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How Often Should You Brush German Shepherd

Clipping The Toenails Of The German Shepherd

How Often Do German Shepherds Need To Be Brushed?

If your German Shepherd runs on pavement or other types of hard scapes on a daily basis then you probably won’t have a much of a problem with their nails. It is a good idea to check their nails on a weekly basis to keep split or broken nails in check.Broken nails are often the result of nails that have been left to grow too long. Commercial Nail Trimmers for dogs are available at almost any pet supply, grocery or department store.For best results, it is best to trim off small amounts of the nail, a little bit at a time, over a period of days instead of clipping larger amounts all at once.

Since the German Shepherd Dog’s nails are usually very hard in density and are often very dark in color, the “quick” will often be hidden. If you were to cut the toenail too short it will be painful for your GSD and cause the nail to bleed.

If you do happen to cut into the quick of your GSD’s nail and it starts to bleed you can do the following: use styptic powder, scrape the nail against a bar of soap, or press cornstarch firmly into the quick, to stop the nail from continuing to bleed.

It is very important to have at least one of these items on hand, and within easy reach when trimming the German Shepherd’s nails, BEFORE you start, just in case. Teach your German Shepherd puppy to accept having it’s nails clipped early on for better results when your German Shepherd is an adult. Read here for more information about clipping your dogs nails.

How To Bathe Your German Shepherds

Choosing The Best Shampoo for German Shepherds

When bathing your GSDs, you need to choose a shampoo made specifically for dog hairs. You cannot use human shampoo for bathing your dog because dogs skin has different pH from human skin. Using human shampoos can make your dogs skin dry or cause an allergic reaction.

For healthy German Shepherds, use a mild and gentle hypoallergenic shampoo for washing all parts of the body and tear-free shampoo for the head area. If your German Shepherd has skin issues, you may want to ask your local vet for advice.

Also read: Best Shampoo for German Shepherds

Where to Bathe Your Dog?

For a medium to large-sized dogs like German Shepherds, you might find it easier to bathe your dog outside in the backyard.

Some dog owners prefer to bathe their German Shepherds using a garden hose set on low pressure.

Setting The Water Temperature

In summer, you may want to let the water cool down first before bathing your dog. In the colder days, you may want to prepare buckets filled with comfortable, warm water as opposed to cold hose water.

Always test the water temperature first before washing your dogs to ensure its not too hot or cold.

If it is not possible to bathe your dog outside as in the case when youre living in an apartment, you can use a bathtub or dog tub.

If youre using a bathtub or dog tub, you will want to put a non-slip mat in the bottom of the tub and around your bathroom to prevent any slipping.

Getting Started

Dental Care For Your German Shepherd

Dental care is not only important for your German Shepherds fresh breath but for its overall health in general. Just like in humans, dental issues can be excruciating for dogs and can lead to more serious health complications.

  • Mouth pain
  • Infections in the mouth
  • Any other complications associated with dental disease and mouth pain.

When it comes to maintaining your Shepherds dental health, there are a few things that you can do for your dog to assure it stays healthy:

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Best Overall: Furminator Undercoat Deshedding Tool

  • Shape: Ergonomic

The Furminator Brush comes out as the best brush for German Shepherds.

The German Shepherd is notorious for excessively shedding its double coat and the Furminator deshedding tool feels like a high-quality piece of kit thats capable of professional grooming at an amateur price tag.

Pet owners can confidently use the Furminator to dive deep into their pets coat to remove loose hairs before they fall.

Your pets coat is shinier, healthier, and having a German Shepherd as a pet becomes more manageable.

The Furminators reputation has grown as the best dog brush for German Shepherds for a good reason.

This product is ideal for deep-coat loose hair removal, making life easier for everyone. The ergonomic brush handle is designed to be non-slip, which is great for large dogs where the grooming process takes a lot longer.

Theres nothing more frustrating than a slip grip when your pooch is struggling to break free!

Not only is this product cost-effective, but it is easy to use and gets results. If you want one brush for German Shepherd grooming, the Furminator is it.

If you want other brushes for daily grooming, then explore the remainder of our guide. Until then-find out why the Furminator is the clear winner in this brush comparison.

Pros

  • Weight: 0.2lbs
  • Shape: Rectangular

Get a self-cleaning slicker brush where matted, tangled hair is a problem. Almost every dog will have matted, tangled hair at some stage, especially if they get out a lot.

Pros

Cons

How Often Should You Brush A German Shepherd

Best Dog Brush For German Shepherd

Are you meeting your German Shepherds brushing needs?

Brush your dog at least 3 to 4 times a week for 10 minutes each session. During the coat blowing season in spring and fall, daily brushing of at least 10 to 15 minutes is preferred. At each brushing, make sure you pay special attention to areas prone to clumping, like under the belly, the back of the legs, the length of the tail, and behind their ears. You can brush your German Shepherd puppy every other day with a gentle brushing glove that introduces them to grooming.

A GSD is a double-coated breed that needs routine grooming. If your dog is very active and outdoors a lot, make sure you brush more regularly, especially after swimming or running through trails and tall grass.

Follow these 3 German Shepherd brushing tips to decrease shedding and help your dog stay healthy:

  • brush regularly
  • brush for a set time to get your dog used to grooming
  • choose the right tools for brushing that are gentle

Youll also want to keep your dog on a set brushing schedule to maintain their coat health. Heres a good schedule for you and your dog.

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Grooming Requirements Of A German Shepherd

Grooming is not always about bathing your GSD. German Shepherds do not need frequent baths to stay clean and tidy. However, they require frequent grooming that makes them shine. Your GSDs coat needs special attention as it is double-coated and sheds throughout the year, and if groomed well, your dog will not shed a lot of fur.

There are certain grooming requirements for this breed of dogs.

To Bathe Or Not To Bathe

Bathing your German shepherd can be a mammoth task, especially if you dont have a suitable dog bath tub!

German shepherd coats are typically thick and will take a very long time to dry properly.

Although bathing your shepherd might loosen some of his undercoat, you wont be able to groom him until the coat is completely dry.

Unless your dog has rolled in something disgusting or has a skin condition that necessitates regular bathing, its best to groom him instead.

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What Are The Signs That You Are Over Bathing Your Dog

As mentioned, every German Shepherd is different. Some dogs have hardier coats that can stand up to more regular baths. Others can only be washed sparingly. Here are some signs that will let you know whether youre bathing your dog too often:

  • Dull coat
  • Dry or flaky skin
  • Your dog itching themselves

If you notice any of these issues, make sure to take your dog to the vet. They will show you how to get your dogs coat back into good shape. If your dog has particularly sensitive skin, your vet may need to prescribe your dog a special shampoo to avoid such issues.

Whats The Best Furminator To Choose For Your German Shepherd

How to Brush and Deshed a German Shepherd

The best model FURminator for your German Shepherd is going to be the FURminator Deshedding Edge Dog Brush. Its got a stainless-steel blade, as well as the ergonomic plastic handle that we mentioned so that it is both light and effective for grooming your dog.

When you are shopping for one, youll notice that they come in small, medium, and large, but regardless of the size of your Shepherd, you should always go with the large or even the extra-large model. It gets the job done for any size shepherd, and you wont have to replace it anytime soon as your dog grows.

Read Also: German Shepherd Puppy Feeding Amount

What To Do If Your Dog Has Dental Problems

If your dog shows symptoms of any of the dental problems described in this article, it is a good idea to take them to the vet to have them checked professionally.

That is because dental disease can be extremely serious if left untreated. It is often tough to tell if your dog is suffering from chronic pain or a severe infection.

Your German Shepherd may well be fine, but when it comes to mans best friend, it is always better to be safe than sorry!

What All Does At Home Grooming Involve

Though grooming is often categorized as brushing and cleaning of the coat only, there is much more that you can do to maintain your German Shepherds outward appearance.

A well-rounded grooming of a GSD includes maintaining their coat, trimming their nails, cleaning their ears, keeping up with their dental health, and a few other tips that we will discuss in this article.

Though this may sound tedious, it is all made easier if you follow a simple routine. By setting aside days and times for grooming, it can all begin to flow naturally throughout your day.

If you want to make sure you are taking care of all of your dogs grooming needs, then take a look at some of the tips below.

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Dakpets Furblaster Deshedding Light Brush

  • The Dakpets FURblaster Deshedding & Light Trimming Tool for large dogs and German Shepherds is another one of our favorites. A few minutes a day of light trimming will reduce shedding by 80%-90% and trim the non-loose undercoat while removing the loose, dead hairs from undercoat.
  • The versatility of the Dakpets Furblaster deshedding brush makes it suitable for dogs with single or double coats, and it’s perfect for short- and long-haired dogs. It’s gentle on your pet’s skin yet firm enough to stimulate the natural oils in the fur resulting in a shinier topcoat and a healthy skin.
  • Cleverly designed by pet grooming experts with a fast-release button for comb removal it also has a safety cover for the strong stainless steel blade. The handle is lightweight and well designed with a grip that is non-slip and comfortable to hold. Click on the link for more info and a full dakpets deshedding tool review.

Can You Shave Your German Shepherd

Training Your Dog: Myths and Mistakes to Avoid

While you might think that shaving your German Shepherd is a good idea to prevent shedding, shaving is not recommended.

The negatives of shaving your German Shepherd significantly outweigh any of the pros you can think of. This primarily comes down to the fact that:

  • Their coat protects them

German Shepherds have double coats.

This double-coat works simultaneously to keep your German Shepherd comfortable throughout all the seasons, meaning that they are cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

The outer layer protects your dogs skin from water, dirt, and insect bites.

On the other hand, the undercoat is soft and fuzzy, working to insulate your dog from hot and cold temperatures throughout the seasons.

  • Shaving them wont prevent shedding

Even if you shave your German Shepherd, their coat is still going to shed. While the hairs left around your house will be significantly shorter, shaving them doesnt prevent the hair from shedding altogether.

This defeats the purpose of shaving them in the first place.

  • Shaving takes away their coloring

Shaving your German Shepherd will take away the outer coat, which takes away much of the beautiful coloring and markings of your pooch.

All youll be left with is the undercoat which will likely be a muted cream, beige, or grey.

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Video Answer: How To Brush Your German Shepherd Dog Timelapse

Professional grooming at least every 3 to 6 weeks is highly recommended for adult dogs.

Near-daily brushing and combing is recommended for maintenance, unless your coat clip of choice is “shaved.”

How often should I brush? It’s a good idea to start brushing your dog while they are a young pup.

The amount of brushing may depend on the coat but in general, aim for at least once a week.

Brush your dog’s teeth when she’s calm and relaxed.

Your goal: Set a routine.

Working up to brushing daily is ideal.

But if her mouth is healthy, even three days a week can make a difference.

Brush your dog’s teeth when she’s calm and relaxed.

Your goal: Set a routine.

Working up to brushing daily is ideal.

But if her mouth is healthy, even three days a week can make a difference.

You should brush a Goldendoodle no less than once a week. This helps remove tangles, dirt, oils, and debris, and keeps your Goldendoodle’s coat clean and tidy. Brushing your Goldendoodle twice a week prevents mats and keep your dog’s coat healthy.

What Food Is Best For Your German Shepherds Teeth

When it comes to which dog food you should buy, it is a matter of quality. High-quality dog food is less likely to contain ingredients like grains and meals which stick to the dogs teeth.

It is important that you do not skimp on paying for quality dog food for your German Shepherd. The old saying you are what you eat applies just the same to you as it does to your dog!

Royal Canin is a brand that weve used time and again, and we dont hesitate one bit to recommend it to other German Shepherd owners.

As previously mentioned, dry food should be the primary source of food for your German Shepherd. Wet tinned food is ok as a treat now and then, but it should not be given every day as a major part of your dogs diet.

For more information about feeding your German Shepherd, be sure to check out our GSD feeding guide. It literally contains all you need to know on this topic, and is the best resource on the internet for this. See for yourself!

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What To Watch For

Any abnormal symptom could be a sign of serious disease, or it could just be a minor or temporary problem. The important thing is to be able to tell when to seek veterinary help, and how urgently. Many diseases cause dogs to have a characteristic combination of symptoms, which together can be a clear signal that your German Shepherd Dog needs help.

How Often Should You Bathe Your German Shepherd

How Often Do German Shepherds Need To Be Brushed?

In general, your German Shepherd doesnt need a bath that often.

Their thick double coat does a good job of keeping dirt, debris and bugs away from their skin.

However, that doesnt mean that your dog never needs a bath. Most German Shepherds can use a good bath at least twice a year.

A good bath will help wash away dirt and debris that has worked its way deep in to your dogs coat. This can cause irritation and itchiness for your dog.

A good bath will keep your dog from scratching by removing potential irritants from the coat.

Your German Shepherds double coat will also create oils, just like our own skin and hair does.

This oil, when it builds up can create a sticky feeling to your dogs coat, and can also create an odor.

Too much oil can also hold on to dirt and make brushing your German Shepherd more challenging.

Bathing your dog at least a couple of times per year will limit the amount of oils that build up in your German Shepherds coat, keeping it soft, free of odors and reduce the amount of dirt in your dogs coat.

Also Check: How To Stop A German Shepherd From Shedding

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What Grooming Tools Do You Need

Brushing your German Shepherd with just one brush wont be enough. This breed has a double coat and you will require several different brushes to reduce shedding.

The first brush that you need is the slicker brush. This is what you will use most often. The main purpose of the slicker brush is to dislodge loose fur mostly in the outer coat and reduce matting.

The other important brush is the undercoat rake. As the name suggests, this allows you to remove loose fur trapped in the bottommost layers. This brush is used less frequently but its an important tool to keep overall shedding under control.

Finally, there is a de-shedding tool. The most recognizable feature of this is the Furminator. Use a brush that is specifically made for the length of your dogs coat. It works best when your German Shepherd enters their shedding season. This drastically cuts down on fur around the house.

Some people choose to use Furminators as undercoat rakes as well. When utilized too often, though, this brush can cut or damage the coat. An undercoat rake is the better option for regular use as it only gets rid of excess fur.

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