Deshedding in Pinole

If your Husky, Shepherd, Golden, or Corgi is leaving tufts across the kitchen floor, the undercoat is ready to come out. A deshedding groom gets that loose fluff off your dog in one go, instead of onto your couch over the next few weeks.

What it is and who it's for

Deshedding is a bath and groom built around removing loose undercoat. It suits double-coated dogs most: Huskies, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Corgis, Australian Shepherds, Pomeranians, and the many mixes with that soft, dense layer under the outer coat. Short-coated shedders like Labs can benefit too.

It is not the right tool for Poodles, doodles, and other low-shedding curly coats. Their loose hair gets trapped in the coat as mats, which calls for brushing and trimming instead.

The two big sheds here are spring and fall, but plenty of dogs do well with a deshed as part of their regular groom year round.

What happens during the groom

I groom one dog at a time in a quiet space in Pinole, so there is no noisy salon and your dog gets my full attention.

A thorough bath comes first, worked down through the coat, since dirt and oil hold dead undercoat in place. Conditioner helps loose hair slide free instead of snagging. Then I work through the coat in sections with a deshedding tool, gently and with the direction of the hair. The aim is to lift out what's already loose, not to thin the coat or scrape the skin, so I keep an eye on the skin and on how your dog is feeling as I go.

A careful blow-out pushes out a lot of the remaining fluff and dries the coat down to the skin. A final brush and comb catches what the dryer loosened.

The coat should come out looking fuller and softer, not thinner. The outer guard hairs stay where they are.

What to do before you come

• Tell me about any sore spots, lumps, or skin issues you've noticed.
• Let me know if your dog is nervous about dryers or having their back end handled.
• If your dog has matted areas, mention it when you book so I can plan for it.

Good to know

• Deshedding cuts down shedding for a while. It doesn't stop it. Brushing a few times a week keeps the undercoat from packing up again.
• Shaving a double coat usually backfires. It takes away insulation and sun protection, and the coat can grow back patchy.
• Call your vet if you see bald patches, red or flaky skin, sores, or a lot of scratching. Those can look like shedding but aren't.

Call or text 415-606-1530, or use the booking form, and ask for a deshed.