Are Dogs Naturally Scared Of Water
No, this is not true. Dogs are descendants of the wolves. Wolves were a great hunter, and they have been it for centuries.
Wolves were going to hunt even if it was snowing or raining.
It does not matter that they had to cross the river to find the food.
Their primary purpose was feeding their family, and they were not worried about the water or rain etc.
Nowadays, domestic dogs are not used to wildlife because they live in warm houses.
Domestic dogs do not like the water because they are not used to it. This is the main reason.
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Grooming Tips For Amateurs
- Place your GSD on a flat table or surface.
- Choose a quiet and traffic-free place for grooming your GSD as your dog will not be comfortable around people.
- Gently touch your puppy to make it feel comfortable.
- If your GSD struggles while you are trying to groom it, train it to stay calm and offer treats to keep it still.
- Look closely into your dogs ears, mouth, and paws.
- Do not get angry at your GS while grooming it.
- Use a soft brush and gently brush your dogs hair.
- Keep talking to your dog as it will keep it calm.
- Gradually move the brush from your dogs back to the neck and other areas of its body.
- Do not let your GS play with the grooming tools. You dont want your dog to assume that the tools are toys.
- Start grooming your GS at an early age as it will help keep it calm when it has grown into a huge dog.
- Use a slicker brush to remove loose hair of your GSD.
- Make the grooming experience enjoyable for your dog.
Cleaning Your German Shepherds Ears
Most people pay little or no attention to;cleaning their GSDs ears , but this is an integral part of your dogs regular grooming! A German shepherd dogs ears are deep, but cleaning is very easy.
Clean both the ears at least once every week. If you arent cleaning your dogs ears well, wax can build up over time causing ear infections and hearing problems if not taken care of.
Your vet can recommend you for the best ear wax drops. Just channel a few drops in your dogs ear, the drops are effective in dissolving excess wax, which might prove bothersome later!
Never try cotton buds, towels, or anything in your dogs ear! Dont try your own remedies; put nothing in its ears, nothing at all except for the ear drops which are recommended by your vet.
Never try to use oil, water, or anything else in place of the recommended drops it might clog your German shepherds ears causing an infection later on.
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Tips On Grooming Your German Shepherd
- Moderate Maintenance: The German Shepherd Dog has a thick, medium-length double coat that sheds, a lot and constantly, so much that even his fans call him a âGerman shedder.â The undercoat sheds heavily in spring and fall, and the German Shepherd must be brushed and bathed frequently during that time to get out all the loose hair. The rest of the year, weekly brushing is generally enough to keep him clean.
What Is The Best Shampoo For German Shepherds
German shepherds are a dog that has a lot of fur. They arent called German Shedders for nothing! They require more upkeep than other breeds because they need to be brushed and groomed regularly. But this doesnt mean you should buy any shampoo! There are many different types out there, but which is best?
Its essential to research before making your decision. Not all shampoos are created equal, and its easy for the wrong type to do damage, like dry out the skin or strip too much oil from their coat.
The first thing you should consider when shopping is whether or not you want a medicated one. Medicated shampoos have ingredients in them that will help specific issues like flea prevention and parasite control.
Medicated shampoos are typically used if your dog has a skin condition or parasite-related issue. If not, then medicated doesnt need to be used and can cause more harm than good.
Oatmeal dog shampoo is one of the best types for German Shepherds. Oatmeal contains moisturizing and soothing properties that will help to keep the coat soft and shiny. It also has anti-itch properties that can relieve itchiness from allergies or parasites.
Oatmeal shampoo can be used as a grooming aid because it helps remove dirt and odors on top of keeping your pup smelling fresh!
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Shedding For The Season
Dogs have two different types of coats. Some have hair that continually grows. Others have fur that sheds. German Shepherd Dogs have a double coat of fur.
According to Dog.com, the undercoat serves as an insulator layer to protect the dog from extreme temperatures.
The top layer serves to protect the dog from light injury and add additional insulation from temperature. Throughout the year, some of this fur detaches from the body , in order for new growth to come in.
German Shepherd Dogs go through two big shedding cycles every year to adapt to the coming season. This act is usually referred to as blowing their coat. You can recognize this when you pet them and get a big clump of fur in your hand.
You will also notice that there is more fur around the house than normal. This is their body shedding off their previous seasons coat in order to prepare for the coming one .
The best way to keep up with their shedding is daily brushing with a de-shedding brush or comb. You will want to make sure you are getting both the top layer and undercoat when doing this.
Use positive techniques and stay consistent with this daily routine. After some time, this can become a great bonding experience.
Is It Safe To Use Human Shampoo On Puppies
Dog skin is very different from human skin, and your shampoo can dry out dogs skin and cause major problems over time, making them more susceptible to parasites and stripping away the natural protective oils. Human shampoos, therefore, are definitely not recommended as a suitable and safe alternative for your dog.
Also Check: German Shepherd Puppy Feeding Amount
Here Are The Top 6 Reasons To Give Your Dog A Bath:
1) It Revitalizes Your Dogs Coat: regular baths can help keep your dogs coat shiny by removing dead skin cells, loose hair, and bacteria that cause them to smell bad.
2) It Keeps Your Dog Healthy: dogs often pick up nasty infections from unsanitary parks or places where they are swimming. By keeping your dog clean, they stay healthy and free of diseases.
3) It Helps Control Fleas and Ticks: keeping your dog clean and fresh helps to remove the eggs of fleas and ticks and prevent any future insects from hitching a ride on your dog.
4) It Helps Ease Oily Skin: keeping your dog clean helps keep their skin from becoming too oily.
5) It Decreases Odor: regular baths help to decrease the smell of your dog by rinsing away all the dead skin cells that collect underneath the fur.
6) Because you are touching your GSDs whole body when you bathe them, you may find a health-related problem that you might not have noticed until the fur was wet.
Ease Them In With Small Stairs
If you dont have a walk-in shower, then use a small stair set to help your Shepherd get into the tub.
You may have to train them a bit to step onto the stairs and then into the tub. But unless you can lift a full-grown Shepherd by yourself, I suggest a sturdy set of stairs to help your dog get into the tub.
These are the steps I use to support a German Shepherd up to 150 pounds!
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German Shepherd Health Issues
Unfortunately the long-haired German Shepherd is prone to suffering from the same health conditions and potential illnesses of it’s short-haired cousin. They are a medium sized herd dog which means they’re liable to suffer from hip or elbow dysplasia as they get older. Conditions like this are often down to genetics so its a good idea to look into the lineage of your pooch and try to find out how susceptible they are to dysplasia.
Although things like joint conditions are hereditary, there are certain things you can do to help reduce the effects and prolong the amount of time before they strike. Maintaining a healthy diet, rich in minerals and vitamins will help to increase the quality of your furry friends joints. It’s also important to keep their weight at a healthy level. German Shepherds who are overweight have been known to develop hip dysplasia earlier in life due to the extra strain put on their bones and joints.;
Other illnesses that can develop in long-haired German Shepherds include digestion issues, eye diseases and skin conditions. These can be caused by bad breeding techniques but also as a result of careless grooming and a poor diet. Be sure to regularly groom your dog to help maintain a healthy coat, improve blood flow and reduce the risk of dry or irritated skin. Regular check-ups are also vital if you want to make sure your four-legged friend is kept happy and healthy.
Can You Use A Hairdryer To Dry A Gsd After A Bath
Yes, it is possible to use a hairdryer after bathing a dog. However, be careful and only use this method if the dog doesnt have skin sensitivities that can be irritated by the fast-moving air. A great way to dry a GSD after bathing is by using an air compressor vacuum or hairdryer! Make sure the hairdryer doesnt get too hot . You may also want to invest in a blow dryer designed for dogs.
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When Is The Best Time To Get A German Shepherd Fixed
Get your dog spayed or neutered. Getting your German shepherd fixed is important for keeping pet populations under control. Unless you are planning on breeding your dog, talk to your veterinarian about when the best time to spay or neuter your German shepherd is.
Bathing Frequency For German Shepherd Puppies
So far the advice has been specifically for adult German Shepherds, but what about puppies? How often should you bathe your German Shepherd puppyBest PracticeGerman Shepherd puppies should not be bathed until necessary. Most owners report not giving their first bath until around 6 or even 7 months of age. This allows their skin and coat to develop with their natural oils before that first shampoo session interrupts it.Absolute MinimumThe absolute minimum age your GSD puppy should take a bath is 16-18 weeks old. OR until 2 weeks after having completed her vaccinations . Before this time, your puppys immune system is too fragile for her body to be getting wet.Once your German Shepherd has their first bath, providing its around 6 or 7 months, stick to the frequency outlined above, a few times per year, or as little as possible.
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Don’t Just Read Online
Always think about what you read: If a text holds many punctuation, grammar, and spelling errors, we cannot and we shouldn’t expect the technical content to be any better! When I read online, most websites fall into this category: Created by bloggers on a whim . Thus I leave those sites immediately. Saves time and nerves.
Rather than complaining “I’ve got no time” , save time and nerves: Quit reading, listening, watching, and waiting whenever you notice a) bad quality or b) it’s not helpful to you.*
* Bad quality indicators: punctuation, grammar, and spelling errors; loose, illogical, non-sequitur; mostly statements and fillers, few why’s and because’s; no meta insight.
Not helpful to you indicators: gossip and propaganda; commercials; queues to nothing of value.
Similarly, many sources – online as well as offline – scare us with warnings like: “Do not bathe your dog more than once or twice yearly” – and similar frequency advice. And you may wonder, like I did: “What’s the problem, my dog is swimming every week, and this hasn’t harmed either”. Right?
So, before we go into detail, let’s be clear here and mention what others forget to mention:
The Dangers Of Frequent Washing
The absence of skin oilsarising from frequent washing can cause dandruff and itching, dull coats, andhair loss.
Hair Loss
Sebum has antimicrobial properties. Frequent washing strips the sebum and this protectionaway, thus exposing the German Shepherd to diseases like ringworm, a fungal infection that causes hair loss.
Frictional hair losswill also arise as the German Shepherd continues to scratch its itching skin.The lack of sebum also causes the hairs to be more brittle. Accordingly, theywill break off easily.
Dandruff and Itching
Another function ofsebum is to keep the skin moist and pliable. Sebum acts as a barrier to prevent water from leavingthe skin; in its absence, the dogs skin becomes dehydrated.
In extreme cases,seborrhea may set in. Seborrhea is thecondition where the dogs skin produces too much sebum; the condition ischaracterized by the infamous wet-dog smell.
Seborrhea may betriggered by an overcompensation of the skin in its bid to replenish its lostoils. It may also be due to yeast infection stemming from the absence of the protectivemicrobial barrier.
Dull Coats
Sebum is a mixture offatty acids that lend sheen to the German Shepherds coat. In the absence ofsebum, the coat will lose some of its shine.
Also Check: Is A Belgian Malinois A German Shepherd
A Choreless Bathing Experience
Bathing and grooming your German Shepherd can be a positive event. Your dog may never look forward to it, but when it is time to take a bath, using positive training techniques can be the best approach to make it a choreless event.
Make sure you use the proper shampoos and keep up with their grooming requirements. If you do need further advice, see the help of a certified trainer in your area.
They can teach you techniques to help you conquer your dogs fears and make bath time a good time.
In this guide, we go over:
- Preparing;to adopt a dog
- Dog supplies you will need
- Choosing the right dog to adopt
- & much more!
What Shampoo To Use & Avoid For German Shepherds
There are many different shampoos on the market, but theres only one type you should be usingThats a natural ingredient dog shampoo. Even regular pet shampoo contains a wide range of harsh chemicals, detergents, soap, alcohol, parabens, and other nasty stuff your GSDs coat and skin really doesnt need!Its these harsh ingredients that strip away too many of the natural oils found on the skin and coat causing dry skin and other issues in no time at all.By sticking to natural-ingredient pet shampoo, you avoid ALL of the nasty chemicals and ingredients that are simply too strong for her skin and coat. Fortunately, there are many great options out there. Our recommendation is from 4Legger,;Buddys Best, and;Honeydew These are all awesome products, completely natural, and have amazing reviews.
What to avoid:
Regular pet shampoo Human shampoo Dawn washing up liquid
What about baby shampoo?Baby shampoo CAN be used but it should be your second option. If a natural ingredient dog shampoo isnt available to you, baby shampoo will be ok.
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Casfuy Dog Nail Grinder Upgraded
Getting hugs from your German shepherd is fun. But it wont be fun anymore when your shepherd claws give you that painful scratch on your shoulders or hands.
Right?
That said, the Casfuy dog nail clipper is here to save you from such trouble.
This dog nail glider slowly delivers that trim effortless without causing pain to your dog, thus leaving your dog claws neat and tidy.
Additionally, this grinder has a low- high-speed design; you can interchange whether trimming your young pup with soft claws or your elderly shepherd dog with hard rock claws.
Additionally, its one of the best grooming tools for German shepherds that fear vibrations or sounds. The reason being, it has whisper-quiet technology that produces low sounds; hence your pet will be calm as you trim its nails.
The Casfuy is a cordless rechargeable grinder that you can carry and charge it anywhere.
You can comfortably handle and trim your pet with this ergonomically designed body with antislip features.
Pros
- Can be used on both hands because of the ergonomic body
- Can trim both soft and hard nails
Cons
- Battery life short
What Are The Benefits Of Bathing Your German Shepherd
Its not all negative. There are additionally some advantages associated with bathing your german shepherd also. Here are a few of them.
It Can Help Strengthen The Bond Between You Both
If your German Shepherd enjoys bath time, after that bathing them, it can be an excellent way to strengthen the bond between both of you. Not just will they have fun splashing around and obtaining clean, yet it also provides new favorable experiences with you.
They are Going To Smell NiceIndeed, this is the most significant benefit. If you bathe your german shepherd, then theyre going to smell superb afterward! However, remember, although they smell good, its still important to make sure youre not bathing them frequently.
It Can Help With AllergiesSpecific skin allergic reactions need regular bath times with special shampoo to make sure they dont get out of hand. So not just will bath time help stop your german shepherd from scenting, but they can also reduce any pain theyre again feeling.
Simply bear in mind, if your German shepherd does call for even more bathrooms than ordinary, speak with a veterinarian to find out the right amount.
If You Do Bathe Your German Shepherd, Make Sure You Use The Correct ShampooAs a word of warning, if you do intend on bathing your german shepherd, you need to see to it youre using the appropriate shampoo.
You Dont Need To Give Your German Shepherd A Full Bath When Theyre Dirty
Final Words
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