Grooming

Grooming

The Best for Your Pet

Both breeds shed their undercoats twice a year. This is called “blowing the coat,” and it usually occurs in spring as the weather warms, and again in fall to make way for growth of a new undercoat for the cold weather ahead. You should never have the undercoat of your Siberian Husky manually removed and unless truly necessary your Aussies undercoat should not be shaved or otherwise removed either this coat is essential to keeping your dog warm in winter and cool in summer. Regular grooming, not undercoat removal, is the secret to keeping your Baby clean and comfortable. In addition, the coat is not only natural insulation in summer heat and winter cold, it protects the their skin from sunburn as well.
Puppies have a soft fuzzy undercoat but no real guard hairs to speak of. But between the ages of 10 and 14 months,  puppies will go through a complete shed losing all their of their fuzzy puppy fur. The puppy fuzz is then replaced by their full adult coat.

At least once a year the Siberian Husky sheds his entire undercoat. This process can last up to six weeks from start to finish. All dead hair needs to be brushed out to enable quick and strong re-growth. A warm bath and a blow dry will encourage the hair to drop out evenly and easily – making it easier to comb out. The aussie will blow its coat as usual each season. 

The husky sheds twicw a year in the coldef climates but does tend to shed throughout the year In warmer areas. Shedding is a natural process for both breeds. Dogs perspire only through their paw pads so getting rid of extra hair in the summer is an absolute necessity to prevent heat stress.

Never clip your dogs whiskers – they are sensory devices that your dog needs. Whiskers vibrate as a warning to the dog when they come into contact with something solid.

Brushing

The key to happy grooming is to teach your dog/puppy at a young age to accept being brushed and standing or laying quietly while it is being done. Wild dogs perform grooming sessions on each other frequently, it promotes social cohesion and reaffirms the hierarchy so continuous grooming/brushing mimics this natural behavior. 

Regular short grooming sessions should be undertaken at least once a week to keep coats healthy and shiny. Some people tend to forget about grooming as the winter turns cold and this is a big mistake. In the wet months the coat can begin to mat if it is not regularly brushed, matting destroys the insulating properties of the undercoat and makes for a very cold baby.

When brushing start with a wide toothed comb, preferably one with rounded teeth – this will help break up any mats. Then proceed to brush the coat vigorously, following the way the hair grows. Do small sections of the coat at a time.

Be sure to groom the whole dog, including the belly ,underneath the tail & ears where mats often hide!

Your grooming routine should include a flea inspection. Use a fine toothed metal flea comb, keep a glass of hot water nearby to dip the flea bearing comb in – the fleas will drown.

CLEANING

Siberian Huskies commonly groom themselves as much as cats do. Their furry undercoats contain natural oils that help to repel dirt. This means Siberians generally need bathing just once or twice a year. More frequent bathing can dry out the natural oils, causing skin problems. 

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Aussies need bathing more frequently especially if you have one that loves to play in mud, rivers, water bowls etc. They tend to get more in their coats that will not naturally cone out so bathing and grooming is essential with a good shampoo/conditioner  Used regularly, it helps to clean the dog and leaves a fresh scent and a shine on the coat, as well as helping to loosen tangles. When it is necessary to bathe the dog, use a shampoo formulated for dogs. Rinse several times after bathing to remove any shampoo residue. Clean the inner surface of the dog’s ears, using a cotton ball soaked in mineral oil to help guard against ear mites.

Please ask your vet for specific grooming needs for your individual pup.