Shedding of long hair

Question
I have a one year old husky.  He has shedded the undercoat a tan color of short hair.  I can see that he is shedding his longer hair black and grey from the lower back area near the tail. Is this normal, or is he missing some supplements in his food?

Answer
Sounds normal.  The undercoat (the short soft fur that comes out like cotton balls) is usually what a Sibe will "blow" twice a year.  It comes out in huge chunks and allows them to go from a "winter" coat to a "summer" coat.  Indoor and indoor/outdoor dogs often don't have quite the same defined "coat blow" period, but you should still notice when it is happening.

The longer coat, called Guard Hairs, do not shed like the undercoat.  The dog will lose these hairs throughout the season, much like a normal dog sheds - a few hairs now and then.  I wouldn't think that the dog is missing any necessary supplements if weight and activity seem alright.  However, do realize that huskies (especially purebred Siberians) have a different nutritional requirement then some other dogs.

They have a more efficient metabolism and need more fats/proteins, especially if they are active.  Our dogs get 1/2 cup of food at each feeding (twice a day).  We supplement that with a 1/2 cooked hamburger and a tablespoon of grease from the hamburgers.  A lot of people I know use a tablespoon of raw ground beef.  That gives them the extra fat/protein they need, which partially is what they need for their coat.

Everything you are saying seems normal, but if you have any questions on food intake, let me know.  Also, keep in mind, that huskies don't shed - they do something much more dramatic!