Dog Deshedding: How to Remove Undercoat Properly

Dog shedding is a natural phase in spring and autumn. During this time, your four-legged friend sheds their old coat. The thick undercoat in particular comes out in large quantities. This often leads to hair flying all over your home. We at GroomRoom Berlin can help you with this problem. Our dog grooming salon is located at Giesebrechtstraße 2, 10629 Berlin in the Charlottenburg district. We are open for you from Tuesday to Saturday. Using professional tools, we remove the loose fur right from the root. This process is called deshedding. It frees your dog's skin and lets it breathe again. An appointment saves you a lot of vacuuming at home. Prices for a Full Groom start from 79 €. We are happy to advise you on site about the right grooming steps for your dog. This way, your companion gets through the shedding season healthy and well-groomed.

When do dogs shed their coats?

Shedding mainly happens in spring and autumn. The days become noticeably longer or shorter. Temperatures also change significantly during this time. These external triggers control your dog's hair growth. The body reacts to the change in light and temperature. In spring, the animal sheds its thick winter coat. The lighter summer coat then slowly grows in. In autumn, exactly the opposite happens. The dog loses its thin summer hair and builds up a thick insulating layer. This natural process usually takes four to eight weeks. Indoor dogs often shed lightly all year round. The constant room temperature messes with their natural rhythm a bit. Nevertheless, even these dogs have two clear peaks a year. During these weeks, the dog loses an extreme amount of hair. You will then find little tufts of fur all over your home.

Which breeds have a particularly thick undercoat?

Not every dog goes through an extreme shedding phase. The amount of hair lost depends heavily on the breed. Dogs with a double coat shed particularly heavily. This coat consists of a topcoat and an undercoat. We also call this coat structure a stock coat. Well-known breeds with a lot of undercoat include the Golden Retriever and the Labrador. We explain the special features of these breeds in the article Golden Retriever dog groomer Berlin. Nordic breeds like the Husky or Samoyed also have extremely thick wool. The Pomeranian falls into this category too. It owes its plush look exactly to this dense undercoat. Herding dogs like the Australian Shepherd or Border Collie also shed heavily in spring and autumn. Regular grooming is especially important for these breeds. Dogs without an undercoat, on the other hand, hardly shed at all. These include breeds like the Poodle or Maltese. Their coat continues to grow steadily and does not fall out seasonally.

How do you know when shedding season starts?

The start of shedding season comes with a few clear signs. The most obvious one is hair flying around the house. You'll suddenly find a lot more hair on the sofa or carpet. When you stroke your dog, loose hairs stick to your hands. Often, small, light tufts of hair poke through the topcoat. These tufts are dead undercoat. During this time, your dog's coat might look a bit dull and lifeless. Many dogs scratch more often when shedding begins. The loose hairs tickle the skin and cause a mild itch. Your dog might rub against furniture or roll around on the carpet a lot. This is completely normal behaviour. They're just trying to get rid of the annoying fluff. You can help them out with a good, thorough brushing.

What exactly does the undercoat do?

The undercoat is the soft, dense layer right next to the skin. It protects your dog from the cold and wet. The longer topcoat acts like a protective roof over this fine wool, keeping dirt and direct sunlight at bay. Together, these two layers create the perfect air conditioning system for your pet. The undercoat keeps them warm in winter and insulates against the heat in summer. The air trapped between the fine hairs acts as a buffer. If loose hair gets stuck during shedding, it disrupts this system. The skin can no longer breathe, and moisture builds up under the matted layer. This often leads to severe itching or unpleasant smells. Regular grooming maintains this vital protective function. Your dog will feel much more comfortable with a well-ventilated coat.

Why clipping damages a thick double coat

Many owners want to help their dogs stay cool in the summer and often ask us for a short clipper cut. For dogs with a double coat, we strictly refuse to do this. Clipping destroys the natural structure of a double coat. The clippers simply chop off the essential topcoat. The soft undercoat then grows back much faster than the harsh topcoat, causing the coat to mat incredibly quickly. The insulating effect is completely lost. Plus, the dog loses its protection from the sun, meaning their sensitive skin can easily burn. Often, the colour and texture of the coat change permanently, leaving the hair dull and woolly. Instead, we focus on thorough deshedding to brush out the loose hair. This keeps the coat healthy and fully functional.

How often should you brush your dog right now?

During shedding season, you should brush your dog several times a week. For breeds with a heavy undercoat, we recommend daily combing. This removes the loose hairs straight from the coat, preventing thick knots and painful matting. If you neglect brushing, the undercoat gets tangled with the topcoat. You can prevent matting by taking just ten minutes a day. Your dog will quickly get used to this routine. Include small treats and praise your furry friend. Stroke them in between and speak to them calmly. This turns grooming into lovely bonding time. It's best to start this training when they are a puppy. For a deep clean, it's best to visit our dog grooming salon Berlin.

The right tools for grooming at home

You need the right equipment for grooming at home. A simple brush often isn't enough for a thick coat. It just glides over the topcoat, leaving the loose undercoat untouched against the skin. We recommend using a combination of high-quality tools.

1. Slicker brush: This brush has lots of fine metal pins. It's highly effective at removing surface knots and loose hair.
2. Undercoat rake: This tool has rounded metal teeth. The rake gently pulls loose undercoat out from deep within the fur.
3. Metal comb: A comb with both coarse and fine teeth helps you double-check your work. You use it to check the coat right down to the skin for any remaining knots.
4. Detangling spray: A good conditioning spray makes brushing dry coats much easier. It keeps the hair smooth and prevents breakage.

What happens if you neglect grooming during shedding season?

If the loose undercoat isn't removed, problems quickly arise. The dead hair gets tangled with the healthy topcoat. Small knots form, which quickly grow into large mats. These mats pull on your dog's skin with every movement. This causes pain and restricts the animal. Body heat also gets trapped under the matted fur. The skin can no longer breathe and starts to sweat. This warm, damp environment is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. Weeping eczema often develops on the skin. Parasites like fleas or ticks also love to hide in matted coats. They are very hard to spot there. Regular grooming effectively prevents all these health issues.

Nutrition to support a healthy coat

You can also support your dog from the inside during shedding season. A balanced diet plays a huge role in a healthy coat. Growing new hair uses up a lot of energy and nutrients. High-quality proteins in their food are especially important during this time. Hair is made almost entirely of protein. Unsaturated fatty acids also help the skin and coat. Certain fatty acids soothe itching and add shine. You can mix a little salmon oil or linseed oil into their food. One teaspoon a day is often enough for medium-sized dogs. Special supplements with biotin or zinc also promote shedding. It's best to speak to your vet about the right dosage. Healthy skin sheds the old coat much more easily.

What happens during deshedding at the salon?

During deshedding, we remove the loose undercoat systematically and gently. First, we wash your dog with a special, nourishing shampoo. The warm water and shampoo already loosen the hair follicles. Then we use a powerful dog dryer. This simply blows a large part of the loose wool right out of the coat. This is very pleasant for the dog and massages the skin. Afterwards, we brush the dog thoroughly with special combs. We work our way through the coat centimetre by centimetre. This process requires patience and a lot of experience. Your dog will always get short breaks with us at GroomRoom. The entire procedure is part of our Full Groom and takes one to two hours, depending on the breed.

Dog grooming prices Berlin: What does professional grooming cost?

The cost of an appointment depends on the effort required and the size of your dog. A regular Full Groom starts from 79 €. Removing extremely dense undercoat often requires extra time. For dematting, we charge 15 € per 15 minutes started. For breeds with a very demanding double coat, we charge a Pomeranian surcharge of 20 €. You can find all the details on our Prices page. We will take a close look at your dog's coat before the appointment. Then we will give you a binding final price. You are also welcome to contact us for advice beforehand. You can easily book an appointment online via our website. We look forward to your visit.

Real grooms from our dog grooming salon Berlin

Real appointments from GroomRoom, prices as charged (as of September 2026). The final price depends on the coat condition and will be confirmed before we start.

Pomeranian

Before

Pomeranian after six months without a salon visit, undercoat matted in places.

Treatment

Full Grooming with dematting and Pomeranian surcharge: deshedding the undercoat, bath, blow-dry, styling without clippers.

Duration

2.5 hours

Price

165 to 180 €

Groomer

Team GroomRoom

AI-generated image

Golden Retriever

Before

Very anxious Golden Retriever, first salon visit, lots of loose undercoat.

Treatment

Full groom with breaks and a second person: bath, long blow-dry with deshedding of the undercoat, paws, nails, ears; no clipping of the double coat.

Duration

around 3 hours

Price

209 to 240 €

Groomer

Team GroomRoom