Grooming a Malamute and Poodle cross with the right tools

A rescue Malamute and a Poodle cross in the same house — that's two very different coats and probably two tools doing the wrong jobs. Managing shedding effectively comes down to three things: the right deshedding tool matched to the coat type, a consistent brushing routine, and sometimes a diet that supports coat health. The wrong tool on a Malamute's double coat does virtually nothing — you're just skimming the surface. Tell me more about what you're working with: do you know if the Malamute has a full dense double coat, and what's the Poodle cross like — curly, wavy, or more of a flat coat? And what tools are you currently using on each of them?

That makes complete sense — a slicker brush on a Malamute double coat is like raking leaves with a fork. It tidies the top layer and does nothing for the dense undercoat underneath, which is where all the shedding actually originates. The Poodle cross with a wavy coat is actually a better fit for a slicker, so you're not far off there — though a good comb to finish would help prevent any matting. The Malamute is the priority here. What's your brushing setup like — are you doing both dogs in the same session, and roughly how long are you spending on the Malamute?

15 minutes on a Malamute with the wrong tool — you're not making a dent because you genuinely can't with a slicker. For a double coat that size you need an undercoat rake or a proper deshedding tool that reaches through the guard hairs. My recommendation is the Furminator Undercoat Deshedding Tool for Large Dogs, long hair version. It's specifically designed for dense double coats like a Malamute's, and the difference versus a slicker is immediate — you'll pull out volumes of undercoat that were never going anywhere. Use it in the direction of hair growth, in sections, and 15 minutes with this tool will do more than an hour with what you have now. For the Poodle cross, your slicker is actually fine — just follow it with a metal comb to catch any knots before they tighten. Keep those two tools separate and you've got both dogs covered properly.

Yes — Malamutes blow their coat twice a year, usually spring and autumn, and when that happens weekly brushing won't keep up. During those phases, brush every two to three days minimum. A de-shedding spray or coat conditioner used before brushing can help loosen the undercoat and make the Furminator more effective — look for something leave-in and lightweight rather than anything heavy or conditioning. Some owners also find that bumping up omega-3 fatty acids in the diet during those periods helps the coat release more cleanly and reduces overall shed volume. Fish oil supplements or a food with high fish content is the practical route there. Outside of blowout season, your Sunday routine with the right tool should be genuinely manageable.

For a wavy Poodle cross, a Greyhound-style metal comb with both wide and fine teeth is the standard — the wide side works through the body of the coat, the fine side catches the finer areas around the ears and legs where tangles start. The Resco or Safari double-sided metal combs are both solid, widely available, and inexpensive. Run the slicker brush first, then follow with the comb — if the comb snags, you haven't fully brushed that section yet. That two-step approach keeps wavy coats tangle-free without needing anything more complicated.