How often do Akitas shed heavily?

Typically twice a year, in spring and autumn, when they lose their undercoat over a period of a few weeks as the season changes. Outside of these periods, shedding is more moderate.

Do Akitas need professional grooming?

Not usually for the coat itself, since it's a natural double coat rather than one that needs clipping or trimming. Regular brushing at home, especially during the seasonal shed, is generally enough to keep it manageable.

Are Akitas hypoallergenic?

No. Heavy seasonal shedding and a dense undercoat make Akitas one of the less suitable breeds for anyone with a dog hair or dander allergy.

What brush is best for an Akita's coat?

An undercoat rake or slicker brush designed for double coats works best, since it reaches down through the outer coat to the dense undercoat underneath rather than just skimming the surface.

Do Akitas shed?

Yes, Akitas shed, and they shed a lot. They carry a thick double coat — a soft, dense undercoat beneath a coarser outer layer — and while they lose some hair year-round, they go through two heavier seasonal sheds a year, often called "blowing coat", when the undercoat comes out in large amounts over a few weeks.

Why the coat sheds the way it does

The double coat that makes Akitas so well suited to cold weather is also what drives the heavy seasonal shed. The undercoat's job is to insulate, and dogs with this coat type typically renew it twice a year, in spring and autumn, shedding the old undercoat as a new one grows in to suit the coming season.

Outside of those two periods, day-to-day shedding is moderate rather than constant, which surprises some owners who expect an even amount of hair loss all year round. The difference between an ordinary week and the middle of a seasonal blow is significant.

What owners actually notice

During a seasonal shed, expect visibly more hair on floors, furniture and clothing than usual, and a coat that looks noticeably thinner and shorter once the old undercoat has come away. Some owners describe it as the dog looking like a different shape for a week or two while it happens.

Between shedding seasons, regular brushing keeps loose hair manageable and reduces what ends up around the house, but it won't stop the seasonal shed itself — that's a natural process that runs its course regardless of grooming.

Managing it

A slicker brush or undercoat rake used a few times a week year-round, stepped up to daily during the seasonal blow, makes the biggest practical difference. Bathing before a heavy brushing session can also help loosen dead undercoat, though Akitas generally don't need frequent baths outside of this.

Diet and general health both show up in coat condition, so a dog shedding unusually heavily outside the normal seasonal pattern, or with a dull, thinning or patchy coat, is worth mentioning to your vet rather than assuming it's just an off week.

What doesn't help, and what to expect around the home

Clipping or shaving an Akita's coat down to reduce shedding is not something to do — the double coat regulates temperature in both directions, and cutting it short can interfere with that without actually reducing how much hair the dog produces over the year. Brushing more, not cutting the coat, is the effective approach.

Realistically, most owners of a heavily shedding double-coated breed find a good vacuum, washable throws on furniture, and regular brushing sessions outdoors or over an easy-to-clean floor make the biggest day-to-day difference, rather than expecting to eliminate loose hair around the home entirely during the seasonal blow.

Kit for this breed

Things we stock that owners commonly reach for here. Nothing on this page depends on you buying one.

Microfibre Pet Drying Robe

A super-absorbent microfibre drying robe that soaks up the wet fast after baths, swims and walks.

From£10.99

Absorbent Microfibre Dog Drying Robe

A super-absorbent microfibre drying robe with a handy front pocket to dry your dog off fast.

From£13.99

Large Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush for Mats and Tangles

A self-cleaning slicker brush with fine, bead-tipped wire pins that gently lift loose undercoat, mats and tangles from short or long-haired pets. A one-click button releases the collected fur for fuss-free cleaning. Cat-ear shaped design.

£18.99

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Common questions

How often do Akitas shed heavily?: Typically twice a year, in spring and autumn, when they lose their undercoat over a period of a few weeks as the season changes. Outside of these periods, shedding is more moderate.
Do Akitas need professional grooming?: Not usually for the coat itself, since it's a natural double coat rather than one that needs clipping or trimming. Regular brushing at home, especially during the seasonal shed, is generally enough to keep it manageable.
Are Akitas hypoallergenic?: No. Heavy seasonal shedding and a dense undercoat make Akitas one of the less suitable breeds for anyone with a dog hair or dander allergy.
What brush is best for an Akita's coat?: An undercoat rake or slicker brush designed for double coats works best, since it reaches down through the outer coat to the dense undercoat underneath rather than just skimming the surface.

Sources

Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.

PDSA — Pet Health Hub

Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.