Dos and Don’ts of Husky Dog Grooming

When you think of a diverse breed with a thick double coat, big striking eyes and a dramatic personality, you know we're talking about the one and only Husky. There are multiple types of Huskies with unique breed profiles that make them individually unique. 

HOW TO GROOM A HUSKY DOG?

Grooming a Husky can seem like a daunting task specially when you consider their size and their dramatic personality. WeKnowYourDogs will advise you to leave the task of grooming for such a breed to the professionals. However, if you still insist on learning how to grooming a husky, we have you covered.

For a dog such as the Husky you will need a bunch of tools and a dedicated space for the purpose of grooming these fluff balls. Professional grooming salons may have everything necessary for grooming your dog, but if you groom your Husky at home, you will need to do the prep work before you get started.

Required tools 

To groom a Husky effectively, you'll need the following tools and equipment:

• Nail trimmers
• Styptic powder
• Ear cleaning solution
• Cotton balls
• Clippers
• #40 and #15 blades for pads
• #4F blade for feet & hocks (optional)
• Slicker brush
• Greyhound comb
• Rubber curry
• Carding tool
• De-shedding tools
• Small detailing shears
• Thinning shears
• High-velocity dryer

Set up your grooming station like a professional 

Coat Care 

As we all know, Huskies usually have dense, double coats that tend to shed heavily and require extensive care. Let's discuss their coat type before we dive into how to care for a Husky coat.

The Husky dog, generally has a thick double coat. The first layer closer to the skin is a under coat which is made up of short, dense, fluffy hair. This is the layer responsible for keeping them insulated by trapping air in between. The second, outer layer is comprised of a tough coarse guard layer that protects them from harsh sunlight and insects. Their coat helps regulate body temperature during all seasons. 

At least once a year, your Husky will shed their entire coat, this is usually during transitional seasons. This process lasts for about 6 weeks, and during this time, they will need additional care and regular grooming to keep them in good shape and matt-free. 

You must NEVER shave a Husky; the only exception is when the vet does it for medical reasons, such as horrible skin infections or a bad case of mites. 

Blowing a Husky’s coat 

Huskies naturally shed their coat once a year, and the process lasts for six weeks, so you have to speed up the process by blowing them if you want to avoid fur all over the house. You must regularly brush your coat during this season, which is more than the usually recommended 3-4 times a week. Brushing will encourage shedding and promote healthy hair growth. You can use a shedding brush or a furminator once a week; it will make the job much easier, along with shedding control products. Make sure to always vacuum afterwards to prevent loose fur from scattering all over the house. 

Blow Dry the Coat:

Point the high-velocity blower nozzle directly into the coat, aiming for the undercoat.

Check for Skin: If the coat forms a smooth, flat circle without fuzz, there’s no extra hair left to blow out.

Identify Problem Areas:

Look for fuzzy or clumpy areas and focus the blower to remove excess hair from those spots.

Use the Undercoat Rake & Blower Together:

In One Hand: Hold the undercoat rake.

On the other hand, use the blower or dryer.

Method: Start at the skin and work downwards, raking gently to avoid pulling or tugging the hair.

Avoid Grooming in One Spot Too Long:

Move around the dog’s body to evenly blow out and groom the coat.

Final Brush:

Once the hair is dry, back comb or brush smoothly to even out the coat and feel for any missed lumps or uneven areas.

All the dead and loose fur on the coat will come out, you can do this both before and after bathing your Husky.

Brushing your Husky

A slicker brush, an undercoat rake, a rubber curry are mandatory, however anything with bristles or metal teeth should be used with a lot of precaution as they can cause cuts and brush burns. 

Start with a wide tooth comb to separate the hair that is matted. Grab your slicker brush and brush along the direction of hair growth to get rid of any loose fur; you must pay special attention to areas of matting and tangles. Always spray your Husky with a conditioning mist before you start brushing them when dry. Then, proceed with an undercoat rake to remove the fuzzy dead undercoat.   

You must brush them both before and after bathing them. A wet, tangled fur can be a horrible nightmare for both you and your Husky.

Tip: Brush your Husky after applying conditioner when bathing them to ensure all tangles have been removed. The best brushes for Husky fur maintenance are the slicker brush and undercoat rake. These brushes help remove loose fur and prevent tangles without damaging the coat. Pay special attention to areas that matter often. These include under the tail, around the legs, and the stomach area, which is often ignored.

Spotting fleas

When Checking for fleas, use a fine metal tooth comb and gently split the fur to look for black or brown dot-like entities. Post spotting, dip the comb in hot water with the aim to drown these dots; if the infestation is severe, consult your vet for treatments. 

Bathing your Husky 

Huskies naturally shed and regrow their coat which is why their skin does not produce a lot of oil, hence they tend to stay clean for the most part. However, they still need to be bathed. Some indications such as bad odour or a matted coat is your sign to schedule a bath. 

Some groomers suggest bathing them twice a year, some suggest bathing them every 3-4 months. Always use organic products designed for dogs; in particular, using oatmeal-based conditioners can help liven up a dull, ratty-looking coat while also soothing any irritated spots. 

Thoroughly wet the coat and apply shampoo by massaging it through the fur, ensuring it reaches all the way to the skin. Follow up with a light conditioner to hydrate and nourish each strand without altering the coat’s natural texture.

Make sure to really get down to the skin when shampooing your Husky and clean out all the gunk. Thoroughly rinse after until water runs clean. 

Most Huskies will give themselves a "snow bath" in the winter by flipping onto their backs and rolling around in the snow. This natural behaviour helps keep them clean, with a little assistance from Mother Nature. 

EFFECTIVE TECHNIQUES FOR SHEDDING SEASON 

1. Use a Shedding Blade

Essential Tool: A shedding blade is a must for Huskies.

Why? Brushing with a regular brush won't remove the undercoat properly.

2. Reverse Brushing Technique

Method: Brush against the direction of hair growth, starting from the tail to the head.

Purpose: Moves the top layer of hair aside to reach the undercoat, where most shedding occurs.

3. Short Strokes for Best Results

How: Use 1-inch strokes, starting from the tail and moving up the back and sides.

Don’t Forget: Brush the stomach and tail (in the direction of hair growth).

Under the tail: Brush in both directions as the hair grows outward.

4. Be Gentle on Thin Areas

Front Legs & Back Legs: Fur is thinner, and bones are closer to the skin. Use a lighter touch to avoid discomfort.

5. Alternate Between Tools

If the undercoat rake clogs after every minute, switch back to the shedding blade for more efficient grooming. Afterwards, resume with the rake to finish the job.

Ear, Dental Hygiene and Nails  

Huskies are highly prone to plaque buildup and tooth decay, it can be so severe that your dog may entirely give up eating. This why their teeth need to be brushed regularly with dog tooth paste, If your pooch is fussy and won’t comply you can always give them dental chews making it a fun activity or even use finger brushing methods. 

Ears for Huskies, same as any other dog, are a sensitive spot which is highly prone to infections. They need to be cleaned regularly by swabbing them with a cotton ball soaked in ear cleaning solution until it comes out clean. Trim the excess hair with thinning sheers. 

Nails should be ground or cut off every 4-6 weeks to help maintain a healthy foot structure. 

Trimming the Paw Pads

This is the only part of the body where a Husky will need trimming, that is under the paw pads. Use a close cutting action blade ranging from15 to no.40 and gently clean off the hair on the pads. if there is any fur between the toes, brush it back until it stand upright and use thinning sheers to trim it off and create arched toes.  

CONCLUSION

We recommend that you have your Husky groomed professionally every 6-8 weeks to keep them in top-notch condition. By following proper techniques of brushing, bathing, caring for their nails, ears and dental hygiene mentioned in this article, to educating yourself about their coat, you can find the right tools, techniques and products to keep your Husky well groomed.  

If your Husky tends to get aggressive when being groomed check our guide to grooming an aggressive dog.