Spring is here, the sun is brighter, sweet flowers smell is in the air and Siberian husky hair is everywhere. Shedding time is here. A Siberian husky sheds during the year, but he is blowing the coat twice a year, early in spring and in autumn. As you already might know, I have two beautiful and stubborn Siberian huskies. And they shed a lot nowadays. You might also see that your husky starts to blow his coat too. Siberian huskies look so funny when they blow their coat because it’s so obvious when you see that a part of his body has less hair than the rest of the body. But blowing the coat is essential for the double-coated dogs.
What is blowing the coat when it comes to dogs?
Double-coated dog breeds, such as Siberian huskies, blow their coat twice a year. But what does it mean to blow the coat? Blowing the coat refers to shedding his double-coat to make room for a new one. Siberian huskies will blow their coat and shed large clumps of undercoat to make room for new, healthy hair to grow in. By doing so, Siberian huskies prepare their coat for the upcoming season. Huskies will shed naturally; you should help your dog to blow his coat but you shouldn’t shave a Siberian husky.
Why is my dog’s hair coming out in clumps?
If you have a husky or a double-coated dog breed that is blowing his coat in spring or in autumn, your dog’s hair will come out in clumps. Keep in mind that blowing the coat is a slow process. Your dog will not blow his coat all at once. Brush him daily for 15-30 minutes until he finishes blowing his coat.
Why is my dog shedding more than usual?
If you are a new husky owner, then it might come as a shock at first when you’ll see how much hair a husky can shed in such a short time. You will remove a lot of hair off your dog. This is normal, your Siberian husky is not sick, he is just blowing the coat. He might look funny when he starts shedding excessively, but he is ok.
Also, as a new husky owner, you will notice, if you’re keeping your puppy indoors, hair in every single space of your house. Even in the rooms where he is not allowed. You will carry that hair on your clothes everywhere. Especially at the beginning of spring and autumn. Usually, a Siberian husky blows his coat in March and September.
When will my husky puppy blow his puppy coat?
Puppies can’t blow their coat because they are not adults yet. That means they don’t have the adult coat. But your puppy will shed his puppy hair. When it will be or how much he will shed it depends on many factors, such as weather or of him – as an individual.
Puppy hair will start to fall at about 4-5 months of age. But this is not a general rule. During this time the topcoat will shed and he will look funny. Don’t worry, it’s not the way he will always look.
My puppy’s shedding experience
What you can be sure of, is that your puppy will lose all his puppy fur between 10 and 12 months. In one year, your husky puppy will get his coat ready for summer or for winter, no matter when he was born. During this time, he will definitely lose all his puppy hair.
My husky female shed her puppy hair before winter. She is born in July. During her first heat cycle, which started at the end of October, she also got her winter coat on. By the end of the heat cycle, her coat was almost ready for winter. She blew her coat for the first time at the beginning of March. She changed her coat much more sooner than my husky male. While I was brushing her, she really thought that by the end of the brushing session she will be bald.
My husky male, on the other hand, started to get his winter coat at the beginning of December. He was born in May. And he starts blowing his coat just now, in the middle of March. I guess he’s a late bloomer. :-))
It also depends on the climate zone in which you live. In my area, this winter was temperate. It didn’t even snow, so my huskies didn’t find what snow is all about. But they have plenty of time to discover it. In general snows every year, but this year was a Christmas without snow. Still, my huskies enjoyed the cold weather.
When do huskies blow their coat?
Let’s talk more about adult huskies shedding season. As I mentioned before, if you have a Siberian husky you will notice that your dog is shedding more than usual. This happens at the beginning of spring and at the beginning of autumn. He is blowing his coat. The undercoat will come out in large clumps, so don’t freak out.
Siberian huskies are special, so why should shedding be any different? The double-coated dog breeds shed a lot during spring when they don’t need the winter coat. They are changing their coat for summer.
During this time there is plenty of hair in the air, on the carpet, on everything. When a Siberian husky shakes his body while he is blowing his coat is like a husky hair explosion. Some people may not be able to endure so much hair, and that is ok because they can be more sensitive.
People can be allergic just to the Allergen that is found in the dander, saliva, and urine. Dander is composed of tiny flecks of skin that fall of your dog during shedding. Think about the humans’ dandruff that is flakes of skin. Such as humans, dogs have dander. When your husky is blowing his undercoat, dander flakes will be everywhere. And I mean everywhere. Hair, skin, eyebrows, eyelashes, everywhere.
How long does blowing coat last for huskies?
A Siberian husky usually blows his coat twice a year, in the spring and fall. The period on which your dog will blow his coat lasts from two to four weeks.
How to Help a Husky blow his coat?
Brushing, brushing and even more brushing
First of all, brushing is a must during the whole year, not only when your husky blows his coat. The difference is frequency. If for the rest of the year you only brush your husky once per week, during the period in which he blows his coat you have to brush him daily.
The more hair you remove by yourself, the less hair will be everywhere. If you have the possibility to brush your husky outside, do it outside. This way, you will considerably reduce the amount of hair in the house. I personally use FURminator, an undercoat rake, and a slicker brush for brushing, and if the weather allows it, I brush them outside.
Bathe your double-coated Siberian Husky during blowing the coat period
Give your husky a bath to loosen the undercoat that didn’t fall yet. If your husky is blowing his coat, a bath will speed up the process. Don’t forget to use shampoo for sensitive skin. Our huskies have sensitive skin that needs special care, especially during this time.
Blow your husky coat with a dog hair dryer
You can use a professional dog hair dryer to blow your husky undercoat and coat much faster. The blow dryer is good for dogs but set the right temperature for your dog. Let him get accustomed to the dryer before you start to use it on him for the first time. Allow your dog to sniff and check the dryer before you start it. When you start the dryer, let him hear it and make sure that he will not get scared of the noise. You don’t want to scare your dog with a dryer because you’ll be going to use it a lot on him during his life. Drying your dog takes time and you don’t want your dog to be stressed all that time. Take it easy at first, make it fun, reward him with treats.
Final thoughts and tips
Your life is going to be a lot hairier while your Siberian husky blows his coat. As I mentioned before, and as you already know this if it’s not the first time when your dog is blowing the coat, your husky will lose a lot of hair. If your Siberian husky blows his coat for the first time, don’t worry about the amount of hair that is falling off. He is perfectly fine and he is getting ready for summer. His new coat will grow pretty quickly. And it will be majestic!
On the other hand, you will vacuum a lot if you keep your husky inside. I vacuum at least twice per day during this period. Due to the fact that spring is here, I also have plenty of muddy paws in the hallway. I let my huskies play in the yard, but they get dirty on the walks too. Well, they only live once, and getting dirty is so much fun. If they are happy, I’m happy. This being said, I vacuum and wash the floors frequently.
If you don’t have a good quality air purifier now, you should think about buying one. When your husky is blowing his coat there will be a lot of hair, dander, and dust in the air. And of course, get more lint rollers for your clothes. If during the rest of the year you have some husky hair on your clothes, during the blowing period there will be so much more.
I hope you like this article. And if you need more info on grooming that pretty husky, don’t forget to check my article on How to groom a Siberian Husky at home
4 Comments
My husky is shedding his winter coat at the beginning of February in Montana and it’s -16 degrees now…. this seems weird to me he’s shedding so early. I have researched it and it says huskies only shed in fall and spring. It’s not spring yet for sure here. Is this normal? Should I be worried?
It’s perfectly normal. Your husky can shed some of the coat in February and he will blow his coat in May or when the temperature gets higher. I’m guessing he is shedding right now, or this month.
I have 3 huskies. One of them is shedding yearly in February but she blows her coat in March. The youngest member of our pack started to shed in April and my oldest in may.
Sorry for the late response. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Our husky is blowing his coat now. Early May. He is also lethargic, uninterested in eating, and seems uncomfortable. He s 6. This is the first time he s been ‘upset,’for lack of a better word. We live in the north Georgia mountains and it has been very pleasant here as far as temps go. He s usually bouncy, all-out, vigorous and smiling. Can blowing a coat cause discomfort?
Yes, blowing a coat can indeed cause discomfort and changes in behavior in Huskies and other double-coated breeds. Blowing a coat refers to the process of shedding the undercoat, which typically occurs during seasonal changes, such as in the spring and fall. Here’s why it might be causing your Husky to feel unwell and lethargic:
Physical Discomfort: The shedding process can be physically uncomfortable for dogs. The undercoat becomes dense and may mat, leading to itchiness and discomfort. This can cause your Husky to scratch or groom excessively, which can contribute to lethargy.
Temperature Regulation: Huskies have a thick double coat designed to regulate their body temperature in cold climates. When they blow their coat in response to warmer weather, they may have difficulty regulating their temperature, leading to temporary discomfort.
Energy Drain: The process of shedding takes a lot of energy from a dog’s body. It’s not uncommon for dogs to feel more tired than usual during this time as their body expends energy to grow a new coat.
Loss of Insulation: While the shedding process is necessary to adapt to changing weather, it also means that your Husky temporarily loses some of the insulating properties of their coat. This can make them more sensitive to temperature changes.
During this time, it’s essential to provide extra care for your Husky:
Regular Brushing: Gently brush your Husky’s coat to help remove loose hair and prevent matting. This can alleviate some of the discomfort and reduce excessive shedding around the house.
Hydration: Ensure your dog has access to clean, fresh water at all times, as shedding can be dehydrating.
Comfort: Create a comfortable and cool environment for your Husky to rest in during this period.
Nutrition: Continue to offer nutritious food, even if your Husky seems less interested in eating. You can also consult with your veterinarian if appetite loss persists.
If your Husky’s lethargy, discomfort, or changes in behavior continue or worsen, it’s a good idea to consult with your veterinarian to rule out any underlying health issues. They can also provide advice specific to your dog’s condition and needs during the shedding process.