Grooming
Spring Coat Blow: Managing Dog Shedding in Australia
Why your dog erupts every September, what actually shifts the undercoat, and the one thing you must never do to a double coat
8 min read
- 2x
- Coat blows per year: spring and autumn
- Daily
- Brushing needed during a blow
- 3-6 wk
- How long a proper deshed holds
- 4-6 wk
- Groom interval through the blow
- The spring coat blow runs roughly September to November in Australia, and it is triggered by increasing daylight, not by warm weather.
- Never shave a double coat. The undercoat insulates against heat as well as cold, and shaving can permanently wreck the coat's texture.
- Bathing and drying thoroughly is what actually releases a blown undercoat — brushing a dry, packed coat does half the job at best.
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Some time in the back half of September you will run a hand down your dog's side and come away with a handful. Not a few hairs — a handful. Then it happens again an hour later, and by the end of the week there is a second dog's worth of fluff drifting along the hallway skirting boards. This is the spring coat blow, and it is not a grooming failure. It is the annual changeover, and it is on a schedule.
The useful thing to understand is what sets it off. It is not the first warm day. The trigger is photoperiod — the lengthening daylight after the winter solstice. That is why dogs in heated houses still blow coat on time, and why the timing is fairly predictable year to year.
Single Coat vs Double Coat
Almost everything about managing shedding depends on which coat your dog has. A double coat is two distinct layers: a coarse outer guard coat that sheds water and blocks UV, and a dense woolly undercoat underneath that does the insulating. It is the undercoat that blows out in great clumps each spring.
Double coat
- Typical breeds
- Labrador, Golden Retriever, Husky, Malamute, Australian Shepherd, Cattle Dog, German Shepherd, Samoyed
- Spring behaviour
- Dramatic seasonal blow, clumps of undercoat
Single coat
- Typical breeds
- Greyhound, Boxer, Staffy, Dachshund, Whippet
- Spring behaviour
- Light steady shedding, no real blow
Low-shed / hair coat
- Typical breeds
- Poodle, Cavoodle, Maltese, Shih Tzu, Bichon
- Spring behaviour
- Minimal shedding but mats instead — needs clipping
Wire coat
- Typical breeds
- Border Terrier, Schnauzer, Wire Fox Terrier
- Spring behaviour
- Sheds little, needs hand-stripping or clipping
| Coat type | Typical breeds | Spring behaviour |
|---|---|---|
| Double coat | Labrador, Golden Retriever, Husky, Malamute, Australian Shepherd, Cattle Dog, German Shepherd, Samoyed | Dramatic seasonal blow, clumps of undercoat |
| Single coat | Greyhound, Boxer, Staffy, Dachshund, Whippet | Light steady shedding, no real blow |
| Low-shed / hair coat | Poodle, Cavoodle, Maltese, Shih Tzu, Bichon | Minimal shedding but mats instead — needs clipping |
| Wire coat | Border Terrier, Schnauzer, Wire Fox Terrier | Sheds little, needs hand-stripping or clipping |
What Actually Shifts a Blown Undercoat
Most people attack a coat blow by brushing a dry dog harder and for longer, get frustrated, and conclude their brush is rubbish. The problem is usually the method, not the tool. A packed, blown undercoat is held in place by the guard coat above it, and dry brushing only lifts what is already loose near the surface.
What groomers do is a sequence: brush the dry coat out first to break up anything matted, then bathe, condition, work the product through to the skin, rinse thoroughly, and — critically — dry the coat completely with air moving through it. The wash-and-dry cycle swells and then releases the dead undercoat, and vastly more of it comes away on the brush afterwards.
The Deshedding Sequence
- 1
Brush the dry coat first
Break up any mats and lift the surface fluff before water goes near it. Bathing a matted coat tightens the mats.
- 2
Bathe with a proper rinse
Work shampoo right down to the skin, not just over the guard coat, then rinse until the water runs completely clear. Leftover product irritates skin.
- 3
Dry completely, with air movement
This is the step people skip and it is the one that matters most. Trapped damp under a thick undercoat causes hot spots and skin infections.
- 4
Brush again while drying
Work in sections against the lie of the coat. This is when the undercoat comes away in sheets rather than wisps.
- 5
Maintain daily through the blow
Ten minutes a day beats an hour on Sunday, and keeps the fur out of your carpet rather than in it.
Choosing Tools Without Wrecking the Coat
Bladed deshedding tools work by cutting and pulling dead undercoat through the guard coat, and they are genuinely effective when used lightly on a clean, dry, brushed coat. The catch is that the same blade will happily cut healthy guard hairs if you lean on it, use it on a damp or matted coat, or keep going over the same patch. Used with a light hand a few times a season, they are excellent. Used hard every day, they thin the coat you are trying to protect.
Best for Daily Use
Andis Medium Firm Slicker Brush
The everyday workhorse. A slicker brush works through the coat to lift dead hair from both undercoat and topcoat and to break up tangles, which makes it the safe option for daily use right through the blow.
- Removes dead hair from undercoat and topcoat
- Works through tangles and matting
- Anti-slip, easy-grip handle
- Gentle enough for daily use
Peak Blow Only
Wahl 2-in-1 Double Row Rake and Shedding Blade
A rake on one side and a shedding blade on the other. Wahl's own instructions are to start with the rake, working from the skin outwards, then flip to the blade for light strokes. That is the right order for a blow: rake first, blade only on the heavy patches, light pressure, and stop when the yield drops off.
- Double-row rake on one side, shedding blade on the other
- Made for long, short and double coats
- Stainless-steel teeth
- Rinse, soak and dry after each use
For Packed Areas
Safari Dog Mat Remover Dematting Comb
For the felted patches that form behind the ears, in the armpits and around the back legs when a blown undercoat packs down. Splits mats apart so you can brush them out instead of cutting them out.
- Breaks up felted undercoat
- Targets ears, armpits and hocks
- Saves you scissoring chunks out
- Use before bathing, never after
The Missing Step
TropiClean Oatmeal Tea Tree Shampoo (355 ml)
The bath is the step that actually releases a blown undercoat, so it is worth doing properly. This oatmeal shampoo is formulated to soothe dry, itchy skin, which helps if your dog is scratchy through the blow, and it leaves the coat soft and shiny so the brush moves through more easily afterwards.
- Oatmeal, papaya and aloe vera formula
- Designed to soothe dry, itchy skin
- Leaves the coat soft and shiny
- Safe for dogs of all ages
Spring Coat Blow Checklist
- Work out whether my dog is single or double coated
- Set a daily ten-minute brushing slot
- Brush dry before any bath, never after
- Book a groom for the peak of the blow
- Check armpits, ears and hocks for packed mats
- Dry the coat completely after every bath
- Rule out fleas or allergies if shedding looks patchy
- Resist every suggestion to shave the dog for summer
When Shedding Is Not Just Shedding
A coat blow is diffuse and even — the whole dog loses undercoat, the skin underneath looks healthy, and the dog is comfortable. What is not normal is bald patches, broken hairs, flaking, redness, scabs, or a dog that is itching and chewing rather than simply moulting.
The blow lasts a few weeks, not the whole season. Ten minutes a day through September and October, a proper bath-and-dry at the peak, and a hands-off policy on the clippers will get your dog into summer with the coat intact — which is exactly the coat they need to cope with it.
Common questions
When do dogs shed the most in Australia?
The heavy spring blow runs roughly September to November, with a second lighter changeover in autumn around March to May. The trigger is increasing daylight rather than temperature, so the timing holds fairly steady year to year regardless of how warm the spring is.
Should I shave my double-coated dog for the Australian summer?
No. The undercoat insulates against heat as well as cold, and the outer guard coat blocks UV off the skin. Shaving removes both, raises the risk of sunburn, and often causes the coat to grow back patchy or woolly. Manage heat with shade, water, cooling mats and walk timing instead.
Are bladed deshedding tools like the FURminator bad for my dog's coat?
Not when used correctly. Bladed deshedding tools cut and pull dead undercoat, which works well on a clean, dry, pre-brushed coat with light pressure a few times a season. Problems come from heavy pressure, daily use, or working a damp or matted coat, all of which damage healthy guard hairs.
How often should I bathe my dog during a coat blow?
Every two to four weeks through the peak is reasonable for most double-coated dogs, since the bath-and-dry cycle is what releases the undercoat. Bathing far more often than that can strip skin oils. Always dry the coat completely — damp trapped under an undercoat causes hot spots.
Why is my dog shedding unevenly with bald patches?
That is not a normal coat blow. Even moulting thins the whole coat at once. Distinct bald patches, broken hair, redness or scabbing point to fleas, allergies, mites or a hormonal problem such as thyroid disease, and all of those need a vet rather than a better brush.