Reddit mentions of Furminator deShedding Ultra Premium Dog Shampoo, 1-Gallon

Yes, I would recommend DIY over PetSmart. I just wanted to let you know about that in case you were not able to do it yourself. I think you've got the procedure more or less down. I personally wouldn't bother washing twice unless your dog is really dirty. If you wash regularly (every 4-6 weeks) then you should really only need to shampoo once, but every dog is different so I would say try it both ways and see which result you like better! Washing too much can dry out the skin, that's the only reason I would say maybe try just washing once and see if it does the trick. I don't usually bother letting the shampoo sit, but you can certainly do that. The conditioner is the one I let sit, although I only rub the conditioner in the spots that are hard to detangle otherwise (back of legs is the biggest place, although I do put some on the more coarse back hair just because it makes it so soft and fluffy).

If you really wanna see some hair fly, try using the conditioner, and then while the conditioner sets, use the dryer! The conditioner makes the hair heavier or something and so you can sometimes see a ton of hair flying out this way, especially if the dog is blowing out their coat. It's especially spectacular with huskies.

But yes, in short:

• Get wet (you will have to keep doing this throughout, don't be afraid to add more water if you're not getting a good lather with the shampoo)
  
• Scrub in shampoo, don't be afraid to really dig your fingers in to make sure it gets all the way to the skin, and add water anytime you need to
  
• Rinse
  
• Add conditioner, and let sit for a few minutes. Most of the self-service washes I've used really only let you access one side at a time, so I'll just condition one side, then turn dog around and condition the other side, then go back and rinse the other side, etc.
  
• Optional: Use dryer while conditioner is in hair
  
• Rinse out conditioner. Really spend some time making sure the conditioner is out. You want the water to run clear. When you think you're done rinsing, check hair all over the dogs body by rubbing it in between your fingers. If it feels kind of slick/slimy, then you need to keep rinsing
  
• Dry off as much as you can with towels, especially head and feet (almost every dog I've ever encountered does not enjoy the dryer on the feet or face).
  
• Use dryer with nozzle on for body. Start from the top and work down. Take nozzle off to dry more sensitive areas (around ears and face, etc)
  
  The hair should be completely dry before you start brushing. If your dog really hates the dyer (some dogs so) then you can wait and just let him air dry the rest of the way, but try to use the dryer for as long as you can. It really lifts and separates all the hair so it stops it from clumping up as much. You can definitely use the dryer after you brush if you want, it can help get out any extra hair that you loosened with brushing but that maybe you didn't quite get. I usually don't hang out at the self-serve wash after I'm done drying, though, so I just do the brushing at home. My guy is 7 now and it's hard for him to stand for that long so I like to give him a few hours break in between the bath and the brushing.
  
  Start with the slicker brush, and do a motion where you brush back and up a little bit. You kind of want to lift away from the hair. Just be gentle and smooth, and make a note of where you find any mats or clumps. Be gentle with the clumps, try grabbing the base of the clump so you're not yanking on the hair too much. Once you can easily run the slicker brush through the hair, then you can use the deshedding rake. Go with the natural direction of the hair, or a little bit sideways is okay, too. Just don't go against the grain, if that makes sense.
  
  As far as recommendations on hair on hind legs and chest, just be patient. It will take some time to work through the hair. I usually trim my dog's back end up a little bit to make it easier to manage. I'm not an expert by any means, but I worked in a grooming salon for a year (just gave baths and easy trims, though, I wasn't an actual groomer), but I picked up enough to be able to trim up that hair without making it look too awful. Most groomers will do cheaper express type trim, so if you wash, dry, and brush out, you can just take her somewhere and have them trim up the long feathers in the back. I find it makes it a little easier to manage. If I don't trim it, it's just too hard to brush it all and my dog's back end gets pretty matted up. Trimming out mats is risky to do if you don't know what you're doing so I would recommend taking her somewhere if she gets any
  
  Once you make the initial investment of the brush, the baths themselves are definitely much cheaper than taking the dog to the groomers. You can also buy the Furminator shampoo and conditioner in a bulk containers and that makes it a little cheaper than buying the individual bottles every time.
  
  The place near me charges $16, and I always give them an even $20 because he makes such a mess. Most of the time these places actually include some kind of shampoo, so feel free to give their shampoo a try if you want to save money. I just happen to love the Furminator shampoo. It smells sooo good, and it really does work. It takes me several months to go through these big jugs of shampoo and conditioner, so for me it ends up working out to around $30/month or so.
  
  Wow, I ended up basically writing a book. I hope this helps you a little bit, and let me know if I can clarify anything for you! :) Good luck!