicle but are still trapped by the topcoat. If you can easily pluck these out with your fingers, it’s time for a deshedding session.
2. Constant scratching and itching
Trapped dead hair acts like a jumper that’s too tight. It prevents air from circulating to the skin and can cause the dog to feel itchy and overheated. If a dog is scratching more than usual but has no signs of fleas, it’s often because the skin is suffocating under a packed undercoat.
3. An increase in fur in the home
If you find yourself hoovering every day and are still seeing what feels like tumbleweeds of hair in the corners of the room, the dog’s natural shedding cycle is in overdrive. This is a clear indicator that the coat needs a deep-reaching deshedding brush to remove hair at the source.
4. Changes in coat texture
A healthy coat should feel smooth and look glossy. If the coat starts to feel crispy, dry, or looks dull and dusty, it’s likely because the dead undercoat is masking the healthy guard hairs. Deshedding helps restore the coat's natural lustre and soft feel.
5. Matting and tangles
When dead hair isn’t removed, it begins to twist around live hairs, creating knots. These tangles usually start close to the skin, in high-friction areas such as behind the ears, under the armpits, and around the back legs. If you feel hard lumps in the fur, the shedding has progressed into matting.
Pop me a message if you’d like to find out more ❤️
