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How To Brush A German Shepherd Hair

German Shepherd Ear Care And Dental Care

How to Brush and Deshed a German Shepherd

GSDs have tall, alert ears that stand up by the time they reach about four months of age. These ears are a signature feature of the breed and can be prone to infections if you dont keep a watchful eye on their care. Walsh uses hypoallergenic baby wipes to clean her dogs ears, noting that the wipes are easy and gentle to use.

Wilson also recommends cleaning your dogs ears and checking regularly for ear infections. Go to the vet if you notice one, she says, as such infections can be serious and require the care of a veterinary professional.

For;dental care, a wide variety of oral care products are available now for dogs. Dental care you can do at home includes the use of disposable dental wipes or dog-friendly flavored toothpaste . The best course of action, though, is to consult with your veterinarian about which dental hygiene routine will be best for your dog.

Yasmine S. Ali, MD, is a cardiologist and writer based in Tennessee, where she lives with three Canine Good Citizens, including an AKC-registered German Shepherd Dog.

Best Dog Brushes & De

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German Shepherds originated in Germany in 1899 and were initially bred as herding dogs. They have since become the first choice as police, guard, and military working dogs. Today German Shepherds are one of the most popular breeds in the United States and have been since the early 1920s.

German Shepherds are an easy breed to maintain but are considered heavy shedders. If you are concerned about dog hair covering your floors and furniture, you will need to find a good dog brush and stick to a grooming schedule.

Fortunately, we researched and tested several dog brushes and combs to determine which ones work best for your German Shepherds coat.

How To Care For Your German Shepherds Coat

This video shows an owner using the FURminator De-Shedding Tool on his German Shepherd.

Luckily for most owners, german shepherds love water, which makes bathing and grooming easy for everyone. Regular shampooing, especially with a shampoo that is good for German Shepherd, can keep a dogs coat clean and shiny.

A diet high in protein and healthy fats, such as eggs and beef, can help keep the animals coat glossy from the inside out.

A great way to form good habits at home is to brush and groom your pet after it has had a thorough bath. Allow your pets coat to fully dry before using a german shepherd dog brush. Once you find the best comb for german shepherds, be careful to use it only after a dogs coat has dried to avoid any snags or tangles.

One secret that many dog owners in general know is that it often is helpful to give your pet a bath outdoors. While this might not be possible for some owners, it makes bathing a fun experience for the dog and easy clean-up for the owner.

Read Also: Why Are German Shepherds So Smart

Best Brush For German Shepherd: Slicker

A useful addition to your German shepherd grooming kit is a slicker brush. Rather than using the deshedding tool every time you groom your dog, use the slicker brush instead.

The Pet Portal Pro Quality Self Cleaning Slicker Brush* is a professional-grade slicker brush thats great for removing smaller mats and tangles.

The brush has a handy self-cleaning button, so you wont be struggling to remove loose hair from the brush each time you use it.

The Pet Neat Self Cleaning Slicker Brush* is slightly cheaper than the Pet Portal Pro, but its a good option.

The brush has a self-cleaning feature and is surprisingly well-made and sturdy for the price.

Short Hair Dog Brush & Long Hair Dog Brush

7 Best Brushes for German Shepherds With 5 Simple Brushing ...

The best German Shepherd brush is always made of plastic bristles or wire metal bristles. They often come in very practical two-in-one style brushes. This essential tool for grooming and daily maintenance acts as a German Shepherd shedding brush to prevent excessive shedding and matting.

The plastic bristles help to distribute oil over the skin and are used for removing guard hairs that are loose and cover the softer undercoat, so its an ideal undercoat brush for German Shepherds. The wire bristles are used to detangle parts of the undercoat because they are able to reach deeper into the layers of the coat.

Read Also: Do German Shepherds Naturally Protect Their Owners

Quick Guide For Choosing A Grooming Brush

You can find a plethora of doggy grooming tools on the market. Youll find different names and different styles of tools that do all kinds of different things. And what you need all depends on our dogs coat. Yikes. Well, dont worry. Heres a quick guide to figuring out what type of grooming tool you need for a German Shepherd.

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.

Recommended Reading: What To Feed A 1 Month Old German Shepherd Puppy

German Shepherd Grooming Best Brush For A German Shepherd

Finding a dog grooming brush for a German Shepherd can be quite exhausting as there are so many choices available on the market. The different styles and different names can be confusing but when choosing your German Shepherd brush your first consideration should be what type of coat your dog has. Basically there are 6 dog brush types available:

Quick Tips For Grooming Your German Shepherds Coat

German Shepherd Shedding Remove Hair Without a Furminator

Before cutting your German Shepherds coat, here is some basic information first that may help you.

  • German Shepherds shed their coat twice a year. They have a double coat that keeps them warm during the cold winter months, and during the summer months, it blocks the excess heat and UV rays. In the spring, German Shepherds shed the winter coat. And again in the fall, they shed their summer coat.
  • Your German Shepherds coat has plenty of natural oils, and bathing too often will strip the coat of its oils. Making the coat dry and itchy could lead to irritation. It is recommended that bathing is done every 3-4 months.
  • Brush and blow your German Shepherds hair 3-4 times a week to minimize shedding. This way, it also keeps your dogs coat shiny, and it contributes to your homes overall cleanliness.

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A Guide On How To Brush A German Shepherd

  • Step 1:

Begin by asking your German Shepherd to lie down, and remove his collar for a thorough grooming session. Stroke him to make him relaxed and happy.

While grooming him wont take a super long time its always easier if your pup is calm and cooperative. Reward him with treats if hes struggling to sit still for the duration of your grooming session.

  • Step 2:

Begin by brushing from the back and hindquarters, as this can significantly help anxious dogs to remain calm during the grooming process. Go over the body areas multiple times with longer, lighter strokes. Use an undercoat rake to brush through the hair on your dogs chest, belly, sides, and legs.

In this step, you are trying to remove as much loose fur as possible with the brush.

  • Step 3:

If youre struggling to get through your German Shepherds coat, use a grooming or detangling spray to loosen clumps and help you smooth the knottier areas out. Detangling sprays are designed to reduce stress during dog grooming by minimizing the pulling of fur in matted areas.

After a quick spray, the grooming solution should allow you to glide easily through the fur. This is a life-saver as your dog can become fidgety as soon as theres an uncomfortable knot to brush through.

Having grooming spray is a great way of getting the job done more efficiently and can help to ensure that your dog is comfortable for longer.

  • Step 4:
  • Step 5:
  • Step 6:

The Bathe And Blow Method

This method takes more work. But it’s fantastic if your GSD has an exceptionally thick coat like my male Zè.

Step One Bathe your dog in warm water. Lather them up and then let them sit for a few minutes before rinsing. This helps loosen the undercoat.

Again, use a shampoo for sensitive skin.

Step Two Rinse them off thoroughly. It will take much longer to rinse than it did to shampoo.

If you don’t rinse properly, your pooch will start scratching like crazy. So dont rush the rinsing.

Step Three Use a high-velocity dryer is this next step more on the dryer later.

Youll want to do this outside. Unless you want your house to look and feel like a meadow at the height of Goldenrod season!

Seriously though!

You’ll be breathing in dog fur and scratching at your face so definitely do this outside!

Step Four Work from the back to the front. This lifts the guard hairs and blows at the undercoat. Which is what you want.

Use an undercoat rake as you dry, this helps to loosen the undercoat.

For those hard-to-reach places like their chest and belly, sit below your dog.

If you have never used a high-velocity dryer on your dog, there will be a learning curve for both of you.

Slow and easy is the way to go. As with anything new and scary to my dogs, I turn it into a game and reward them with treats.

You want to make this a positive experience for them. Once your dog gets over the noise of the dryer, it should feel really good to them to be blown out in this way.

Read Also: How Much Do You Feed German Shepherd Puppies

Are Long Coat German Shepherds Rare

Long haired German Shepherds are somewhat rare, although not so much that they are not easily recognized. The American Kennel Association sees their lack of a double coat as something of a breed defect but still recognizes them as an official breed. They are easy enough to find for anyone who wants to own one.

How Do You Brush A German Shepherd

Best Dog Brush for German Shepherd

How to Brush a German ShepherdAsk your shepherd to lay, and remove his collar. Place a slicker brush at the top of your shepherds neck and begin brushing the length of his entire back gently, all the way to his tail, going with the grain of his coat. Brush your pups hips with the slicker brush, going with the grain.More items

Read Also: When Should I Neuter My German Shepherd

Discover The Types Of German Shepherd Coat

Contents

  • 7.1 You may also like:
  • German Shepherds are very intelligent, friendly pets with quite complicated hair that makes them stand out from other dogs. These dogs have two coats, a skinny one located on the inside and a thick one on the surface. The length of pet hair varies depending on how you maintain it, although it does need to be short.

    There are pets of this breed with long coats with thick hair or short coats with very long internal hair. You must understand how long the hair is on your pet to choose the most suitable brush. You should brush your pets coat to make it look exquisite and keep it looking shiny.

    How To Properly Bathe Your Dog

  • Provide a Slip-Proof Mat: If you are going to wash him in the bathroom, make sure that you have some sort of slip-proof mat at the bottom of the tub. Dogs feet do not have the same natural grip as ours do on smooth surfaces. Even just sliding around can be very frightening for a dog, especially if this is his first bath.
  • Check Water Temperature: Next, put him in the tub. Turn on the water and before dousing him, make sure that it is neither too hot nor too cold. If it feels good on your skin, then it should be perfectly fine for your dog. The best way to get him wet is to use a large cup or small bucket, filled up at the tap, which you can then dump over him.
  • Thoroughly Soak Your Dog: You want him to be thoroughly soaked before you apply any shampoo, but this process gives you a little more control when it comes to his eyes, ears, and nose.
  • Lather the Shampoo: Once he is thoroughly wet, start applying shampoo. Again, what shampoo you use will depend heavily on your dogs specific needs and on your preferences. There are plenty of great brands that make all-natural, safe, effective dog shampoo. There are also brands that make shampoo specifically for their fur and skin.
  • Clipping a dog’s nails helps them walk comfortably.

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    How Often Should You Bathe Your German Shepherd

    While you might think that German Shepherds need to be bathed regularly as they need to be groomed on a very regular basis, bathing your dog about once a month is more than enough.

    If your dog stays fairly clean with regular brushing, you might get away with fewer baths. Too many baths will strip the coat of natural oils that protect the skin, and your dogs coat will lose some of its shine and luster.;

    Although frequent brushing is essential for your German Shepherd, the same is not true of baths. This simply comes down to the fact that if you overdo the baths you may end up with a dog with dry, irritated skin. You should always make sure that you are using a puppy or dog shampoo, not a people shampoo.

    Shampoos that you and I use on our hair arent necessarily toxic to dogs, but they may contain fragrances and other ingredients that irritate your dogs skin.

    Taking this into consideration, its best to wash your dog with specific shampoo and conditioner and make sure that you arent washing them too frequently.

    Washing And Bathing Your German Shepherd

    Brushing German Shepherd using FURminator DeShedding Tool | Long Hair Dog Grooming

    Washing a fully grown German Shepherd can be intimidating, especially if you already know he does not like to get wet. This is why starting as a puppy and making sure he enjoys the process, is essential to making him easy to wash in the future.

    Go for Natural Shampoo Products

    In general, you do not want to use anything that contains unnecessary chemicals or drying agents, as shepherds tend to have dry skin, and shampoos that contain varieties of alcohol and sulfates can dry their skin out further.

    • Skin Sensitivity: If your dog has sensitive skin or problem skin, there are different keywords you should look for when buying shampoo. If he has dry, scaly skin, look for something that claims to be moisturizing. If his skin is oily and scaly, he needs something that will reduce the production of oil, while also moisturizing his skin. These are often called anti-seborrheic shampoos.
    • Itchy Skin: For itchy skin, find something that is formulated specifically for itchy skin, with oatmeal, chamomile, or other gentle, natural emollients. If he has an infection or a rash, a shampoo that has antimicrobial properties is always a great option. As a note, about flea shampoo: all shampoos will kill fleasyou do not need to buy special medicated shampoo to kill fleas, as these have no special properties and do not actually leave behind any medicine to kill future fleas.

    Read Also: How Much Does A Male German Shepherd Weigh

    Petnurse Pet Deshedding Brush Professional Deshedding Grooming Tooleffectively Reduces Shedding By Up To 95% For Dogs & Cats

    • Professional Pet Brushes:Suitable for all hair types-Curly,Wiry,Thick,Short,Medium & Long.
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    • Safe Dog Hair Brushes: Our dog cat shedding brush is eco-friendly, non-toxic, non-polluting, safe to use. Ergonomic design, easy to use,non-slip TPR and ABS handle,comfortable grip, ensuring your safe deShedding experience.
    • High Quality Deshedding Grooming Brush:High quality 4 inch stainless steel deshedding comb,quickly and effectively removes loose undercoat hair,remove up to 95% dead hair, reaches through the topcoat to remove loose undercoat hair without cutting skin or damaging the topcoat.
    • Quality Quarantee: Our products are rigorously inspected to insure the highest product quality. But in the unlikely event that your expectations are not reached we will send a refund or replacement.

    How Much Does A Dog Groomer Cost

    You can expect to pay around $60-$75 if you choose to groom your German shepherd at a local shop. Mobile dog groomers can come to your home for an average cost between $75 to $80. Also, if there is a self-service dog grooming facility nearby, you can bring your shepherd there for between $11-$23.

    Here are some examples:

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    Brushing Your Dogs Teeth Is Necessary

    This is perhaps the most important measure you can take to maintain teeth and gum health in dogs and humans alike. Some people might think it is silly to brush a dogs teeth, but it does make a huge difference to their general health and lifespan.

    It is best to brush your German Shepherds teeth from a young age since many of these dogs do not appreciate their teeth being touched.;This gives them an opportunity to become acclimated to your doing so.

    A little bit of bleeding during brushing is ok, but if it is heavy or ongoing, you might be brushing too hard. However, if your German Shepherd already has serious gum disease, then you need to reassess the situation.

    If bleeding is occurring even during gentle brushing, then it is important to take your dog to the vet and have her gums checked. It is always better to be safe than sorry!;

    When it comes to how often your German Shepherds teeth should be brushed, it is a matter of the more, the better. Ideally, you would brush your German shepherds teeth every day.

    Short of that, two or three times per week will also make a massive difference to your dogs health. Its worth noting that just because your dogs teeth get brushed doesnt mean that they dont need professional dental care also.

    Try to have your dogs teeth looked at once a year by a vet.;As we humans experience, even with regular brushing we can still sometimes be surprised by cavities and other dental issues that our dentists may uncover your dog is no different.

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