German Shepherd Dogs Are Protective Of Their Loved Ones
They are known for being fearless and self-confident. GSDs will assertively stand their ground and are suited to be either watchdog or guardian, whichever the situation demands. They can be aloof with strangers yet are not hostile. This natural protective instinct is reassuring to the German Shepherd owner. But it also comes with a certain responsibility. You should be committed to spending time socializing and training your dog to ensure your companion feels comfortable around strangers and other dogs. If you do, you will benefit from all this dog has to offer.
Long Haired German Shepherd Shedding
Long-haired German Shepherds also change their hair since a long-haired Shepherd must also have undercoat. The breed regulations only accept German Shepherds with long hair with an undercoat of hair, so you should give the same care to your German Shepherd regardless of whether it is long or short haired.
Create A Dedicated Fur Space
Obviously, its not fair to scold your dog for shedding all over your house when its something he cant control and its something you signed up for when you brought home a German Shepherd.
So, to reduce potential frustration for both of you, dedicate one area of your home where your dog can shed without reprimand, thats away from the main area of the house that you want to keep as fur-free as possible.
This can be as simple as a dog bed and a cozy blanket thats tucked away somewhere unobtrusive. That way you wont be walking through the area too frequently and can avoid stirring up a fur tornado with every pass.
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How Did The Origins Of Long
German shepherds have been recognized since the 1990s. But even then, long-haired GSDs are still frowned upon. This is perhaps the result of the firm belief of the authorities in the kennel clubs that their shouldnt be any long-haired shepherd breeds.
It wasnt until in the 2010 when both the FCI and SV officially recognized the long coat trait in the breed line.
Since then, these fluffy German shepherds have been called many names, the most popular being long coat German shepherd.
Factors That Affects German Shepherd Shedding
Shepherd shedding is something you should expect and be ready for if you decide to welcome this breed into your home. However, you should know that excessive shedding can be a sign of health problems .
But before your rush to any conclusions here is the most common reasons behind excessive shedding:
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German Shepherd Lifespan & Health
Fortunately, there are no adverse health consequences that are associated with either of the coat types. There are, however, some health concerns that are associated with the breed such as hip and elbow dysplasia.
However, these issues are less likely to occur if you adopt from certified breeders that keep a strict check on genetic conditions that can be passed down. On the whole, there is no major difference between the life span, and they can live up to 13 years of age.
Prevent And Treat Skin Diseases
Allergic dermatitis, folliculitis, seborrhea, ringworm, mange, and acral lick granuloma are just a few of the skin diseases dogs may develop. Brush your dog every day and use that time to check him over for any irregularities.
Also, watch your dog go about his day if he seems like he is not himself, or he is biting/licking himself constantly, it could be a skin disease that needs to be treated. Check your dog over and call the vet if you suspect something is off.
Regular visits to the vet for checkups to make sure your German Shepherd is free of fleas, ticks, and other parasites. Ensuring you keep their skin free of these annoyances will improve their overall skin health and decrease allergic reactions. And, it is also another way to help keep excessive shedding at bay.
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Do Long Haired German Shepherds Have An Undercoat
Its the luscious long coat that’s is the biggest difference. The longer haired dogs dont actually have an undercoat which can make their fur look a lot more sleek and shiny than an average German Shepherd’s. This is one of the reasons why breeders and trainers all over the world favour these genetic miracle dogs, however the lack of an undercoat comes with certain problems.
Long-haired German Shepherds are less resilient to harsh weather conditions such as heavy rain and harsh winds. They will tend to get colder a lot easier and will struggle to withstand the elements if they’re outdoors for too long. For this reason they are not really suited to the line of work they’re traditionally known for. If youre looking for a herding dog or a hunter, you’d be better suited to a short-haired German Shepherd.
Get Ready For Lots Of Vacuuming And Fur Balls
Long hair means more shedding. Though they are heavy shedders all year, the three weeks before fall or the beginning of spring is particularly notorious for malting.
Aside from all shedding, their coat has the unfortunate tendency to clump up and mat.
First, youll need the perfect brush. Go for a metal brush with lengthy teeth that will get all the way down to the roots. This will make sure you pull out all the mats and knots.
Make sure not to brush too hard. Since there is no undercoat, you could end up scratching the skin if you arent careful enough.
All this means you will need to be a dedicated groomer for your furry friend. Aside from reserving several minutes a day for grooming, we recommend always having a vacuum and lint roller nearby.
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German Shepherd Grooming Tools
If youre bringing a long haired German Shepherd puppy home soon, you may first want to think about assembling a grooming kit.
Selecting the best products for your dogs specific coat will make your job much easier.
Heres a small choice of products you might like to consider.
A self-cleaning slicker brush is perfect for using all year round on your long haired German Shepherds coat. The thin and flexible metal bristles are designed to reach down into your dogs double coat to remove any loose hair. The self-cleaning feature of this brush is a great timesaver, meaning you can quickly remove any accumulated hair with the press of a button.
A 2-sided dematting comb can help to detangle stubborn tangles without pulling on your dogs coat. The rounded ends make this brush suitable for sensitive skin.
Every few months, you might choose to give your long haired German Shepherd a bath. Using a hypoallergenic pet wash is a good idea to help protect sensitive skin. Using a soap-free formula which includes conditioner will help keep your dogs coat in great condition.
When it comes to shedding season for your long haired German Shepherd, a deshedding tool is highly recommended. These tools are designed to remove the shedding undercoat, without damaging the topcoat
Another essential tool youll probably be considering if you have a long haired German Shepherd is a vacuum which is specifically designed for dealing with pet hair.
When Is The Shedding Season For German Shepherds
Although German Shepherds will shed all year, there is a time when you can expect even more shedding. And thats, obviously, the shedding season.
You can expect your dog to shed the heaviest in the summertime, when coat dump reaches its peak in order to regulate your dogs body temperature. Following the same logic, the shedding will also decrease as winter approaches.
Your German Shepherd will however continue to shed before and after the shedding season, but it will occur in a much more controlled way.
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Can I Shave My Shepherd To Reduce Shedding
When youre fed up with your German Shepherds shedding, it can be tempting to give up on regular grooming and shave them down to reduce how much hair is around your house. This is a very bad idea for a number of reasons.
- German Shepherds need their fur to protect them from the elements. In addition to opening your dog up to the chance of getting sunburned, shaving a GSD can also increase their risk of having a heat stroke because youve taken away one of the methods they use for regulating their temperature.
- Repeated shaving can damage your German Shepherds coat. This is especially true if your dog has or develops certain health conditions. Post-clipping alopecia is a real problem among double-coated dogs and may cause the hair to grow back patchy, cottony, or not at all.
- Your German Shepherd will still shed the hairs will just be smaller. While this may seem like a good thing, take it from a former groomer short hairs cause dog hair splinters more than naturally shed hairs, and those splinters can embed themselves in your clothing and furniture, making it harder to remove them.
German Shepherd Hair Fall Shampoo And Conditioner
Many GSDs need conditioner to prevent dry, itchy skin and further hair loss. If your dog needs conditioner but you want to save time, try Natures Miracle Shed Control Shampoo and Conditioner for ease of use.
The soap-free formula is safe to use with spot-on flea and tick products. It also contains no dyes or parabens for dogs with sensitive skin, while helping to maintain normal shedding and reducing doggie odor.
Hair fall shampoos and conditioners for your German Shepherd are formulated with ingredients that treat their skin gently, wash away loose fur, and help new hair growing in remain stronger so theres less hair loss.
Or, maybe youre looking for another shampoo for your companion?
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German Shepherds Will Explore Everything With Their Noses
Youll find evidence of their very thorough sniffing everywhere walls, doors, windows, and more. All dogs have a better sense of smell than humans 10,000 to 100,000 times better in fact thanks to having millions more scent receptors. But compared to other breeds, the GSD ranks near the top in scenting ability. Its no wonder they make such great police and detection dogs. Among many other jobs, GSDs are known for their bomb and drug sniffing work, tracking, and search and rescue.
How Do You Get A Long Haired German Shepherd
The German Shepherd is one the most well-known and recognisable breeds across the world. There are many reasons and characteristics that make them so very popular they are loyal, brave, good-looking and intelligent, adaptable for many roles in our society and also amazing as a family pet and with the kids.
The German Shepherd comes in two categories in terms of coat length, but what makes them different from to other? We have the long haired German Shepherd as well as the short haired variety, but the reality is the difference between the two lies essentially only in the length of their coats.
Short haired Shepherds have two coats, whereas the long haired dogs only have one. These long haired Shepherds having longer hairs around their faces, bellies as well as their ears, tails, and in particular behind their legs. The nature of these hairs is silky and a soft texture. They are also known as long coated German Shepherd or the coated German Shepherd. On the other hand, the short haired Shepherd has a shorter coat length and they possess more actual hairs as compared to the long hairs.
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How Rare Are Long Haired German Shepherds
Long haired German Shepherds are very rare. It is estimated that less than 5% of all German Shepherds are long haired. While they are rare, their hair is not caused by a mutation and it is perfectly natural.
The vast majority of GSDs have the classic short hair coat. This is because they inherit their coat through a recessive gene.
The short hair gene will always be dominant over the long hair gene. It only takes a puppy to inherit one of the short hair genes for it to have short hair. For a puppy to have long hair, it must inherit two long haired genes, one from each parent.
It is possible for long haired puppies to be born within a litter of short haired siblings. This can happen if both parents are heterozygous. This means that they carry both the short and long hair gene, but the latter is masked.
They can inherit the long coat gene due to natural variation in the population.
The long coat may be considered a genetic defect by the American Kennel Club, but the long coat gene is not a mutation. In German Shepherds this gene came about due to natural variation. Some dogs have shorter hair and some dogs have longer hair. Breeders for years have been selecting for the short hair gene, but they have not erased the long hair gene from the genetic pool.
Some breeders try to sell these dogs at a higher price because they are considered to be rare. The same is true for mini german shepherds too.
However, reputable breeders might actually sell long hair GSDs for less.
Thinking Of Getting A German Shepherd
German Shepherds are very loyal, brave, and easily trained dogs, however, they are also known to be prolific shedders. For some, shedding can be a daunting experience, but if you are a dog lover, you should already accept that it is a part of your dogs life. With proper grooming practice and using only the best grooming tools, dealing with your German Shepherds shedding will not be a big problem for you.
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A Day In The Life Of This Breed
Your morning with a Long Haired German Shepherd is going to start early.
How can these pups sleep when there is so much to do each day? They will wake you up ready to play with a toy in their mouth and a pep in their step.
As you yawn and make your way downstairs they will demand their large morning meal because these pups have an enormous appetite.
After breakfast it is time to start another active day.
Hopefully you have lots of activities planned for the day to keep you pup busy.
A long morning walk will keep your dog happy.
As you go about your business in the house your pup will stay close by but will want to dutifully watch out the window to make sure no intruders, or mail men, get too close to your house. They are the protector of the home and take this job very seriously.
Later in the day they would love a trip to the dog park where they can see all their dog buddies. They will run and run after their friends until somehow, all of that pent-up energy seems to finally disappear.
That will not stop them from wanting to play a bit of fetch in the backyard once you get home though.
After loads of exercise they will happily lay by your side and drift to sleep with you petting them while you watch TV before bed.
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Can You Shave Your German Shepherds Coat
Thats a big NO! No matter how annoying a German Shepherds shedding can be, you should not be shaving their coats! In fact, we strongly advise against shaving any dog that has a double coat.
It might seem like an easy way to get around spending time caring for your dogs coat. But, it is quite the opposite.
Shaving a dog with a double coat can lead to a range of problems. Theres no guarantee that the coat will grow back the same. Not only do these put your German Shepherd at risk, but they will defeat the purpose of shaving your dog in the first place.
Contrary to popular belief, shaving a German Shepherd does not make him cooler. The coat of a GSD protects the dog from environmental elements, such as heat or UV rays. So by shaving a dog with a double coat, youre exposing him to these elements.
Overall, it is not beneficial to even trim or cut your German Shepherds coat at all. Instead, let their fur grow at its natural rate. Its far more beneficial to simply have a good coat maintenance routine no matter how troublesome it may be.
Owning a German Shepherd is no easy task. And there are no shortcuts around it. The only thing to do is to embrace the shedding by providing them with the proper fur care. Otherwise, we suggest you pick a hypoallergenic or hairless breed.
What Are The Common Diseases Of Long
Everyone is prone to disease in their life, and so are long-haired German Shepherd.
Especially the German shepherd puppies, they require the most of the attention.
This dog breed mostly inherits all its health traits from its parent breed. The most common disease being the elbow and hip dysplasia. Skin problems like eczema and rashes are common among these dogs.
They can also suffer from joint problems like bladder stones, diarrhea, vomiting, and even cancer.
You can avoid most of the health concerns in this breed by choosing genetically healthy parents to breed. You can take their health test before mating them and mate them accordingly.
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