Not all “shedding” is the same. Undercoat release is when loosened coat is ready to come out; breakage is when hairs snap from friction, over-brushing, rough towel-drying, or matting. Undercoat release tends to produce long, soft clumps and a sudden increase in brush-out volume during a coat blow. Breakage looks more like short, uneven hairs, a rougher feel, and persistent fuzz even after grooming.
To target undercoat release, use structured sessions rather than random quick passes. Line brushing—parting the coat and brushing in small sections down to the skin—helps lift and remove loosened coat efficiently and reduces the chance of leaving packed areas that later form matting. A bath + blow-out can also change shed volume dramatically: washing loosens trapped coat, and thorough drying with airflow helps push released hair out of the coat instead of letting it fall over the next week. In contrast, incomplete drying can tighten tangles and worsen matting, which then increases breakage when you try to brush it out.
Plan a cadence that matches the season (more frequent during spring/fall peaks), and watch for “not normal” signs. Patchy hair loss, bald spots, inflamed skin, or sudden shedding that doesn’t fit the usual pattern warrants a vet check.
