Shedding In Malamutes

Malamutes are an active breed that love the outdoors and will do best with an active family. Malamutes are a cold-weather dogs with a double coat. They have a woolly undercoat and longer guard hair that is slightly oily to repel dirt, snow or ice. They shed twice a year, spring and fall. In warmer climates, they shed almost year round.

  1. Proper Tools

    • Having the proper tools will go a long way in keeping your Malamute's shedding under control. A pin brush, narrow- and wide-tooth combs, grooming rake and blunt-tip scissors are recommended by the OMal Alaskan Malamutes website to give your dog a complete grooming. The pin brush will penetrate the coat to clean out the deep undercoat without tearing. Combs will let you get to the hard-to-reach spots, and a grooming rake will thin out the undercoat while distributing the natural oils through the coat. Blunt-tip scissors are used for trimming excess hair around the feet. Have the veterinarian show you how to trim this area before trying it yourself.

    Check for Problems

    • While grooming your dog, take a few minutes to check for skin problems, fleas or ticks. These can cause the dog to scratch more, which can result in more hair being displaced from the dog. If your Malamute has a skin problem, take it to the veterinarian to be checked out.

    Brushing

    • Brushing every other day will keep your Malamute's shedding under control during shedding season. Keeping the shedding under control means less hair on the furniture. Start at the head and work backwards toward the tail. Grooming sessions should last between 10 and 15 minutes to keep the experience pleasant for the dog. Longer daily grooming may stress the dog and make it less likely to want to sit through the grooming.

      If you live in a warmer climate, its best to brush your Malamute every day, as warm weather can make the dog shed more.

    Bathing

    • Malamutes are naturally very clean dogs. Because the longer guard hair repels most dirt and debris, Malamutes do not require frequent bathing. A bath once a month is usually enough to keep your dog clean and healthy. An inside dog that does not trek through muddy areas may need even less frequent baths. Bathing too frequently will cause a dog's skin to dry out and cause skin problems.