Brushes for Spitz and Double-Coated Breeds

Spitz breeds carry the heaviest double coats in the dog world. Samoyeds, Huskies, American Eskimos, Pomeranians, Keeshonds and Japanese Spitz all share the same structure: a harsh, straight, water-shedding topcoat sitting on top of a thick wool undercoat.

Never shave a double coat

The topcoat is insulation in winter and sun protection in summer, and on many spitz breeds it does not grow back correctly once it has been clipped. Brushing out the undercoat is the answer, not cutting the coat down. A brush that reaches the undercoat properly makes shaving unnecessary.

Coat blow

Twice a year these breeds drop their undercoat in sheets. It comes out in clumps at the hips and shoulders first. During those two or three weeks, brush daily and expect to fill a bag. Working with the coat, in sections, from the skin outward, gets far more out than long strokes over the top of the coat.

Sizing across the group

A large curved head suits Samoyeds, Huskies and Malamutes, where you need coverage across a big body. A medium is the right choice for Pomeranians, Japanese Spitz and American Eskimos, and it is also the more comfortable option for the legs and tail on the larger breeds. A small handles the face, ears and feet. Whichever size you use, longer pins are what let you reach undercoat without stripping out the guard hairs you want to keep.