Just a dumb shedding question. Amber has started shedding quite a bit, and I found an awesome brush that is really getting a lot of loose undercoat out. So the question is can you remove too much of the undercoat? Last year it seemed she shedded out her whole undercoat,and seemed to just have the guard hairs left.

I have just about any type brush/comb made. Firminator, German rake, steel combs, slicker brush, horse curry combs, hack saw blade, stripping knives, etc.
The Firminator is definitely the one that you can go to far with and start cutting into guard hair. Nice job though if your careful.
I use a German rake for the first couple of spring brushings then go to a steel comb for getting the really deep stuff. The comb seem to be the only thing for my coated GSD. His winter coat is thick, thick, thick.
My short coated GSD is almost all comb even though he also has a heavy undercoat.
Both these dogs are outside 24/7 so the spring "molt" takes 6-8 wks of 3 times a week serious brushing.

I never thought of using a currycomb, I know she'll like that. Can you remove too much undercoat though? I'm afraid with a shedding blade I'll break the guards hairs.

How much time does the dog spend outside?
I wouldn't take out any more undercoat ten what comes loose easily. You'll see it working to the top if she's actually shedding.

Honestly, the fastest way to get that undercoat out is to bathe the dog.

Don't pre-brush, its a waste of time.

Just get the dog into the tub (preferably at a self wash where you don't have to clean up when you are done ) and wash with warm water. Use a high quality shampoo and a rubber scrub brush (they make them for dogs/horses) and work the shampoo right to the skin. Rinse and repeat. Then follow with a high quality conditioner and again work into the coat. Rinse.

Now you need to follow up with a HV (High Velocity) dryer. Those things will blow the undercoat right out and all you have to do is dry the dog. Make sure you have safety glasses and a mask or you will have hair in your mouth and eyes.

Completely dry the dog - you will see hair plastered to every surface.

There will be some loose undercoat left on the dog when you are done. I finish up with a greyhound comb and slicker brush. Most times it takes me about 30 minutes to finish the brushing.

I only have to do this ONCE when my dogs are about a week into blowing their coat and I will cut down the shedding 90%. I will then follow up with one good brushing using a slicker and shedding rake about a week later, but don't get much.

Then its done!

I just had my female Shepherd blow her coat as she is going into heat - I just did what I outlined above and her shed was done in 1 week! Plus, no damage to the coat - only what is ready to come out will come out during the grooming. Then I only have to follow up with the slicker brush and shedding rake.

Excellent point Naomi but in my case both my GSDs are outside 24/7 so grooming in general isn't done much till the spring shedding starts.

She's only outside with me for walks/ playing so not very long. She has undercoat that has come to the top and we have loose tufts in the house. I gently brush her and a lot comes out, I was wondering even with gentle brushing and the coat coming out easily if you can remove too much, she has a fairly thin undercoat and last year it seemed only guard hairs were left. I know the undercoat is important for warmth but doesn't she also need some of it in the summer for sun protection?

If the hair is loose, it is made to come out and will regardless of brushing. So while I think you can remove too much undercoat, I would say that maybe if you were trying to pull out hair that is still attached.

How old is the dog?

My female's first two sheds,she lost a lot of guard hairs along with ALL of her undercoat. She is sable, so she looked like a horribly mutated zebra.

Each dog molts differently. If you find that she is getting sunburned I would get some doggy sunscreen for her, or even a a swamp cooler vest.

Dogs coats are for protection and temperature control, but unless there is an underlying issue, most dogs do a great job of regulating their own molts. We are just there to clean up after them Gentle brushing to remove dead, loose coat should not damage the coat. So any guard hairs you are seeing are most likely loose also and ready to come out. As long as the dog is clean and free from mats, brushing to get all the loose undercoat is fine.

She's three, all the hair that is coming out is loose.