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Australian shepherd shedding
Australian shepherd shedding: getting it out before it mats.
An aussie sheds steadily all year and heavily twice a year. The part owners underestimate is where the loose coat goes when it does not fall out: into knots behind the ears and in the pants. Here is how to stay ahead of both.
Quick facts
Aussie shedding at a glance.
Coat
Weather-resistant double coat
A naturally oily topcoat over a dense undercoat, with a mane, feathered legs, and full pants.
Shedding pattern
Moderate all year, heavy twice a year
A steady baseline, then a big release each spring and fall. Intact females can add extra sheds around their cycles.
The complication
Loose coat turns into mats
Shed undercoat that stays in the coat knots up behind the ears, in the pants, and under the collar.
De-shed price
$110
Most aussies are our medium wash ($95) plus the $15 de-shed. Big males over 60 lbs are $130.
Why aussies shed like this
A ranch coat with long, soft edges.
The australian shepherd coat is working equipment: a naturally oily, weather-resistant topcoat over a dense undercoat. Unlike a husky or german shepherd, an aussie also carries a lot of longer, softer coat: the mane, the feathering on the legs, the pants, and the fine hair behind the ears. That is where shedding turns into a grooming problem. Dead undercoat released in those areas does not drop cleanly. It catches in the soft hair around it and tightens into mats, especially where a collar rubs or the dog sits.
The same oil that keeps an aussie dry in the field makes the coat hard to wash through, which is why a home bath often leaves the undercoat untouched. Our australian shepherd bathing guide covers that problem and the bath schedule in detail.
A de-shed is not a dematting service. Loose undercoat and small tangles come out in the process. A tight mat against the skin is a different job, and pulling on it hurts. If your aussie already has mats, see how to demat a dog for which ones a brush can still save.
When aussies shed most
Two blows a year, and sometimes a third.
- Spring blow
- The winter undercoat drops as the days lengthen. Two to six weeks of heavy shedding.
- Fall blow
- Roughly September through October in the Bay Area, triggered by shorter days, not cooler ones.
- Heat cycles
- An intact female can shed heavily again around her cycle, outside the usual two windows.
- The rest of the year
- A moderate, steady shed that brushing two or three times a week keeps under control.
The daylight trigger behind the fall blow is explained in our fall shedding guide.
What works at home
Rake the body, comb the edges.
- Undercoat rake over the body, two or three times a week, daily during a blow.
- Slicker and metal comb on the edges: behind the ears, the pants, the mane, and under the collar. If the comb passes to the skin, the area is clear. If it snags, you found a knot forming.
- Take the collar off to brush. The collar line is a common spot for hidden mats.
- Brush dry, never damp. Water tightens tangles.
More home basics in how to reduce dog shedding, and the rake versus blade question in furminator vs undercoat rake.
The professional de-shed
How we de-shed an aussie, step by step.
- 01
Pre-bath brush-out
Behind the ears, the pants, and the collar line first, where loose aussie undercoat knots up. Small tangles are worked loose dry, because water tightens a mat.
- 02
De-shedding shampoo and soak
The aussie topcoat beads water off, so the coat is soaked against the lay of the hair until the water reaches the skin. Then diluted de-shedding shampoo, so it spreads through the oil instead of sitting on top, left to dwell, and rinsed until the water runs clear.
- 03
High-velocity blow-out in the van
Forced air blows the released undercoat out of the mane, pants, and body, and dries the dense undercoat all the way down so it cannot sour.
- 04
Final brush and inspect
A last pass through the feathering and the ears to catch anything the dryer lifted, and a look at the skin.
Price
$110 for most australian shepherds.
Our medium wash at $95 plus the $15 de-shedding treatment. Big males over 60 lbs are our large tier, $130 with the de-shed. Nail trimming and ear cleaning are included in every wash. The whole job happens in our van at your driveway, so the undercoat leaves with us instead of settling into your carpet.
Frequently asked
Australian shepherd shedding questions.
Yes, though in a different pattern from breeds like the german shepherd. An aussie sheds a moderate, steady amount most of the year, then heavily during the spring and fall coat blows. Owners usually notice two things: the blows, and the mats that form when loose coat is not brushed out.
Because shed undercoat does not always fall out. In the softer, longer areas, behind the ears, in the pants, and where a collar rubs, it tangles with the coat around it and tightens into a knot. The fix is to get the loose undercoat out before it has time to knot: brushing two or three times a week, daily during a blow, and a de-shed at the peak.
It can be. Intact females often shed more around their cycles, on top of the two seasonal blows, so a heavy shed at an odd time of year is often hormonal. If the shedding comes with bald patches, red skin, or constant scratching, that is not normal shedding and is worth a vet visit.
A mini carries the same type of double coat on a smaller body, so expect the same pattern: a moderate baseline and two blows a year. There is simply less dog to brush, and a mini usually falls in our medium size tier.
An undercoat rake for the body, then a slicker brush and a metal comb for the feathering and behind the ears. A furminator-style blade can cut the longer topcoat and thin the feathering, so use one lightly if at all. Never pull a rake through a mat.
The full treatment, for every double-coated breed, is on our de-shedding treatment page.
Out of the coat before it knots.
De-shed wash and a full forced-air dry for an aussie, $110 at your driveway. Nails and ears included.
or text us at (408) 599-8317
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Hi, I’m Ace.
I run Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash myself — I’m the one who shows up at your door. Every visit is one dog at a time in the van at your curb: warm water, a full brush-out and a proper dry, with no salon drive and no cage waiting. Big dogs, heavy shedders and nervous seniors are the reason this service exists.
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Ace at Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash was absolutely wonderful with my senior dog. He was so gentle and patient with him, which meant everything to me given his age -- I could tell he genuinely cared about his comfort throughout the whole process. Beyond the excellent care, Ace was warm, loving, and clearly an animal lover at heart, while also being completely professional from start to finish. It's rare to find someone who balances that kind of tenderness with real expertise, and my dog came out looking and smelling great without a hint of stress. Highly recommend Ace and Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash. Price is great!
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