How Can You Prevent Them From Getting Muddy
The main reason German Shepherds need more frequent baths is that they get muddy. This is why it is best to keep them inside on rainy days. Only let them out if you can keep an eye on them and prevent them from playing in the mud or puddles.
If you are taking them for a walk, keep a good grip on their leash and stick to proper paths, instead of heading out onto the grass.
Is Dog Teeth Cleaning Necessary
Dogs can get tarter, plaque, bad breath, and gum disease just like humans so it is important to keep your dogs teeth clean. Your dogs teeth will need to be cleaned a lot more often than they will need to be bathed.
Its recommended that you brush your dogs teeth at least three times a week, but brushing your dogs teeth every day would be best. You may have to work with your dog to get them comfortable with getting their teeth cleaned.
Make sure you use toothpaste for dogs, not toothpaste for humans. Dogs toothpaste can safely be swallowed by dogs so you dont have to worry about it harming them.
Try putting a tiny amount of toothpaste on each tooth before you start brushing just to relax your dog. You may even want to let your dog sniff and/or taste the toothpaste.
Once your dog is relaxed, brush the teeth in a circular motion, making sure you brush near the gum lines. Try and be thorough but be gentle.
This is one of the things I wish I did more when Allie was a puppy.
I didnt start regularly brushing her teeth until she was older and now its a struggle. Normally, her mouth is wide open, but when the toothbrush comes out her mouth closes up like a clam.
Imagine someone trying to pry open the mouth of a German Shepherd while also trying to brush teeth, Im sure its a comical sight. Luckily, Ive been able to reach enough of her teeth that she hasnt had any dental issues.
How Old Is A Siberian Husky And German Shepherd Mix
The German Shepherd and the Siberian Husky are considered one of the most popular dog breeds in America. Since breeders have been creating hybrid dogs for years, it must be noted that the Shepsky has been around for centuries and they were put together in order to make the brand-new hybrid dog, the Gerberian Shepsky. High. 10 to 15 years of age.
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The Bottom Line: Shedding Is A Way Of Life
At the end of the day, German Shepherds shed for their entire life no matter what you try to do about it. As a German Shepherd owner, you can only do your best to minimize it, but theres no stopping it. Hopefully, this article has provided you with a handful of tips for that matter.
If you have any other suggestions, feel free to share them with us in the comment below.
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Is A German Shepherd A Good Family Dog
German Shepherds dog can be very gentle companions and protectors of the family with proper training and socialization. It is an ideal breed for active families. This breeds intelligence and protective behavior can make it a good choice for families with children as long as the GSD is trained correctly.
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Snow Flakes Are Okay Skin Flakes Are Bad
Like most breeds, your German Shepherd Dogs skin produces natural oil that moisturizes their skin.
Global K9 Protection Services, a company that specializes in training Shepherds, recommends not bathing GSDs too often to avoid drying out their skin.
Dry skin can lead to itchiness, redness, and hot spots that they can start chewing.
Why Is It Important To Groom Your German Shepherd
We know it can be tough to find the time to groom your dog, but there are several reasons why grooming your dog is so important. Some of these reasons include:
It functions as an overall health check: Your time spent grooming your dog can be one of the only times that you get a complete feel of their entire body. Its during this time that you may be able to note any new lumps, weight loss, scabs, skin issues, or any other concerning symptoms that you may not have noticed otherwise. This is your chance to really look over your dog.
It could save your dog: Though you may not care how your dog looks, its important to keep it looking its best for the other people who may happen upon your dog in the event that it gets loose or runs away.
When a person sees a well-kept dog on the loose, its immediately on their mind that the dog must have run away from its home. An unkempt dog, however, may appear to people as a stray. And typically speaking, people are much less likely to help a stray over a dog that they know has just lost its way from good home.
It keeps your house clean: A clean home is a happy home. If your dog is shedding all over your furniture, staining your carpet, or bringing with them an unpleasant odor you and visitors alike wont feel your best in your home.
Dogs are more enjoyable when they are clean: We are more likely to cuddle and spend time with our beloved dogs when they are clean and fresh. Nobody wants to let a dirty dog on the couch!
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Gently Wet Your German Shepherds Coat
The first step is to gently wet your dogs fur with the shower orsink sprayer. When doing this, you need to keep an eye on two things: the waters heat and intensity.
The water should be lukewarm: not too hot and not too cold, and if youre using the shower, you dont want to scare them off with the jets! I would only turn on the shower/sink sprayer halfway, so what you have is a gentle trickle rather than an intense spray.
It is incredibly important to get the temperature and the consistency of the water right, because not only do you risk harming your German Shepherd with burns, but you also risk scaring them and making them associate baths with unpleasant memories, feelings and sensations making it incredibly difficult for you to give them baths in the future.
My Dogs Are Inside Dogs How Often Do They Need To Be Bathed
We have a dog thats considered an inside dog, but we also have three outside dogs. They all get bathed about once a month and it keeps them looking nice and clean.
They dont need baths more often than this because they come in the house, roll around on the carpet for a while and then lay on our couch. This takes care of any extra dirt that might be on their fur, so their baths can be less frequent than other dogs.
One thing to keep in mind is to make sure your dog is not shedding badly before you give them a bath. You dont want to add extra dirt and soap to something that youre washing.
Just keep this in mind when youre planning your bathing schedule so that your dog does not start shedding before he gets a good bath.
I Have A German Shepherd And He Bathes Himself All The Time, How Often Do I Need To Wash Him?This is a common question, but it is not always the best answer.
I know people who bathe their German Shepherds every time they take them for a walk. They get so dirty and wet while they are walking around outside that it doesnt matter if they get dirty again later on, or if they had to wait until their next bath time to clean them off.
Remember, when you bathe your dog, you are taking away the oils that are naturally on their skin. If you bathe them too much, this can cause problems for their skin and fur.
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How Often Should You Bathe Your German Shepherd
As stated above, its recommended to only bathe your German Shepherd once every three to four months This frequency is more than enough to keep your GSD clean and some owners even reduce this down to only twice per year. There isnt a magical number, but the fewer the times, the better. This was certainly the case with my German Shepherd, and Ive only heard the same from other owners too.If your GSD every becomes unexpectedly dirty, or even regularly dirty, you can use water to rinse her off as many times as you wish. Its the shampoo that needs limited use.
How Often Should You Bathe A Dog
Is your dog starting to smell a little funny? Is her normally shiny coat looking a little dull these days? If so, youve probably been asking yourself, How often should you bathe a dog? The answer isnt as cut and dry as you may think.
Were about to cover each of the factors that youll use to determine just how often youll be breaking out the dog shampoo. By the time youre done reading, youll know exactly how often to wash her, what to use, and how its done.
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Zoom Groom The Dirt And Dead Hair Away
If youre having trouble penetrating the shampoo or conditioner into their fur, use a rubber wash brush tool called a Zoom Groom.
A Zoom Groom is inexpensive and dislodges dirt, mud, and debris that gets trapped in guard hairs or their undercoat.
As a bonus, use the brush to remove dead hairs when your dog is dry or on puppies since the brush is gentle. The rubber teeth massage them, rather than pull their coats, and decreases shedding by picking up dead hair as it lies on top of their coat.
German Shepherd Health Issues
Unfortunately the long-haired German Shepherd is prone to suffering from the same health conditions and potential illnesses of its short-haired cousin. They are a medium sized herd dog which means theyre 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. Its 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.
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Do German Shepherds Like Baths
German shepherds love to be clean. German shepherds are always up for the challenge of a bath! Theyre such sweet, devoted dogs that theyll do anything you ask. Such an obedient breed makes baths so much easier.
*You WILL get wet! They like to shake off the water out of their coats, so a bath for them means a shower down on you!
My GSD, Nero, loves his bath and struts proudly, knowing he is freshly groomed.
What Is A German Shepherds Favorite Food
German Shepherd Favorite Foods Although preferences vary from dog to dog most German Shepherds gravitate toward items containing beef, lamb, fish, and chicken. Shepherds do like cheese, although this should be enjoyed in moderation, as it can cause gastrointestinal distress in these gentle companions.
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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.
Interested In Training Your German Shepherd The Right Way
If you havent trained your German Shepherd properly, then this is the perfect time to start. Whatever bad behavior your shepherd has, whether its barking at night or other bad behaviors, using the right training program is the key to having an obedient and happy pup.
The training program I love and highly recommend is Brain Training For Dogs.
With Brain Training For Dogs youll save yourself a ton of time and effort. Instead of banging your head against the wall trying to figure out why your dog wont listen, youll follow a path that has been tried, tested, and most importantly, thats given proven results. Not to mention the fact, youll be able to fit the course around your schedule, not fit your schedule around a trainer or obedience class.
So instead of worrying about whether theyre going to be well-behaved or not, youll only have to worry about how much fun youll have with them!
And in most cases its still going to be:
- Cheaper than hiring a professional.
- Cheaper than replacing everything they might break.
- And definitely cheaper than a lawsuit against you, if they decide to bite someone.
Just imagine how great it will feel to finally be able to trust your German Shepherd completely and never worry whether theyll be naughty or not. Instead, youll have the peace of mind that you have a well-behaved pup, and the boundaries you set for them, will always be there, EVEN IF YOURE NOT.
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Taking Care Of Your German Shepherds Toenails
If your German Shepherds nails get in the way of their movement, this is a good time to get them cut. You can either do them yourself or take them to a vet or a groomer if you dont feel confident.
It is important to be careful when you are cutting your German Shepherds nails, as inside each nail is what is called the quick which is extremely sensitive pink flesh that holds the blood vessels and the nerves that go into the nails.
If you cut into the quick, this will cause bleeding and extreme pain for your dog. It will also make it incredibly difficult to cut their nails in the future.
To cut your German Shepherds nails, use a sterile pair of scissors to avoid infection and gently trim the very ends of the nails off this might take longer, but it is better to cut off too little than too much.
After cutting the nails, give your German Shepherd a treat so that they have positive associations with the experience.
How To Wash Your German Shepherd
Washing your German shepherd could be a very tricky task or it could be a piece of cake! It all depends on the temperament and personality of your pup.
When you begin to wash your dog, use warm water. Do not use hot water even if you like to shower with hot water.
You should begin by thoroughly soaking your dog. Begin to lather up with some dog-safe shampoo. You are going to want to build the shampoo into a rich, thick lather that is sudsy.
Work your fingers as deeply as you can into the fur, trying to reach the skin. Once all the shampoo is foaming, and you have done your best to scrub every inch of your German shepherds body, go ahead and give them a rinse.
After all the soap is out of their fur, you can either dry them off or continue their bath. Lastly, if you use a flea and tick treatment that washes off in the water, you should make sure that you reapply that treatment to your dog to keep them safe from all types of nasty parasites and critters.
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Veterinary Care For Your German Shepherd
Routine preventative care plays a huge role in your dogs grooming process. If you dont have the proper preventative measures in place to fight off disease or parasites, your at home care will fail to work. Some preventative care that is important for your dogs routine maintenance includes:
- Flea and tick prevention: Fleas and ticks can wreak havoc on your German Shepherds skin. They can lead to skin itching, irritation, redness, bald spots, and self-mutilation from the pain they cause. Getting your dog on a monthly flea and tick prevention will prevent them from any complications that result in a skin parasite infection.
- Physical exams: Routine physical exams are essential in catching diseases and complications at an early stage. For example, demodex is a type of mange that German Shepherds can suffer from, and it can spread to different parts of their body fairly quickly. Vets know the signs to look for, and can easily test a section of the skin that causes a concern. When catching this condition early, it can be treated before it affects a dogs entire coat. This is true of many other conditions as well.
- Anal gland expression: Anal glands are the tiny sacs that hide under the base of the tail in a dogs rectum. When anal glands are full, they can begin to excrete a foul odor. By keeping up with your dogs anal gland expressions at your veterinarians office, you can help to keep this foul smell out of your home.