The short answer: brush your dog outside or on an easy-to-clean floor, start with an undercoat rake or deshedding brush on a dry coat, work in small sections in the direction the hair grows, then finish with a slicker or pin brush. A bath with a good rinse and a thorough dry loosens even more undercoat. Repeat a few times a week during shedding season.
Shedding is normal. Every dog loses old hair, and double-coated breeds such as huskies, German shepherds, golden retrievers and corgis "blow" their undercoat once or twice a year. You can't stop it, but you can catch the loose hair on a brush instead of your couch. Here's how to do it at home, calmly, without a salon.
Know your dog's coat first
The right tool depends on the coat:
- Short, smooth coats (beagles, boxers, pugs): a rubber brush or grooming glove lifts loose hair without scratching.
- Medium and long coats (spaniels, setters, long-haired mixes): a slicker brush for tangles, then a pin brush to smooth.
- Double coats (huskies, shepherds, retrievers, corgis): an undercoat rake to reach the soft undercoat, plus a slicker for the outer coat.
- Curly, non-shedding coats (poodles, doodles): these coats mat rather than shed. Use a slicker and a comb, and see a groomer for clipping.
What you need
- A deshedding tool or undercoat rake (for double coats)
- A slicker brush
- A wide-tooth or dematting comb for knots
- Treats, a non-slip mat and a towel
- Optional: a grooming vacuum to catch hair as you go
You can find all of these in our brushes and deshedding collection.
Step 1: Pick the place and the moment
Choose a spot where hair is easy to sweep up: the yard, a patio, or a tiled floor. Groom after a walk, when your dog is a little tired and more likely to settle. Have treats ready and plan for a short session. Ten calm minutes beat forty minutes of wriggling.
Step 2: Start with a dry, tangle-free coat
Deshedding works best on dry hair. Run your hands through the coat to find any knots or mats first. Small tangles can be teased apart with a comb while you hold the hair close to the skin so you don't pull. Tight mats against the skin are safer for a professional groomer to remove.
Step 3: Work through the undercoat in sections
For double-coated dogs, use the undercoat rake first. Part the coat with your free hand and work one small section at a time, starting at the neck and moving toward the tail. Use short, gentle strokes in the direction the hair grows. Let the tool do the work; you should not need to press hard.
Keep going over a section until the rake brings up only a little hair, then move on. Go lightly on thin-skinned areas such as the belly, inner legs, armpits and behind the ears, and skip anywhere that's red or sore.
Step 4: Finish with a slicker or pin brush
Once the loose undercoat is out, go over the whole coat with a slicker brush to catch what's left and smooth the outer coat. A self-cleaning slicker saves time because you can release the collected hair with one press instead of picking it out. For a final polish on longer coats, use a pin brush.
Between deshedding sessions, a steam brush for dogs such as our Steam Brush Pro is an easy once-over: it releases a fine mist while you brush, which helps collect loose hair and refresh the coat. Keep the mist away from the eyes, ears and nose.
Step 5: Bathe and dry (optional, but it helps)
A bath loosens a lot of undercoat, especially in shedding season. Brush before the bath so loose hair doesn't tangle when wet, use lukewarm water and a dog shampoo, and rinse thoroughly, because leftover shampoo can irritate skin. A shower sprayer brush makes rinsing a thick coat much faster.
Then dry well. Towel off with an absorbent microfiber towel, let your dog shake, and brush again once the coat is dry. You'll often get a second round of loose hair. Our guide on bathing and drying a dog at home has the full routine.
How often should you deshed?
For most double-coated dogs, two or three short sessions a week during heavy shedding, and once a week the rest of the year, keeps things under control. Short-coated dogs usually do well with a weekly once-over with a glove. Watch your dog's skin rather than the calendar: if it looks pink or irritated, brush less often and more gently.
Mistakes to avoid
- Pressing too hard. Deshedding tools are designed to reach the undercoat with light pressure. Hard strokes can scratch the skin.
- Brushing a wet or matted coat. Wet hair stretches and breaks, and brushing over mats pulls the skin.
- Shaving a double coat. It doesn't stop shedding, and the coat may grow back unevenly. Ask a groomer or your vet before shaving a double-coated breed.
- Long sessions. Stop while your dog is still relaxed and finish another day.
When to see a vet or groomer
Seasonal shedding is normal, but bald patches, constant scratching, redness, flaky skin or a sudden change in how much your dog sheds are worth a call to your vet. Heavy matting is best handled by a professional groomer.
FAQ
Can I deshed a dog every day?
Light daily brushing with a slicker or glove is fine for most dogs. Use an undercoat rake or deshedding tool only a few times a week, with gentle pressure.
What's the difference between a deshedding tool and a slicker brush?
A deshedding tool or undercoat rake reaches into the dense undercoat to pull out loose hair. A slicker brush works on the outer coat and small tangles. Double-coated dogs benefit from both.
Does bathing reduce shedding?
A bath followed by a thorough dry and brush loosens and removes a lot of hair at once. It won't stop shedding, but it speeds up the process.
Should I use a deshedding tool on a cat?
Use tools made for cats, with light pressure. Our cat grooming collection has brushes sized for cats.