De-shedding treatments — are they worth it?
De-shedding treatments cost $20–$60 on top of a regular bath at most Florida salons. The treatment uses a specialized shampoo that loosens the undercoat, followed by a high-velocity dryer that blasts loose fur out, finished with an undercoat rake.
For double-coated breeds — Goldens, Labs, Huskies, Shepherds, Aussies — it's worth it. A salon de-shed removes 5x more fur than home brushing in 30 minutes. Your couch and clothes will thank you.
For single-coated breeds — Poodles, Doodles, Maltese, Yorkies — skip it. They don't have an undercoat to remove.
For short-coated breeds — Boxers, Pit mixes, Beagles — it's optional. The treatment helps but daily brushing at home does most of the work.
Florida-specific timing: schedule de-shedding treatments every 6–8 weeks during heavy shedding (spring and fall) and every 8–10 weeks the rest of the year.
Don't expect zero shedding afterward. The treatment removes loose fur but new shedding will resume within a week. The benefit is shifting that shedding from your couch to the groomer's floor.