Breed family
Double-coated dog breeds: grooming needs, tools and shedding
What AKC means by a double coat, how often to brush through shedding season, the tools that fit, and why shaving does not keep these dogs cool.
We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Unless a page says otherwise, our picks come from published specifications and listing research, not hands-on testing. How we make money · How we research
Short answer
A double coat is a harsh topcoat of long guard hairs over a soft, dense undercoat that insulates the dog (AKC). Brush with a slicker brush and follow with a comb at least once a week, and expect daily sessions while the undercoat sheds. Core tools: slicker brush, steel comb, undercoat rake; a grooming vacuum helps the heaviest shedders. Don't shave: AKC says shaving removes both layers, doesn't cool the dog and can leave an uneven coat.
What they share
- Coat type (AKC)
- Double: harsh topcoat over a soft, dense undercoat[1]Every breed in this family carries AKC's Double coat-type tag.
- Brushing (AKC guidance)
- Slicker brush, then a comb, at least weekly; daily in heavy shedding[2][3][1]AKC's double-coat guide also suggests combing two to three times a week to prevent mats.
- Seasonal shedding
- Heavy at seasonal changes: spring and fall in colder places, up to four times a year or all the time where it's warmer[1][2]Groomers call the heavy undercoat shed blowing coat.
- Clipping and shaving
- Don't shave; it removes both layers and doesn't cool the dog[1][2]AKC's exception: a coat so matted the skin can't dry under it, which is a job for a groomer.
- Professional grooming
- For severe mats: a groomer can remove them or cut the coat down so the skin can dry[2]
Watch out for
- Shaving doesn't cool a double-coated dog. AKC says dogs cool mainly by panting, that shaving removes the insulating undercoat and its sun protection, and that the undercoat can regrow faster than the topcoat and leave a patchy coat.
- Regrowth is slow: after a close clip, a coat generally regrows in 3 to 4 months, but some dogs take 12 to 24 months, according to a University of Minnesota veterinary dermatology handbook.
- Brush the hair, not the skin. AKC's double-coat article says so, and Chris Christensen's slicker directions say not to apply pressure to the skin.
- After a bath, let the coat dry completely before brushing, as AKC's Golden Retriever and Pembroke Welsh Corgi pages advise.
- Bald spots, red or crusted skin, or a sudden jump in shedding need a vet, not harder brushing (AAHA, AKC).
What fits
Product details below are the seller's own description unless a source is shown. Pick the variant named for each item.
Slicker brush
Self-cleaning slicker brush (PS1140)Choose the single brush; any color.
For weekly brush-outs on every coat in this family; AKC calls slicker brushes excellent for double-coated breeds.
Sold by Stone's Store
Long-pin slicker
Extra-long-pin slicker brush for curly and doodle coatsChoose the single brush; any color.
Longer pins for the longest, densest coats here, such as the Sheltie, Bernese and Husky; the seller lists it for curly and long coats.
Sold by Stone's Store
Grooming vacuum
INSE P30 grooming vacuum (4.5 L dust box)Choose the US-plug variant.
For the 4- and 5-of-5 shedders. 4.5 L dust box and US plug variant, per the seller; noise is not measured, so introduce it gradually.
Sold by INSE Global Store
Breeds in this family
- Golden Retriever Golden
- Labrador Retriever Lab
- German Shepherd Dog German Shepherd, GSD
- Siberian Husky Husky
- Pembroke Welsh Corgi Corgi, Pembroke
- Australian Shepherd Aussie
- Bernese Mountain Dog Berner
- Border Collie BC
- Shetland Sheepdog Sheltie
- Pomeranian Pom
Most of the year: a slicker brush over the whole coat, then a comb to the skin, at least weekly. In shedding season: short daily sessions, adding an undercoat rake or deshedding tool pulled in the direction of hair growth, as AKC describes. A bath can help loosen dead hair; brush only once the coat is fully dry.
AKC sorts double coats into short (Labrador Retriever, Pembroke Welsh Corgi), medium (Border Collie, Australian Shepherd), long (Bernese Mountain Dog) and arctic (Pomeranian) types. Each breed page gives AKC's own brushing advice for that breed.
A grooming vacuum collects loose hair as you brush; it doesn't replace a rake or comb. It makes most sense for the heaviest shedders here: AKC rates the Bernese Mountain Dog 5 of 5, and the Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd Dog, Siberian Husky and Pembroke Welsh Corgi 4 of 5.
Tools without a catalog pick yet: an undercoat rake, a steel comb and a dog dryer. Until then, see undercoat rake vs deshedding tool, how to groom a double-coated dog and should you shave a double-coated dog?
Questions
What is a double coat on a dog?
Two layers: a harsh topcoat of long, coarse guard hairs and a soft, dense undercoat of shorter hairs. AKC says the topcoat helps repel dirt and water and protects the skin, while the undercoat insulates in colder months.[1]
Does shaving a double-coated dog stop shedding?
No. AKC says shaving doesn't eliminate shedding; it damages the topcoat and can raise the chance of skin problems and sunburn. The exception AKC describes is a coat so tangled that the skin can't dry under it, which is a job for a professional groomer.[2]
When do double-coated dogs shed the most?
At seasonal changes, when the undercoat sheds heavily, often called blowing coat. AKC says a dog in a colder place may shed its undercoat only in spring and fall, but four times a year or all the time where it's warmer.[1][2]
What brush works best on a double coat?
AKC suggests a slicker brush followed by a comb at least once a week, a slicker in the densest areas, and a grooming rake or steel comb for loose undercoat. See slicker brushes for double and curly coats.[2][1]