No more shaving huskies

[Reader]

A client brought in a husky and wanted half the length taken off. I told her we'd have to go pretty short to get through all the hair and she agreed. This dog looked like it had been shaved before and the hair grew back thicker. I tried a seven and couldn't get thorugh. I eventually had to do a ten on the body and a ten backwards on the legs. I couldn't even get all the legs so I left him with booties like a cat. I spent two hours on the dog. When I was done the lady complained that he wasn't smooth enough. Well, I could barely get through that hair.

From now on, I'm going to explain that its bad to shave huskies because it damages their coat and they need to coat to keep cool. I'll do a Furminator on them, but I have now shaved my first and last husky. The whole time I was doing the dog I didn't think I could get him finished. I have learned my lesson and never again.

[Woof_x_2]

I used to have the same problem, then I bought a moser and a bravura and my problems were solved. They cut like going through butter.

[Helly]

Whether you shave Huskies or not is up to you, but please don't tell people it damages the coat. Too many people believe that, and put off having their dog evaluated for medical problems, thinking it's just because the coat was damaged by being shaved when, in fact, the dog is hypothyroid, has Cushing's disease, or some other problem that needs treatment.

[mustluvdogs1]

Huskies.....

Been there, done that.. The undercoat keeps popping thru and you can never get it smooth, w/ or against the grain etc. An all around award winning groomer in Calif. said don't do it, it never looks good and people don't understand .Now I tell them about shed-less and furminator instead.

[hairdevil]

Well, on that note, never shave an Akita either!!! YIKES!! been there done that and told the customer I would never do that again! its was horrible, bad dog, horrible thick coat. some people just don't get it. they have an undercoat for a reason. keep it well groomed, not shaved!!

[Jersey]

I use to have the same problem with trying to get thru the hair and getting it even. Luckily I haven't shaved one down in a long time.

[goldiphlox]

Huskies: uuhhhggggg

did you have to remind me! I have 2 tomorrow. wait....oh.....I think i'm coming down with something.....

[bullymom]

I would love to not shave these double-coats, and I do try to talk people out of it whenever possible- but if the client insists, I will do it. Especially people who have been getting their dogs shaved down for years. If you are going to do these types of shavedowns- get a pair of the Oster Clipmasters (livestock clippers), makes the job 100 times easier.

[SpikeyTheYorkie]

I have never shaved a husky, maybe a malamute though, can't remember what breed that poor beast was, but I had no choice. But I do have a question:

Did you bathe him first? And if so, did you hand dry him all the way? If you don't get all that thick undercoat out, you're toast. It is hard to shave a dog like that due to the thickness.

Tammy in Utah

[rapuzzled]

I agree Tammy. Getting out the undercoat is the key.
While I definitely wouldn't say that it's easy to shave a doube coated dog, I've never really had a problem getting it smooth. Well, I really shouldn't say never, lol, there are the occasional few that nothing gets all of the track marks out, they just have ****** hair.
Here's what I do. Generally I do preclip them. I do a real quick shave even if it doesn't get all the way under the coat. Then when I bathe them I scrub, scrub, scrub, then use the force dryer to kind of break up the undercoat. Once the dog is dry the blade usually slips right under the hair and undercoat. Sometimes I might have to take a reverse blade to even out any track marks caused by digging in, though.

[hairdevil]

oh gosh! I always shave first, then re clip after a bath...its just so much hair, seems a big waste of time to try and wash all that and dry it, when its coming off anyway! just rough clip best you can...bathe..air force dry...then much easier... glad I don't have to do those much these days! ohhh my elbows ache to think of it! lol

[SpikeyTheYorkie]

Sure, I could strip the dog with a #10 and then bath/dry it, but I prefer NOT to see skin. So I bathe, dry, then #7 it if I can (depends on breed and coat of course), and then CHARGE ENOUGH for it. I do have one that has "rabbit fur," and I pre clip that one, don't like EVEN messing with that one!

Tammy in Utah

[baddog]

Well, on that note, never shave an Akita either!!! YIKES!! been there done that and told the customer I would never do that again! its was horrible, bad dog, horrible thick coat. some people just don't get it. they have an undercoat for a reason. keep it well groomed, not shaved!!

Hmmm I've never had an issue shaving either breed. I "open 7" the dog p[rior to the bath and 7f after, comes out smooth

[CountryCanines]

I just did a shep mix shavedown the other day that had a ton of undercoat. He was an outside dog and FILTHY. I just preshaved a little bit to get the bulk of the length off - then bathed him really well w/ a good conditioner - the undercoat came out like butter w/ the HV. Put some fans on him to finish up drying and within no time he was back on my table and it was smooth sailing. I wasnt the least bit frustrated and the 7 went right through him.

[misscatahoula]

Unless they're really matted, I don't clip double coated breeds anymore. Almost everyone else in town does them- it can be their hassle,lol.