How to Groom a Siberian Husky & Grooming Essentials

Now that you brought home your Siberian Husky, are you ready for a grooming session? If so, I am sharing my tips on how to groom a Siberian Husky and my go-to grooming essentials. You should already know that the Siberian Husky breed is double-coated and they shed their undercoats twice a year which is also called “blowing their coat”. This event occurs in the spring and fall while the temperature fluctuates and lasts up to 4-6 weeks. In addition to shedding twice a year, they shed every day!

It’s a good idea to get yourself into a grooming routine so that you can remove all that loose hair shedding all over your house and clothes. If you love wearing black like me, you’re definitely want to get this routine down. One important thing I want to mention is to never ever shave your Siberian Husky! Their double coat provides natural insulation against the summer heat and the winter cold. Their hair also protects their skin from sunburns. Aside from their fur, it’s also important to take care of their teeth, ears, and paws too.

Here are my few tips on how to groom a Siberian Husky and my recommended grooming essentials:

Brushing

1. Use a deodorizing or detangler spray – I spritz Gatsby with Pet Pleasant’s deodorizer spray before I start brushing. This is a non-toxic solution that smells like lavender.

2. Remove loose undercoat loose hair – An undercoat rake is needed to remove the dead undercoat hair. This soft-edged metal comb rakes deep into their coat to remove loose hair and mats. Undercoat rakes can help thin out areas that are prone to matting and help stagger the length of hairs in the undercoat. Always brush the coat in the direction of growth and tackle small areas at a time. Be careful and gentle with the more sensitive areas like the belly, inner thighs, and tail.

Another great product we have started using is Dyson’s Pet Grooming Tool Kit. It’s such an amazing tool because aside from loose fur that is shedding, you can also suck up allergens like pollen and dust as well as fleas and ticks!

Watch our YouTube video for the Best pet grooming kit and vacuum for husky hair!

3. Smooth the topcoat (guard coat) – After removing the loose undercoat, I like to use a slicker brush to smooth the topcoat by removing any more loose hairs and distributing my Husky’s natural skin oils through his body. This is what makes his hair so shiny. 

Teeth

Did you know that 80% of dogs have periodontal disease or other dental problems by the time they’re 3 years old? Gatsby gets his teeth brushed every night. I’ve been using Virbac’s Vanilla Mint toothpaste since he was 8 weeks old. It contains no foaming agents, so it’s safe for him to swallow. My favorite thing about this toothpaste is that it’s vanilla/mint flavored. They also have a beef-flavored one which I won’t use. Imagine how that will smell if Gatsby licks my face? Eww! As for the perfect toothbrush, I love using this bamboo toothbrush because it’s eco-friendly and the bristles are soft on the gums.

Bath

When it comes to bathing, Gatsby gets a bath about every 2-3 months depending on where he’s been. For example, if he’s out hiking during the warmer months we would bathe him more frequently to ensure there are no fleas or ticks on him. He gets bathed less in the winter. However, being that we live in NYC, we always wash his paws in the tub after a stroll in the city. The streets of NYC are pretty dirty! We usually give Gatsby a full bath at a self-service dog wash. 

1. Remove any loose hair before bathing by using an undercoat rake

2. Mix shampoo and water in a mixing bottle so that it is easier for you to lather and not waste too much product. We like to use flea and tick shampoo to ensure we repel any fleas. 

3. Use a small microfiber towel to clean the face and muzzle.

4. Dry up using a microfiber. These large microfiber towels absorb water so much better than regular towels.

5. Use a dog hair dryer to remove water if you are bathing your Husky at home. I don’t like to use blow dryers because it is really inefficient to dry double-coated husky hair. Also, blow dryers don’t have the right settings and if it’s too hot, it will burn your Husky’s skin. 

Ears

Siberian Huskies are less prone to ear infections or ear mites because of their pointy ears. But this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t clean their ears. I clean Gatsby’s ears with Pet Post’s Ear Wipes after every hike just in case dirt or bugs got in there. I like these because they are already pre-soaked and smell great.

Paws

Living in NYC, the concrete can really take a toll on Gatsby’s paws. I’ve always been using Mushers Secret Paw Wax which is a 100% natural, food-grade wax that forms a breathable barrier for your dog’s paws. I use this product year-round to protect Gatsby from the salt on the floor in the winter, the hot pavement in warmer months, and for protection in general from the concrete.

Nails

Gatsby’s nails don’t really get trimmed much since he walks on the concrete streets of NYC which files his nails. I mostly concentrate on his dewclaw (the thumb) and use a rotary pet nail grinder tool. It helps to quickly file his nail with no fuss.

Setting a grooming routine is so important and you should get your Husky used to it. Routine grooming sessions help develop a bond between you and your Husky over time. Most importantly, sometimes when you groom your Husky, you can discover hidden cuts, scrapes, fleas, ticks, allergies, and other health concerns. The bottom line is that if you groom yourself, your Husky deserves to be groomed too.

I hope my tips and the list of grooming essentials were helpful in showing you how to groom a Siberian Husky and will make your grooming experience much easier.

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