De-Shedding vs Dog Washing Adelaide | Long Fur or Short Fur?
Naja YehiaDeshedding vs Dog Washing: Should You Book Short Fur or Long Fur?
This is one of the most common questions we get. Owners usually know their dog sheds. What they are not sure about is whether to book a normal wash, a deshedding service, short fur, or long fur.
The answer depends on more than coat length alone, and the Labrador question at the bottom of this page catches almost everyone out.
What is the difference between washing and deshedding?
Dog washing
A wash is for dogs who mainly need a bath, a proper dry, and a coat refresh.
- Dirt and smell removal
- Clean coat and skin refresh
- Routine maintenance
- Good for dogs not dropping major coat
Deshedding
A deshedding service is for dogs with loose undercoat, heavy shedding, or a seasonal coat blow.
- Proper removal of loose undercoat
- A release spray, a coat specific comb and a brush
- Better for dogs shedding all over the house
- More drying time and more coat work
When a deshedding service makes more sense
Some dogs do not just need a bath. They need help getting the dead coat out properly, and no amount of shampoo does that on its own.
- Double coated dogs
- Seasonal coat blows in spring and autumn
- Loose undercoat sitting under the top coat
- Dogs dropping fur across the whole house
What a proper deshed uses, and what it does not
Deshedding is a technique, not a tool you buy. Done properly, at about 80 percent dry, we work a silicone based release spray through the coat so the loose undercoat slides out instead of being dragged out, then clear it with a coat specific deshedding comb and finish with a brush.
Undercoat rakes and Furminator style bladed tools, whatever the packaging claims. Rakes drag and pull against the skin, and bladed deshedding tools cut the coat and can leave the skin underneath sore. Neither is necessary. A brush, a coat specific deshedding comb and a release spray clear more loose coat, more comfortably, without damaging the coat or the skin.
If you want to do the in between maintenance at home, the same principle applies. Our guide on the full professional method covers the deshedding window and the order of operations.
How to choose the right booking category
This is where many people get confused. Our short fur and long fur categories are not only about how the coat looks. They are about how the coat behaves during the service, which is what determines how long it takes.
- Short, sleek coat close to the body
- Quicker washing
- Quicker drying
- Less bulky coat work
- More coat to work through
- Longer drying time
- More loose fur or undercoat
- More brushing or deshedding time
What smooth coat dogs usually look like
Smooth coat dogs have shorter, flatter coats that sit close to the body. Think Staffies, Whippets, Boxers and Dalmatians.
They do not carry the same amount of loose undercoat, and they dry quickly, which is why they sit in the short fur category. They still shed, and a rubber curry brush during the wash makes a real difference, but there is no dense undercoat to clear.
What long fur bookings are actually for
Long fur is not just very fluffy dogs. It covers any dog with more coat to wash, dry, and manage during the appointment.
Goldens, Border Collies, German Shepherds and Huskies all sit here. So do the oodles, though those usually need a full groom rather than a wash.
Why Labradors are usually booked as long fur
This is the big one, and it surprises almost every Lab owner. Labradors are short haired by breed. For our service categories, they are usually better booked as long fur.
- They shed heavily, year round and harder seasonally
- They carry a dense double coat, not a true smooth coat
- They take considerably longer to dry
- They need more coat work than a sleek short coated dog
Think of Labradors as heavy short coats
A Lab sits in the middle zone. Short hair, yes. Smooth coat service, usually no. They belong in the longer drying, heavier shedding category, and booking them as short fur means the appointment runs out of time before the coat is properly done.
What should you book?
Book a standard wash if:
- Your dog mainly needs a bath and dry
- Your dog is not blowing coat heavily
- Your dog does not need undercoat cleared
Book a deshedding service if:
- Your dog is dropping lots of fur
- Your house is covered in coat
- Your dog has loose undercoat sitting under the top coat
- Your dog is going through a seasonal coat blow
Book short fur if:
- Your dog has a true smooth, sleek coat
- Your dog is quick to wash and dry
Book long fur if:
- Your dog has more coat to work through
- Your dog takes longer to dry
- Your dog sheds heavily, like a Labrador or a Golden
Common questions about washing and deshedding
What is the difference between washing and deshedding?
Washing is mainly about cleaning the coat. Deshedding cleans the coat and clears the loose undercoat and dead fur properly, using a release spray, a coat specific comb and a brush.
Do you use an undercoat rake or a Furminator?
No. Rakes drag and pull against the skin, and Furminator style bladed tools cut the coat and can leave the skin sore. A brush, a coat specific deshedding comb and a release spray clear more loose coat, more comfortably, without damaging the coat.
Is a Labrador short fur or long fur for booking?
Long fur. A Labrador is short haired by breed, but they shed heavily and take much longer to dry than a true smooth coat dog, so the long fur category matches the work involved.
Why is a Labrador not considered a smooth coat?
Because the booking category reflects service time and coat workload, not just coat length. Labs have a dense double coat and usually need more drying and more deshedding work than a sleek short coated dog.
How do I know if my dog needs deshedding?
If your dog is dropping coat everywhere, has loose undercoat you can feel under the top coat, or is blowing coat seasonally, deshedding is the better option.
What if I am not sure what to book?
Ask us first. It is better to check than to book the wrong coat category and run out of appointment time.
Dog washing and deshedding across Adelaide's east
We are in Tranmere, and most of our washing and deshedding clients come from the surrounding eastern suburbs.
Still not sure what to book? Compare our dog washing services, view our full groom service, explore all services, or contact us here.