Founding members get $20 off your first groom. Check your address.
Double-coat grooming and deshedding in Kitchener and Waterloo
Double coats blow out twice a year. Shaving does not fix it. Here is what does, and what each size costs.
First grooms start spring 2027.
If your dog sheds in clumps, you probably own a double coat. This page is about what that coat is, why we advise against shaving it, what a deshedding visit involves and what each size costs. Check your address above to see whether the van comes to your street in Kitchener or Waterloo.
What a double coat is
A double coat has two layers. The outer guard hairs are longer and coarser. Underneath is a soft, dense undercoat that insulates the dog. Our price list puts golden retrievers, huskies, shepherds, corgis and any dog with a thick undercoat that sheds in clumps into the Double coat group. A dog with a short, smooth coat that sheds lightly, such as a lab, may be listed under Short. If your dog does not fit neatly, choose the closest group when you book. The groomer confirms at the door and we text you the corrected price before starting.
Double-coated dogs shed the undercoat in spring and fall. Groomers call it blowing coat, and it is the reason your house fills with fur for a few weeks twice a year.
Why we advise against shaving a double coat
Many owners assume that shaving a thick coat will cool the dog and stop the shedding. The usual advice from groomers and dog-care sources is that it does neither. The coat works as insulation in both directions, so removing it can leave a dog more exposed to heat and to sunburn, and the guard hairs can grow back unevenly or in a different texture. The usual alternative is regular brushing and a deshedding treatment that lifts out loose undercoat. Some vets reserve a clip for older dogs whose undercoat has stopped shedding, and a vet may also advise a clip for a medical reason. If your vet has recommended a clip, tell us when you book and we will plan it with you. We clip a double coat only if you agree.
What a deshedding visit includes
Deshedding is an add-on, and its price is on the price list next to the other add-ons. The point is to remove the loose undercoat that would otherwise end up on your floor and, in a thick coat, can pack down against the skin. A full groom adds the haircut or tidy your dog's coat allows, while a bath and brush covers the bath, blow-dry, brush-out, nails and ears with no haircut. If you do not want a haircut, a bath and brush with the deshedding add-on leaves the coat at its length.
When to book around shedding season
Spring and fall are the heavy shedding periods, so a visit near the start of each is more useful than one at the end, when the undercoat has already come out in your house. Between those seasons, a double-coated dog still needs brushing, because a packed undercoat holds dirt and moisture. A regular cadence is easier on the coat than catching up once a year, and the Groom Club is built around exactly that rhythm.
Prices by size
These are the Double coat prices before 13% HST. Large breeds are common in this group, so the L and XL rows matter. Travel fees depend on your zone: $0 in west and north Waterloo, $0 in south Kitchener and $10 in central and west Kitchener.
Full groom
Price per dog, before 13% HST. $130 minimum per visit.
* Under the $130 minimum, so one dog at this price is charged the minimum for the visit.
Bath and brush
Price per dog, before 13% HST. $130 minimum per visit.
* Under the $130 minimum, so one dog at this price is charged the minimum for the visit.
Between visits
Brush with a tool that reaches the undercoat, such as an undercoat rake, and brush more often during the two shedding periods. Work in sections and brush down to the skin, because the surface can feel smooth while the layer below is packed. Bathing a dog that has not been brushed first can make loose undercoat tangle, so brush before the tub.
After a walk
Dogs in Kitchener must be leashed outside designated off-leash areas, and at Laurel Creek Conservation Area they must stay on a leash on marked trails. Region of Waterloo Public Health advises precautions in wooded and bushy areas and in tall grass. A dense coat can hide a tick, so part the coat and feel along the skin after walks in those places. This is groomer experience and not a Public Health statement. Read the rules in our dog licence and leash rules page.
Not a double coat?
A curly coat that keeps growing needs a different plan. That is in the doodle guide. If a thick coat has knotted up, see matted coat help.
Questions
Double-coat questions.
Should I shave my husky or golden for summer?
We advise against it. Groomers and many vets say shaving a double coat can leave a dog more exposed to heat and sunburn and can change how the coat regrows. Brushing and a deshedding treatment are the usual alternative. If your vet has recommended a clip, tell us at booking.
How often should I deshed my dog?
Spring and fall are the heavy shedding periods, so a visit near the start of each is the most useful. Between those, regular brushing matters more than extra visits.
Does deshedding stop shedding?
No. It removes loose undercoat so there is less of it to fall out at home. The coat keeps shedding in its seasons.
Which breeds are double coated?
Golden retrievers, huskies, shepherds and corgis are the common ones on our price list, plus any dog with a thick undercoat that sheds in clumps. If you are not sure, choose the closest coat group and your groomer confirms at the door.
Do you groom German shepherds and other large dogs?
Yes. Every size from XS to XL has a listed price in each coat group, and weight decides the size.
Does the van come to your street?
First grooms start spring 2027. Founding members get $20 off your first groom.
- $20 off your first groom
- Free to reserve
- Takes 30 seconds