How Often Should A German Shepherd Get A Bath

Do German Shepherds Need To Be Groomed

German Shepherds have such beautifully thick coats that they without a doubt need to be well groomed regularly. Not only this, the German Shepherd is a double coated breed which means thats double the layers to take care of. The undercoat, plush layer of their fur is a thick layer, whilst the outer layer is harsher to keep them protected from all of the elements.

How Often Is Too Often For A Bath

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Magwart said:I think it depends on the dog, the reason, and what you’re bathing with.With dogs with staph infections, they actually may be bathed every 2-3 days with medicated shampoo , per vet instructions. That shampoo doesn’t dry them out . For a healthy dog, I’ve never needed to bathe more than once very few months. I only bathe “as needed” — they roll in mud, or in very hot/humid weather the coat oils get funky-smelling.

You Dont Need To Give Your German Shepherd A Full Bath When Theyre Dirty

And lastly, as you can probably guess by now, a lot of the times you dont need to give your german shepherd a full bath when theyre dirty. In fact, this can often be a waste of time.

Another alternative is hosing them down . Once theyve been hosed down, let them shake the water off and then back brush their fur.

This gets rid of a lot of muck and grime they may have picked up. And then finally, give them a good dry with a towel. If they still have a dog odor you can even try using doggy deodorant to mask it.

If there is something worse than mud on them, then, of course, youre going to have to give them a bath. However, dog wet wipes are also an alternative you can consider as well.

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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.

How Much To Feed A German Shepherd Puppy

Knowing how much to feed a German Shepherd puppy can help you avoid these potential problems. Ideally, they should be on food with lean protein and low fats to keep their slim physique. Puppies should be fed about 2 cups of food daily, on average. The amount of food depends on the crude fat contained within the food.

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Can You Walk A German Shepherd Without A Leash

With that said, YES, you CAN train your GSD to walk at HEEL without a leash I train dogs on a regular basis to walk at a close HEEL off leash as part of Advanced Obedience Training. The Reality The only 100% reliable control you will ever have over your dog is thru a leash and a collar. Period.

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How Often Should I Trim My German Shepherd Dog’s Nails

• She has observed, for instance, that her dogs who spend time on carpet and grass need a nail trimming every two to three weeks. Walsh says the conformation of GSDs feet is wide-ranging, with some dogs having very thick, wide nails that are more difficult to cut and others having thinner, claw-like nails that are much easier to clip.

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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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Use Peanut Butter To Keep Her Still

Most German Shepherds dont mind bath times, but there are still some that try to wiggle away. This can make each bathing session really stressful and difficult. Let peanut butter do the hard work for you. If you have tile walls , you can smear the peanut butter directly onto the wall at head height. This will keep your GSD glued to the same spot for a good 10 minutes. This will give you precious time to really massage her coat while she remains still. Ive tried this tip myself and it works wonders. Just be sure to use peanut butter that does NOT contain Xylitol or high salt. Check out our other article about peanut butter and German Shepherds.

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How Often Should You Bathe A German Shepherd Puppy

You must not bathe your German shepherd until about 4 to 5 months old. You wanna give your German shepherd puppy bathe 2 to 3 times a year so you dont wash the oil under the coat at that early age. You must bathe as when it is necessary. Remember to use a mild dog shampoo and rinse thoroughly after that. Take the time to dry her properly too. Use puppy wipes for dirt and occasional smells.

Is Your Dog Very Dirty

A bath should be reserved for when your dog is very dirty or muddy. If you can brush the grit and debris off, they arent dirty enough for a bath. In case your dog is covered in mud, something sticky, or anything that cant be removed with a brush, you can bathe them.

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Managing German Shepherd Shedding

How much do German Shepherds shed? While the amount of shedding hair can be attributed to several factors like diet, climate, and illness but they do shed a lot!

Performing regular grooming weekly or daily brushing can help you remove excess and loose fur and help spread your dogs skin oil into the fur helping it stay in place.

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What You Need To Know

GSDs are the dog breed with one of the highest average skin pH of any dog breed. That’s why our breed has more skin problems than other dog breeds! For example, the average skin pH of German Shepherds is about ten times more alkaline than that of a Golden Retriever! Meaning, it is about ten times more likely to develop skin problems! Rashes, hot spots, epidermal cysts etc, you name it.

• Now, essential to know is that the pH scale is not linear but logarithmic, meaning every adjacent whole number changes the acidity or alkalinity by a factor of 10! With an average pH of 5.5 for human skin and 7.4 for canine skin, this means that your dog’s skin is about a hundred times more alkaline than your own skin !
• The next essential point to understand is that the lower the pH the harder it is for parasites and bacteria to survive, let alone to flourish!

Our fairly low human skin pH of an average 5.5 fends off many environmental attacks without us even noticing . Conversely, canine skin with an average pH of 7.4 is about a hundred times less likely to fend off environmental attacks – because it is rather alkaline! That’s why dogs in general have far more skin problems than humans have, and why we need to take extra care for our dog’s skin and coat.

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Talk To Her Throughout Bathing

Researchers have now shown that dogs really do understand human speech and tone much better than we realized. This means that talking to your GSD in a happy, reassuring tone, has a big impact on their feelings and current state.Use this to your advantage by using your voice to keep her calm and relaxed throughout bathing. The more relaxed she is, the more shell stay still, allowing you to get to work without issues.Plus, youre giving her a better bathing experience, and shell enjoy the attention!

Next Use The Pin Brush On Thicker Areas Of Hair

Thick hair areas, such as around the neck, back of the legs, and belly areas, are where you need to pay close attention because the hair tends to get easily overlooked since its thicker. Use light pressure to avoid any scratching.

Be careful not to scratch your dogs skin when using the pin brush, especially when introducing the brush to your puppy. Avoid using this brush on their stomachs and bellies unless you have a soft touch.

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Bathing Process Of Your Gs:

Place your GS in his bath place or bath-tub. Calm down him with gentle command to make him comfortable. Before taking bath, groom him with a soft grooming brush. Give him some treat. Now start your main action. At first, make him understand that he is going to take a bath through splashing a little water.

If he show disturbance, you should maintain him with soothing voice. You can use cotton ball in your dogs ear to protect from water if necessary. Now, make him wet with warm water through a hose or shower attachment. You should wet the body first and head at last.

Use best quality dog shampoo or liquid soap to clean the coat very well. Massage the body to mix the cleaner with a soft cloth or sponge. You can also use your hand instead of cloth or sponge. Then, wash your GS properly with warm water using hose or shower attachment. Make sure that there remains no cleaner or odor in his body. At last, give him some special treat to show positive response.

How Often To Bathe A Dog

Different breeds have extremely different bathing needs, so make sure to bathe your dog accordingly.

Short-haired Dachshunds, German Shorthaired Pointers, and dogs of similarly short coats can go a very long time in between baths. Their coats naturally shed excess dirt and oil, and they will rarely smell.

Oilier breeds, like basset hounds, may need to be bathed up to once a week. Their natural oils may also protect their skin from overdrying.

Retrievers and other dogs with water-resistant coats should be brushed clean, and you should avoid over-bathing to maintain their coats natural oils.

Similar practices should be used on breeds with a double coat, like the Akita, Chow Chow, and the smaller American Eskimo. The brushing also helps to distribute their natural oils and maintain healthy skin.

Rule of thumb: You can bathe your dog about once a month unless they seem smelly/dirty, or you notice it over-dries their skin.

Note: Be sure to avoid over-bathing. Dry skin caused by over-bathing can be very uncomfortable. Dogs need a certain amount of oil to maintain a healthy coat and skin.

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How Much Exercise Does A German Shepherd Need

Just like with any other dog, exercise is an important part of keeping your long-haired German Shepherd fit and healthy. They are full of energy and love to get outside and run around, which means youll need to have plenty of space or time for walks if you plan on adopting one.

If youre a fitness buff and you go on regular walks or runs, a long-haired German Shepherd will make a perfect exercise buddy. They love relaxing with their human family but they are naturally energetic so will always jump at the chance to get outside. This can be a problem if youre a single home owner as you may struggle to find time to walk them regularly. As long as you’re prepared and willing to put the time into giving them exercise you’ll love welcoming a long-haired German Shepherd into your family.

They are extremely clever dogs which means theyre perfect for playing games like fetch and Frisbee at the park. They can be easily trained to retrieve things if youre willing to put the time in.

How Often Should You Groom A German Shepherd

German Shepherds are year-round moderate shedders, so ideally, you should groom your German Shepherd at least two or three times a week.

If you want to, you can bathe your German Shepherd. Bathing is beneficial as it can remove that doggy smell that develops when the oils exuded by the dogs skin accumulate.

The German Shepherds coat is very thick, and drying may take several hours. Note that you cant groom your dog until he is completely dry.

After your dogs bath, dry him using a high-velocity hair dryer. Blow the fur in the direction of growth.

Dont be tempted to pass the dryer rapidly back and forth across the dog, as that can cause the coat to become matted and tangled.

The Shelandy Adjustable Speed Pet Hair Dryer* is a very popular tool.

The dryer features a four-layer noise reduction system to prevent your dog from being frightened by the noise. Four nozzles of various sizes are included with the dryer, allowing you to choose what size works best.

The hairdryer comes with a 12-month manufacturers warranty.

If you dont want to bathe your German Shepherd, try using a waterless shampoo instead.

Wahl Natural Pet No-Rinse Waterless Shampoo* contains only natural ingredients and no harsh chemicals or soaps that could irritate your dogs skin.

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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.

The Undercoat Rake Brush: Best Grooming Brush For German Shepherd

Your number one priority tool to have in your grooming kit.

If you can only afford one grooming brush in your kit, then the undercoat rake brush is it!

The undercoat rake will become the go-to everyday grooming brush that you cant live without.

Its built with safety and health in mind. The wide pins ease their way through knots and soften coats by removing the dead hair.

Undercoat rake tools are so safe and gentle you will use them daily. My GSD prefers the rake tool to all the other grooming tools.

This is the first tool you need to start your brushing routine with, and its a great idea to have more than one rake brush in your home. I have two one by the back door for brushing in the yard and one in my waist pack for dog walks .

Use a rake brush with an easy-to-grip handle to avoid letting the brush slip and fall on your dog. You also want a rake tool that has rounded tips to easily glide through your dogs fur without pulling.

Try this undercoat rake brush which promotes a lustrous coat while gently lifting dead hair.

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