Siberian Husky

[littleleague]

I have a Siderian Husky and now that it is getting hot I do not know what to do about his hair. The first year I had him I just let it go and I brushed it but I could not get a lot of it and I had hair all over the house. The next year my friend that has one to told me to shave him. I did that and it worked good. Just last year I took him in and the lady and the cutters told me that I could not cut his hair because it would not grow back right so I just got a deep wash and a good brushing done to him that is what she told me to do. It worked good for about 2 weeks and them his hair started to show up all over the house again. The only thing that worked is the shaving him. I need to know what I can try and if the shaving is bad for him? I have a new baby that is crawling around and I do not want the hair all over again. Please Help

[Roz]

I've never tried SHAVING a dog, but I have trimmed my dog's hair down short. I'm not sure if shaving damages the hair. I know that hair never grows in quite the same the second time, so it could very well ruin your Husky's pretty coat.

I would just suggest washing the Husky regularly and brushing him daily.

[puffalumps]

hi, i have 2 samoyeds and i have had to shave one of them in the past.....i don't recommend it.......i advise you to talk to a reputable groomer and perhaps have your dog cut SHORT.......i take mine to the groomers once every three months and more frequently if they're looking matted........during the warm months i brush daily to try and keep the hair outside .........good luck
donna

[andreaS15]

Originally Posted by littleleague

I have a Siderian Husky and now that it is getting hot I do not know what to do about his hair. The first year I had him I just let it go and I brushed it but I could not get a lot of it and I had hair all over the house. The next year my friend that has one to told me to shave him. I did that and it worked good. Just last year I took him in and the lady and the cutters told me that I could not cut his hair because it would not grow back right so I just got a deep wash and a good brushing done to him that is what she told me to do. It worked good for about 2 weeks and them his hair started to show up all over the house again. The only thing that worked is the shaving him. I need to know what I can try and if the shaving is bad for him? I have a new baby that is crawling around and I do not want the hair all over again. Please Help

Where abouts do you live?
Keeping a dog cool in the summer months is something different then shaving because you don't like the shedding in your home. We (my Roommate) have a 1 month old Baby, we also have a 7 yr old (huge) boarder collie, he sheds very long hair. So i make sure i vaccum EVEREY week, if not more. There is a product you can buy at any pet store, that you place in your pets food to stop the shedding. I would say talk to your vet before useing this kind of product though.
Shaving your pets can cuase the fur to not grow back properly, also exposes there sesative skin to the sun, causing painful sun burns.
I would suggest having your dog groomed regularly, and useing a Slicker Brush , which gets deep down and into the undercoat, which is what your dog sheds during the summer months. These brushes are great, and most dogs love the feel of them. It is actually the ONLY brush i could use on my Persian cats (they hated everything else so much, they would steal them and hide them).

I also owned a Siberian Husky (what a hand full) and found grooming was something I had to do weekly.

Good Luck

[k9chris]

Regular grooming visits are definately reccomended (every 6-8 weeks) for a bath and brushing. Pay special attention to the spring and fall months as that is when your Husky will "blow" coat. You can ask your groomer to use the force dryer to blow all the old dead hair out. Then it would be up to you to keep up with the maintenance. I would use the slicker brush every day or every other day. It is very important to use it correctly! You need to brush "backwards"; from the tail to the head and from the feet to the back. If you do not use this brush in the opposite direction that the hair grows it cannot get down to the undercoat to pull the dead trapped hair out. You also need to continue brushing until no more hair comes out. (with a Husky you may feel like you don't have time for anything else!) If this is an inside dog, they will shed all year long instead of in the spring and fall like outside dogs. Also what kind of dog food you are feeding will have an impact on how much your dog will shed. I'm afraid that shedding will just be something you will need to adjust to with this kind of dog (unless you keep him completely shaved all the time). I worked in a groomshop (until I had 2 babies in less than 2 years), and still fill in once in a while; and yes we have shaved some huskies, usually late spring, and very matted. If the dog (any dog) is very matted they need to be shaved and start their coat over. I guess I would say it is really up to you and how you want your dog to look and what the priorties are. If you are not able to keep up with the regular maintenance needed, you should probably keep him shaved. Something to keep in mind; I know several people who have accustomed their dogs to getting vaccumed. The main thing to remember is to be in control of the hair, whether it is through the groomer, regular brushing or vaccuming.

[littleleague]

Originally Posted by k9chris

Regular grooming visits are definately reccomended (every 6-8 weeks) for a bath and brushing. Pay special attention to the spring and fall months as that is when your Husky will "blow" coat. You can ask your groomer to use the force dryer to blow all the old dead hair out. Then it would be up to you to keep up with the maintenance. I would use the slicker brush every day or every other day. It is very important to use it correctly! You need to brush "backwards"; from the tail to the head and from the feet to the back. If you do not use this brush in the opposite direction that the hair grows it cannot get down to the undercoat to pull the dead trapped hair out. You also need to continue brushing until no more hair comes out. (with a Husky you may feel like you don't have time for anything else!) If this is an inside dog, they will shed all year long instead of in the spring and fall like outside dogs. Also what kind of dog food you are feeding will have an impact on how much your dog will shed. I'm afraid that shedding will just be something you will need to adjust to with this kind of dog (unless you keep him completely shaved all the time). I worked in a groomshop (until I had 2 babies in less than 2 years), and still fill in once in a while; and yes we have shaved some huskies, usually late spring, and very matted. If the dog (any dog) is very matted they need to be shaved and start their coat over. I guess I would say it is really up to you and how you want your dog to look and what the priorties are. If you are not able to keep up with the regular maintenance needed, you should probably keep him shaved. Something to keep in mind; I know several people who have accustomed their dogs to getting vaccumed. The main thing to remember is to be in control of the hair, whether it is through the groomer, regular brushing or vaccuming.

O.k. what dog food would be the best food to feed my dog. Right now I feed him Sicence Diet which one would you say to feed him?