How to Deshed a Dog at Home

How do you deshed a dog at home?

You deshed a dog at home by removing tangles first, brushing out loose hair in sections with a tool that suits the coat, using an undercoat rake only if the coat has a dense undercoat, then checking the skin when you finish. A bath can loosen more hair, but brushing does most of the work.

Deshedding does not stop a dog from shedding. Shedding is how a dog replaces old hair. Deshedding removes the hair that has already come loose, so less of it ends up on your floor, your clothes and in your dog's stomach when they groom themselves (VCA).

Work somewhere easy to clean, with treats nearby. Keep the first sessions short. A trainer quoted by the AKC suggests brushing your dog while they stand, sit and lie down, and rewarding them if they don't like being touched in sensitive spots (AKC).

Step 1: Check the coat and remove tangles

Run your hands over the whole coat and look closely behind the ears, under the armpits, in the groin and along the back of the legs, where tangles form most often (VCA). Work small tangles apart gently with an appropriate comb, such as a steel comb, before any brushing (AKC). Never pull on a tangle. A mat splitter is a specialized cutting tool, so ask a groomer to show you how to use one safely. Leave tight, extensive or skin-level mats to a professional groomer or your vet (VCA).

Step 2: Brush out loose fur with the right tool

Brush one section at a time: neck, shoulders, back, sides, chest, then legs and tail. On a short coat, the AKC suggests brushing against the direction of hair growth first to loosen dead hair, then with the growth to remove it, and repeating a few times (AKC). On a longer or double coat, go over each section with a slicker brush until less and less hair comes out.

Step 3: Use an undercoat rake if the coat needs one

This step is only for dogs with a dense undercoat, and mainly during heavy shedding. The AKC's advice is to switch to a coat rake or de-shedding tool when shedding really picks up, pull the tool along the coat in the direction of hair growth, then up and away, and not to press hard with bladed tools (AKC). Short, light strokes are enough. If the skin looks pink or irritated, stop the session for the day.

Step 4: Bathe and dry your dog if needed

A bath during a heavy shed loosens more undercoat, and the AKC notes that a shedding-control shampoo can help remove loose hair (AKC). Only bathe a coat that is already free of tangles: VCA warns that tangles can become impossible to remove after a bath (VCA). Rinse thoroughly and dry the coat all the way down to the skin, using a safe, comfortable drying method.

Step 5: Brush again and check the skin

Once the coat is completely dry, brush through again to catch the hair the bath loosened. Finish by parting the coat in a few places and looking at the skin. Healthy skin should be clear, not red, flaky, greasy or bumpy (VCA). Brushing sessions are also a good time to spot lumps, fleas or ticks.

What is the best way to deshed each coat type?

The best way to deshed a dog depends on the coat. VCA describes three broad coat types: short coats without a distinct undercoat, double coats with guard hairs over a soft undercoat, and coats that keep growing and barely shed (VCA). Each one needs different tools.

How do you deshed a short-haired dog?

A short-haired dog, such as a Beagle, Pug or German Shorthaired Pointer, can be deshed with a natural-bristle brush or a grooming glove (AKC). With a glove, massage the coat in small circles to loosen hair, then stroke in the direction of growth to lift it away. VCA lists grooming gloves and short-bristle brushes as ideal for smooth coats like pointers and boxers (VCA). If a lot of soft, fluffy hair comes out of a short coat, ask your groomer or vet whether your dog has an undercoat that needs a slicker brush or comb as well.

How do you deshed a double-coated dog?

A double-coated dog, such as a Husky, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Collie or Corgi, has a harsh topcoat of long guard hairs over a soft, dense undercoat (AKC; VCA). The undercoat can come out in clumps during a heavy seasonal shed. Use a slicker brush to work through the coat in sections, then a grooming rake or steel comb to lift loose undercoat, and a wide-tooth comb to check for knots. The AKC suggests combing a double coat two to three times a week to prevent mats (AKC).

What about long, curly or continuously growing coats?

Dogs whose hair keeps growing and barely sheds, such as Yorkshire Terriers, Shih Tzus and Poodles, need regular brushing, bathing and haircuts rather than deshedding (VCA). Long, silky or curly coats need daily brushing to stop tangles, and VCA suggests a slicker brush for curly coats and a long-toothed comb for long coats like a Collie's. A bladed deshedding tool isn't designed for these coats.

Which tools should you use to deshed a dog?

The right deshedding tool is the one that reaches the loose hair in your dog's coat without scratching the skin. This table pulls together the AKC and VCA guidance:

Sources: AKC; AKC; VCA.

You don't need every tool. Most short-coated dogs only need one brush or glove; many double-coated dogs benefit from a slicker, a comb and, for the heavy seasons, a rake. Your groomer or vet can recommend tools for your dog's coat (VCA).

How often should you deshed your dog?

How often you should deshed your dog depends on the coat and the season. Heavy shedders may need brushing several times a week, or daily during peak shedding, while lighter shedders still benefit from regular brushing (AKC). VCA notes that double-coated breeds often need daily brushing (VCA).

Many double-coated dogs go through two heavy sheds a year, in late spring and late fall, when much of the undercoat falls out in clumps (VCA). People call this "blowing coat" (AKC). In spring, dogs lose the heavier winter coat; in fall, the lighter coat makes way for thicker insulation (AKC). Short-coated dogs without a distinct undercoat tend to shed steadily all year instead.

The timing isn't the same for every dog. Seasonal shedding is driven by temperature and daylight hours, so dogs who spend most of their time indoors under electric light may shed year-round (VCA). Let the amount of loose hair guide you: brush more when more comes out.

Does bathing help deshed a dog?

Bathing helps loosen dead hair, but bathing is not a replacement for brushing. VCA advises against relying on baths as your main deshedding method, because bathing too often can dry out the skin; VCA's summer grooming advice puts every few weeks or once a month as about right for most dogs, and many dogs need baths less often than that (VCA). VCA also notes that dogs with a heavy undercoat benefit from a bath in spring or fall, during their seasonal shed (VCA).

How often a dog needs a bath depends on its coat, activity and skin condition. Our guide to how often you should bathe your dog explains the factors that matter.

What deshedding mistakes should you avoid?

• Pressing hard with a bladed tool. Deshedding tools with blades only need light pressure (AKC). Too much pressure, or too many passes over one spot, can scratch and irritate the skin.
• Pulling on mats. Work small tangles out gently and avoid pulling (VCA). Leave tight or large mats to a groomer or your vet.
• Using the wrong tool for the coat. A rake built for a thick undercoat does little on a smooth coat, and a bladed tool isn't meant for curly or continuously growing coats.
• Bathing before brushing. Tangles left in before a bath can tighten and become impossible to remove (VCA).
• Shaving a double coat to stop shedding. Grooming experts generally advise against shaving double-coated breeds. The topcoat and undercoat grow back at different rates, so the coat can regrow uneven and stop working properly (AKC). VCA adds that dogs should never be shaved to the skin unless a vet recommends it for medical reasons, because shaved dogs face a higher risk of overheating, sunburn and skin cancer (VCA).

When is dog shedding a reason to see the vet?

Shedding is a reason to see the vet when it comes with bald patches, inflamed skin or a sudden increase in hair loss (AKC). Seasonal shedding can leave the coat less dense without producing bald patches or irritated skin. Clumps and drifts of undercoat during a seasonal shed are expected.

VCA lists several possible causes of excessive shedding, including allergies, parasites such as fleas or mites, hormone problems such as hypothyroidism, digestive problems and an unsuitable diet (VCA). Stress also makes many dogs shed more; dogs often shed heavily at the vet clinic (VCA). Only a vet can work out the cause, so don't try to treat heavy shedding with supplements or diet changes before asking your vet (VCA).

Sources

1. Dog Shedding: When Dogs Shed Most and How to Manage It (American Kennel Club)
2. Double-Coated Dog Breeds: Care, Grooming, and Shedding (American Kennel Club)
3. Grooming and Coat Care for Your Dog (VCA Animal Hospitals)
4. Coat and Skin Appearance in the Healthy Dog (VCA Animal Hospitals)
5. Grooming Tips to Keep Dogs & Cats Cool in Summer (VCA Animal Hospitals)
6. The Importance of Your Pet's Skin and Coat and the Role of Diet (VCA Animal Hospitals)
7. Summer Dog Grooming Tips (American Kennel Club)
8. Signs Your Dog Is Stressed and How to Relieve It (VCA Animal Hospitals)