Brushing Your Dog Properly and Reducing Shedding
Dogs shed year-round, with two seasonal peaks in spring and fall. You can't stop shedding — but regular brushing removes dead hair before it ends up on your floor. The difference is dramatic.
Why brush, beyond looks
- Remove dead undercoat before it ends up on your clothes and furniture.
- Prevent mats, which pull on the skin and become painful.
- Spread natural oils along the length of the coat — that's what gives it a natural shine.
- Check the skin — you'll spot ticks, scabs, and lumps early.
- Stimulate circulation: done right, brushing is a massage most dogs ask for.
Which brush for which coat
| Coat type | Examples | Right tool |
|---|---|---|
| Short and smooth | Labrador, Beagle, Boxer | Grooming glove, rubber brush |
| Short and dense | German Shepherd, Husky | Deshedding brush (undercoat) |
| Medium-length | Border Collie, Golden Retriever | Pin brush + comb |
| Long and silky | Yorkshire Terrier, Shih Tzu | Gentle detangling brush |
| Curly | Poodle, Bichon | Fine-pin brush + metal comb |
👉 See our picks: deshedding brush, grooming glove, self-cleaning brush.
How often?
| Coat | Outside shedding season | During shedding season |
|---|---|---|
| Short | Once a week | 2 to 3 times a week |
| Medium | 2 to 3 times a week | Every day |
| Long | Every day | Every day |
5 minutes every day beats an hour on Sunday: it's more effective, and far better tolerated by the dog.
The right technique in 5 steps
- Pick a calm moment. After a walk, when your dog is relaxed.
- Always with the grain, never against it: it's uncomfortable and breaks the hair.
- No pressing down. Let the tool do the work, not your arm. A deshedding brush pressed too hard irritates the skin.
- Work by zone: back, sides, chest, legs, then the sensitive areas (belly, tail, behind the ears) last and very gently.
- End on a positive note: a treat or a cuddle. Brushing should stay a good moment.
A stubborn mat: what to do?
Never pull on it — it's painful, and your dog will start associating brushing with pain. Hold the base of the mat between two fingers to keep tension off the skin, then work it loose from the outside in, strand by strand. If it's too tight, cut it out with round-tipped scissors rather than fighting it.
Common mistakes
- Brushing a wet dog: wet hair breaks. Dry first.
- Using a deshedding brush on a fine, long coat: it cuts the hair instead of removing the undercoat.
- Bathing too often to "cut down on shedding." Bathing strips the protective natural oils. A bath every 2 to 3 months is enough for most dogs.
- Shaving a double-coated dog (Husky, Australian Shepherd) to keep them cooler. That coat also insulates against heat; once shaved, it grows back poorly and the dog is more exposed.
When to see a vet
Sudden, heavy shedding out of season, bald patches, intense itching, or red skin aren't a brushing problem — talk to your vet. Abnormal hair loss is often the first visible sign of a diet, parasite, or thyroid issue.