How to Deshed a Dog at Home: The Complete Deshedding Guide

Shedding is normal: dogs constantly replace old hair, and double-coated breeds release large amounts of undercoat, especially during seasonal coat changes. You cannot stop shedding, but you can remove loose hair on your schedule instead of finding it on your floor, clothes and couch. That is what deshedding is.

Which dogs need deshedding?

Mostly two coat types: double coats (Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Husky, Corgi, Australian Shepherd, Bernese, Pomeranian, Great Pyrenees) and short heavy-shedding coats (Labrador, Beagle, Pug, Rottweiler). Curly and silky coats shed little because loose hair stays trapped in the coat; they need line brushing instead of deshedding.

Tools that work

• Undercoat rake: the main tool for double coats; it reaches the undercoat without cutting the outer coat.
• Slicker brush: for feathering, pants and finishing.
• Rubber curry brush or mitt: the best starting tool for short coats, and great during baths.
• Deshedding tool (blade-style): effective but easy to overuse; light pressure, a few minutes at a time.
• Metal comb: to check you reached the skin.
• Blow dryer on a cool setting: blows out a surprising amount of loose undercoat after a bath.

Step-by-step deshedding at home

1. Work outside or on an easy-to-clean floor, with treats ready.
2. Start with a quick pass of a rubber curry (short coats) or slicker (double coats) to remove surface hair.
3. On double coats, rake in the direction of growth in small sections, from the rear forward, lifting the coat with your other hand.
4. Comb behind the ears, the pants and under the tail, where undercoat compacts and mats.
5. If you bathe, brush first, then massage shampoo in with a rubber curry, rinse very thoroughly and dry completely; much of the loose coat comes out while drying.
6. Finish with a light brush and stop before the skin gets pink or your dog gets restless.

How often?

For most double coats, brush 2 to 3 times a week and daily during coat blows. Short heavy shedders do well with a weekly session, more in spring and fall. A professional bath and deshed every 6 to 8 weeks, or more often during shedding season, removes much more undercoat than most home sessions.

Mistakes to avoid

Sudden bald patches, intense itching, red skin or shedding far beyond normal are worth a vet visit; they are not a grooming problem.

Deshedding by coat type

• Long double coats (Golden, Aussie, Bernese, Newfoundland): rake the body, then use a slicker and comb on feathering, the mane and the pants, where loose undercoat packs in and mats.
• Medium double coats (German Shepherd, Husky, Corgi): the undercoat rake does most of the work; expect large amounts of hair during coat blows and plan extra sessions for those weeks.
• Plush, stand-off coats (Pomeranian, Samoyed-type coats): line brush in small sections down to the skin so the coat doesn't felt close to the body.
• Short dense coats (Lab, Pug, Beagle, Rottweiler): a rubber curry used in circles, followed by a bristle brush, removes most loose hair; use a blade-style tool sparingly.

Make deshedding easier on your dog

Keep sessions short and positive, especially at first: five to ten minutes with treats beats a long struggle. Work in the same order every time so your dog knows what's coming, avoid pulling on tangles, and handle sensitive areas (belly, tail, back legs) gently. If your dog is sore or anxious, split the work over several days. During heavy coat blows, a professional bath, blow-out and deshed can save hours of home work and is often easier on the dog.

A simple weekly plan

Outside shedding season: one or two full brush-outs a week for double coats, one quick curry session for short coats. During a coat blow: a short daily session, a bath with thorough drying once the coat starts releasing, and a professional deshed if you can. Vacuum after, not before.

Deshedding FAQ

This guide offers general grooming information. For skin, ear or coat problems that don't improve, talk to your veterinarian. More Pawfile guides.