Is it okay to cut a Husky s hair

Can you shave a husky? (Never & heres why!)

Many owners message in asking whether they can shave their husky. In this article, Ill explain why its particularly important not to shave a husky, what happens if they are shaved, and some additional tips to keep their coat healthy.

You should never shave a huskys coat unless needed for medical reasons. A huskys coat plays an important role to keep him healthy and safe. Shaving it could lead to significant health issues.

4 Reasons Why Huskies Should Not Be Shaved

There are key reasons why you should not be reaching for the clippers. Check them out below:

1) Shaving Affects Temperature Regulation

Your huskys body temperature is nearly completely controlled by his coat. His double-coat plays an extremely important role in keeping him warm during winter and cool during the summer.

Its easy to think that his thick coat will cause him to be too hot in the summer, but its quite the opposite. The undercoat sheds, creating a lot of air circulation and space. At the same time, the topcoat acts as a blocker for UV rays as well as direct heat.

Shaving his hair off will completely disrupt his temperature control and effectively contribute to overheating.

2) Their Coat Stop Insects and Dirt

Your husky will be an adventurous soul, hell love to roam around in the yard, on walks and hikes, and he will often come back dirty.

His strong topcoat plays an important role in keeping his skin clean. It blocks most dirt from reaching his skin and it also provides an effective barrier against many bugs and insects.

If you live somewhere hot, this is particularly helpful and will stop many biting insects from reaching his skin. If you shave your husky, you will be taking away this protective layer.

3) Shaving Does Not Help With Shedding

With double-coated dogs, comes a lot of heavy shedding and a lot of dog owners dread this time of year. Usually twice per year, your double-coated dog will need to blow his coat.

This will undoubtedly give your house a new fur carpet. Shaving doesnt stop this. There is no way to stop this type of breed shedding.

The only thing you can do is control shedding. I have an in-depth article on the best way to control husky shedding here.

4) Shaving Could Ruin Their Coat For a Long Time

Single coated breeds hair grows back normally. Double coated is a little different for double-coated breeds, the undercoat grows faster than the topcoat (if the topcoat grows back at all!)

This leads to the new coat coming through to be of a rough texture; a mixed undercoat with topcoat situation will likely happen.

For the unfortunate huskies who have had this done to them, the owners reported the coat to grow back sticky or velcro like. This texture doesnt allow for any airflow at all, and once again will cause health issues.

Does Husky Fur/Hair Grow Back?

In most cases for young healthy huskies, their fur/coat will grow back if shaven. But this isnt always the case for seniors or for those already with health conditions.

However, as explained above, even if the coat does grow back, theres a strong chance of it growing back matted or with a sticky texture.

Maintaining Your Huskys Coat Without Shaving

Proper grooming is required for all breeds, but especially those with double coats. Its important to develop a good brushing routine and be consistent with it.

Consistent grooming helps to remove the dead hairs from the coat and allows for better air circulation throughout. It also stimulates the skin and distributes essential oils around the coat, keeping it strong, shiny, and healthy.

Its much easier and more effective to groom little and often than one time for a long time. (10-15 minutes per day than 1-hour once a week). This kind of brushing routine will keep your huskys coat perfect.

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Tips To Keep Your Huskys Coat Healthy

Asides from regular grooming there are other ways for you to ensure your husky has a healthy coat.

Ensure protein is high

A lot like human hair, a dogs coat is made up of around 90% protein, so when theres a lack of protein, the hair will suffer significantly. Your huskys diet plays a big part in their overall health and well-being as well as their coat.

Learn what type of allergies your breed is susceptible

Huskies, in particular, can suffer from various allergies, which can really affect their skin and coat. This goes for other breeds too. Things like diet and environmental factors usually cause the most allergies.

Essential fatty acid, vitamins, and minerals

Getting the right micronutrients is just as important for our fluffy friends as they are for us. Omega-3 and 6, vitamins and minerals play a big part in skin health and coat health so make sure your husky is getting enough.

Although there are supplements, its generally preferred to get these nutrients through a healthy, balanced diet containing many vegetables. And use only natural dog shampoo!

Exercise

Exercise is a huge contributor to overall health and well-being. Though it may not show instant benefits to the skin and fur like grooming would, it is still very important. If your fluffy friend has good overall health, its likely their skin and coat will reflect that. Huskies need more than the average recommended amount of 1 hour per day. Ideally, your husky should be receiving a total of 2 hours per day of intensive physical exercise.

Summary

So there you have it, now you know why you cant shave your husky, and you have further tips on maintaining a strong healthy coat.If you have any grooming tips, we would love to hear them! Drop a comment below

Can You Shave A Husky? Everything You Need To Know

Are there any risks associated with shaving Siberian Husky dogs?

By shaving your huskys coat, you could harm your huskys lifestyle and provoke skin diseases and other problems without even knowing.

Below are some common statements we hear when it comes to the debate on shaving your husky. We look at these statements and provide the facts, so you know right from wrong.

Shaving a husky can help with temperature regulations

Wrong.

Your Husky doesnt need to be shaved to control its temperature. Huskies are double-coated, and as such, this breed can auto-regulate its temperature. Their coat protects them from both hot and cold weather.

If you want to help your dog during Summer, you should give him a lot of water and brush him regularly.

Shaved huskies are less likely to suffer from allergies

Wrong.

Their fur helps Huskies to stop dirt and insects from clinging to their skin. This protects them from getting allergies and other skin conditions that can affect their lifestyle.

The Husky double coat also gives them protection against UV rays. Sun radiation is actually harmful to both humans and dogs, and huskies have this natural barrier in their skin. Take that away, and your Husky may be getting pretty bad sunburns.

Shaved huskies have a more stylish look

If you want a more stylish look in your Husky, you can groom him instead of shaving him. A shaved husky will always have significant problems with its skin or coat.

Remember that Huskies have two layers, the Top Coat, and the Husky Undercoat. When you shave both, you deteriorate the double-coat functionality. You also leave your dog vulnerable. Most people prefer the look of a well groomed husky.

If you shave your husky, you may see your dog have difficulties growing back their coat.

How To Groom A Siberian Husky? 5 Things You Should Know

Siberian Huskiesare noted for their thick, luscious coats, which traditionally played an important role in keeping them warm in their cold native climates. Made up of two layers adense undercoatand a longer top coat aSiberian Huskys coatcan keep it warm in freezing temperatures as low as -76F.

At first, the upkeep of a Siberian Huskys coat might seem complex and time-intensive, but grooming your Husky is actually a relatively easy and straightforward process. Beyond regularweekly brushings,Siberian Huskiesreally dont require very much grooming. Your Huskys undercoat may require a bit of extra attention during the shedding season, but otherwise, Siberian Huskies are considered to be fairly low maintenance dogs.

By investing in a few vital tools and understanding a few key brushing techniques, you are already halfway to having a well-groomed, happy Siberian Husky. While there are a few other aspects of grooming, such as bathing and nail clipping, that you will need to familiarize yourself with, these will only need to be done relatively infrequently.

What makes a Siberian Huskys coat so special?

As the name might suggest,Siberian Huskiesoriginatedfrom the far northeastern areas of Asia, in regions that would be commonly classified as Siberia today. They were brought over to America in the 20th Century when Alaskans noted their suitability for the harsh, freezing climate in Alaska.

Siberian Huskiesare able to thrive in environments such as Alaska and Siberia because of the unique nature of theirdouble coats.

In basic terms, adouble coatmeans thatSiberian Huskieshave two layers of fur a downy, insulating undercoat, and a thicker, protective topcoat.

The undercoat

The undercoat of a Siberian Husky is its main protection against their freezing native climates. The thick, fluffyhairsof the undercoat typically have a crimped appearance, which helps to retain heat and keep your Siberian Husky warm.

Siberian Huskieswill shed their undercoat twice a year, usually during spring and fall. This process, which is also known as blowing the coat, is similar in principle to the way a snake sheds its skin; Siberian Huskies need to shed their old undercoats so that a new undercoat can grow.

Siberian Huskieswill usually have a much thinner, or even a non-existent undercoat during thesummer monthsto help them keep cool. Their thicker winter undercoat will have all the classic warm, woolly trademarks that make Siberian Huskies uniquely suited to very cold climates.

The topcoat

Thehairsin a Siberian Huskys topcoat are known asguard hairs. They act as a protective layer for the skin and the undercoat. The long, straight hairs of this coat repel water, ice, and snow, blockUV raysand allow the Husky to both keep cool inwarm weatherand stay warm in cool weather.

Similar to most dogs, the topcoat of Siberian Husky sheds gradually, year-round.

Tools for grooming a Siberian Husky

Given the difference in composition of a Siberian Huskys two coats, as well as the different roles that each coat plays, it is perhaps not surprising to learn that the undercoat and topcoatrequire different brushesand different brushing techniques.

When grooming your Siberian Huskys undercoat, you will need to use a toothed comb, also known as an undercoat rake (click here to see the best undercoat rakes).. These wide-toothed combs are importantgrooming toolsthat help to keep thehairsin your Siberian Huskys undercoat free from matting and clumping.

The topcoat of a Siberian Husky needs to be groomed using aslicker brush. These brushes are paddle-like brushes that will help smoothloose hairs and detangle your huskys longguard hairs. The slicker brush will also help remove dead skin cells and dander that can otherwise become trapped.

While it might be tempting to use the ever-popularFURminatoron your Siberian Husky, especially during shedding season, the use of this particular grooming tool iscontentious among Husky owners.

The reason for this is that theFURminatoracts on a Huskys coat much in the same way that a set of shears acts on a sheeps wool. In effect, you are not brushing out your huskys coat, but rather cutting it. This is considered an unnecessary step and can even be seen as having a negative impact on the natural shedding process.

Other grooming items that are worth investing in include a good, strong set ofnail clippers, a high-quality pet shampoo, and a hairdryer. AlthoughSiberian Huskiesmay only need to take baths very infrequently, it is wise to ensure that you have the right tools and products ready to go in case of a muddy, messy emergency!

How to Groom a Siberian Husky

Once you have your various brushes and tools, its time to get familiar with the correct ways to use them.

You should always begingrooming your Siberian Huskyby using theundercoat rake. This will help break up any tough, underlying matts in your Huskys fur, and will make thegrooming processa much easier and simpler task.

Using theundercoat rake, brush against the direction ofhair growth. In other words, brush away from the tail towards the head. The long, wide-toothed combof the undercoat rake will gently prise apart any mats and clumps of fur, and can easily penetrate below the long, straight hair of the top coat.

Theslicker brushcan be used to smooth and detangle the topcoat and should be used by making firm strokes in the direction of your Huskyshair growth, from head to tail.

Theslicker brushcan also be used on your Huskys paws. During thesummer months, when they dont require protection from ice and snow, you may even wish to trim the long hair between your Huskys toes. This can be done using trimming scissors just be careful and ensure you have a firm grasp on your Huskys paws to stop them from slipping.

If you find that there are any tough clumps or mats of fur during the brushing process, you can try and loosen them using a little pet shampoo or conditioner.

How often should I brush my Siberian Husky?

At a minimum, you should aim to brush your Siberian Husky at least once a week. This will prevent the formation of any hard to manage clumps and mats and will keep your Siberian Husky looking shiny and healthy.

During the times of the year in which your husky is blowing its coat, you may need to increase the frequency of yourgrooming sessions to two or three times a week. This will help your Husky to shed their undercoat effectively, and will also help you control the amount of fur in your home!

Should I trim my Siberian Huskys fur?

You do not need to shave or trim your Siberian Huskys fur, even in summer. In fact, shaving your Siberian Husky may prove harmful.

The long, straightguard hairs that make up a Siberian Huskys topcoat act to keep your Husky cool during the warmer months. If your Husky has shed its warm winter undercoat (with the aid of your careful brushing!), then they should be able to stay cool, even on hot days.

Additionally,Siberian Huskiesdo not havepigmentation on their skin.Instead, their topcoat helps shield them against harmfulUV rays. Shaving their topcoat will expose them to these rays and put them at risk of sunburn.

If you must trim your Husky, the trimming should be very minimal and should be left to professional groomers, experienced in caring forSiberian Huskies.

Nail clipping for your Siberian Husky

Keeping yourSiberian Huskiesnails at a short, manageable length is an important piece of grooming best practice. Not only will it make your Siberian Husky more comfortable, but it will also prevent any painful and avoidable issues that can occur as a result ofovergrown nails.

When clipping your Siberian Huskys nails, make sure they are lying still and can not move or wriggle around. It is best to get someone to help you with this task, as it can sometimes be difficult to restrain a wriggling Husky!

Try to avoid cutting too close to the quick when trimming your dogs nails. This can be harder to do if your Husky has dark claws, as the tissue and blood vessels that make up the quick are difficult to see.

Bathing your Siberian Husky

Unlike many other dog breeds,Siberian Huskiesdo not require frequent baths. Unless you are planning to show your Siberian Husky competitively, you may even be able to get away with bathing your Siberian Husky only a few times a year!

One thing to keep in mind when bathingSiberian Huskiesis that their thick,double coattends to retain leftover shampoo and conditioner if not rinsed thoroughly. To avoid this, ensure that you thoroughly rinse and dry your Siberian Husky after bathing, and work through their fur with both anundercoat rakeand aslicker brush.

As their coats are so thick, you can use a hairdryer to ensure that your Siberian Husky is thoroughly dried after a bath. It is best to start using the hairdryer while your Husky is still young so that they become accustomed to it.

Cleaning up after grooming your Siberian Husky

As any Siberian Husky owner will tell you, the fur will quite literally fly when it comes to grooming a Husky!

It is almost impossible to stop the spread of the hair and fur of your Siberian Husky, particularly when it comes to grooming time and during the shedding season.

One way to minimize the amount of dog hair in your home is to conduct all your grooming outdoors. You will still have tufts of fur to clean up once you are finished grooming, but at least you wont be cleaning them out of your couch or carpet!

If you are going to take the plunge and become the proud owner of a Siberian Husky, it is worthwhile investing in a high-qualityvacuum cleanerwith a HEPA filter. This filter will help pick up tiny bits of hair and fur, as well as any dander that might be lying around your home.

Grooming your Siberian Husky: the final verdict

For a dog breed that has a thick,double coatand which undergoes a biannual shed, grooming and looking after a Siberian Husky is a relatively easy and low-maintenance task.

You will need to set aside some time every week to give your Husky a thorough brushing with the proper tools. Invest in a robust, good qualityundercoat rakeandslicker brush, as they will last longer and perform better.

Remember which direction you need to groom each coat: the undercoat needs to be brushed from back to front, and the topcoat gets brushed from top to bottom.

You may find yourself dreading the spring and fall months when your Siberian Husky sheds its undercoat for three weeks, but its easy to stay on top of the process by brushing your Husky a little more often (and by investing in a goodvacuum cleaner!).

Try and wash your Siberian Husky as infrequently as possible.Huskiestend to produce a lot less natural oil than other dog breeds, and will typically lick themselves clean in most circumstances.

If your Huskys fur begins to matt quite badly or they decide to take a dip in a muddy puddle you can bathe them, but ensure to rinse and dry your Siberian Husky thoroughly after doing so.

One of the most important parts of being a dog owner is properly looking after yourfurry friend. Owning a Siberian Husky or any pet for that matter is a commitment.Regular brushing and grooming is a great way to bond with your Husky. Make sure that you invest in the best tools and set aside the time every week to engage in this important ritual, and show your husky how much you love them!