Blowing Out Their Coat With A High Velocity Dryer
Many professional dog groomers have a secret weapon to completely deshed and dry your dog quickly. It’s the high velocity dryer, and it’s amazing.
Think of a Leaf-blower designed to blow dog hair out. It’s perfectly safe and extremely effective!
The result: your dog will shed 80% less for about 2 or 3 weeks. And during peak shedding season it’s absolutely worth it!
Great example I found on YouTube, skip to 1:20 to see how much hair this gets off!
Please ensure you receive proper instruction on how to properly use a high velocity dryer on a dog to avoid any possible injuries.
Characteristics Of The Dog And Caring For The Shepherd
Sheepdog is not a specific breed of dog. There are about 50 types of it. They differ in size, body structure, coat length, and color. The rules for caring for them vary, but there are general recommendations.
Most species have a well-developed guard coat and a coarse undercoat. Hair can be both soft fluffy and coarse. As a rule, they do not get lost in tangles, but if you do not follow the pet, then the dead hairs get tangled, causing discomfort in the animal. You need to comb it 3 times a week and bathe it no more than once every couple of months. Frequent washing removes the protective layer.
If You’re Shaving Your Dog Don’t
Many dog owners believe shaving is good for their pet, especially to cool off in summer, but even one shave could do irreparable damage to a dog’s coat and make it more uncomfortable.
Dogs You Can Shave and Dogs You Can’t
Some dogs can easily be shaved without causing problems many short-haired breeds are fine to shave, but there are still risks with the procedure and it isn’t necessary for the dog’s health or comfort. Long-haired breeds with double coats, however, should never be shaved because of the problems that can result from damaging their intricately balanced coats. Dogs such as golden retrievers, German shepherds, Siberian huskies and any dog that seasonally sheds huge clumps of fur should never be shaved.
Problems With Shaving
It is a misconception that shaving will help keep a dog cool on hot days. A dog’s coat is a natural insulator, and removing that hair only allows the heat and sunlight easier access to the skin, causing overheating and discomfort, as well as additional problems such as
Other Shaving Excuses
Some dog owners believe that shaving is also useful for other reasons, which have also been proven false.
Safer Shaving Alternatives
Instead of shaving your dog, there are other options that can help keep your pet cool and comfortable, and can prevent other problems with its coat.
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What About Keeping Your German Shepherd Cool
If youre shaving your german shepherd to keep them cool, then youll be pleased to understand thats not the most effective approach. There are many other means to keep them cool, such as making sure theyre in form, offering plenty of color for them, providing water to consume alcohol, and not taking them out in the hottest times of the day.
How To Get A Ton Of Dog Hair Out
German Shepherds are a double-coated breed. Meaning there is two layers of coat: the surface coat , and a thicker under-layer called the undercoat – and it’s the undercoat that is responsible for most of the hair around your home or car.
As a groomer I use a few different techniques for deshedding your dog:
The best bang for your buck is the amazing Undercoat Rake – it’s simply a soft-pinned comb that effectively loosens up all that undercoat hair .
We’ll also use deshedding shampoos and treatments.
And finally, a high velocity dryer to literally blow the remaining coat off. This usually leaves your dog shed-free for at least a few weeks.
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Itll Save You Green Backs
Its a definite money-saver over the life span of your dog. German Shepherds can live to the ripe old age of 15.
And although there is an upfront investment for grooming equipment, it wont be long before you win that money back.
Grooming costs are based on how much fur your dog has. You have a German Shepherd and that equals A LOT of fur.
Heres an example for 2019:
For a German Shepherd with a double coat that needs regular grooming from an experienced, professional groomer who knows their stuff the prices go something like this
Bath: $40
Extra Brush Out: $16
Thats a whopping $164 per visit to the groomer per month!
And with a high maintenance coat like the German Shepherds, your GSD will need a minimum of 2 visits per month from the start of Spring to the end of Summer. Thats roughly 5 months.
If you have one dog, that adds up to $1620 per year!
So, you see, home-grooming makes a lot of financial sense!
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Lifespan And Health Issues
Unfortunately, the life span of the german shepherd is short which is 7-10 years. It is a sadly short lifespan for a large dog. Also, they are prone to different health problems that can be severe at times.
So it is of utmost importance to adopt the pet from a reliable breeder who focuses on healthy puppies. Also, you should plan the budget for the expensive treatment of your dog. Here are a few health problems that Long Haired German Shepherd often suffers.
Hip or elbow dysplasia: It is a painful condition where the joint parts of your dog dont develop properly.
Gastric Dilatation: A life-threatening condition where the dogs stomach fills with gas that cuts the blood supply to the intestines.
Spinal Cord Disease: It is a severe condition of the spinal cord that may lead to paralysis.
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency: A genetic problem that destroys the digestive enzymes, and the dog cant digest food.
Allergies: German Shepherds experience a lot of skin and other problems due to environmental or food allergies.
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Should I Shave My German Shepherd Read This First
Owning a German Shepherd has its perks, from gaining a guard dog to a best friend for life! However, there are some issues when caring for them, particularly grooming. Sure, they arent as tough to groom compared to other furrier breeds, but keeping them cool in the hot weather can get difficult.
Thats why I used to wonder, Should I shave my German Shepherd? I decided to do my research and ask professionals about it, and I was a bit surprised by the answers!
So if youre planning to shave your German Shepherd, read this first!
Groom And Bathe Your German Shepherd 3
So, I already went over that your German Shepherd will blow his coat twice a year once in the fall, once in the spring. Though you cant stop the fur clumps from eventually coming out, you can help to get rid of more of it at once by bathing and grooming him during these periods.
Rather than allowing his undercoat to gradually fall out as the two-week blowing period progresses, you can loosen up any remaining fur and get rid of it at bathing time.
Never over-bathe as this strips your German Shepherds natural oils causing dry skin which then causes further shedding.
There are also specific de-shedding dog shampoos and conditioners you can get to release the undercoat during the bath. You can even find ones enriched with Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids, such as the FURminator deShedding Ultra Premium Dog Shampoo that help reduce shedding from Amazon, and Ill cover the benefits of these at number 7 below.
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The German Shepherd Coat
Your German Shepherds has a double coat. The outer coat of guard hairs is straight, with dense coarse fur that lies close to their body.
The fur on your dog’s neck is longer and more dense than the fur on their body.
And they have an undercoat which is soft and thick kind of like the down on a goose.
So your German Shepherd has a beautiful coat designed to withstand the cold and heat of the elements.
German Shepherd coats come in four lengths:
- Short with an undercoat
- Medium with an undercoat
- Long with an undercoat Fur feathers on the ears, back of the legs, and tail.
- Long without an undercoat Fur feathers on the ears, back of the legs, and tail. The outer coat is softer and finer than the above three lengths.
Is It Bad To Shave A Double Coated Dog
Shaving a double-coated breed can really ruin the coat. If you do shave your double coated dog, the new hair will grow back but the undercoat will grow first. The texture of the soft undercoat will absorb the suns rays, making your dog hotter in summer. Shaving a double coated dog does not reduce shedding.
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Shepherd Grooming General Care
Shepherd grooming includes the following procedures:
The frequency of treatments depends on the breed. Short-haired Sheepdogs do not need to be clipped. It acquires the desired shape naturally, it is laid down by nature. For them, trimming the hairs between the fingers, trimming the claws and other hygiene procedures is enough.
Long-haired dogs definitely need a haircut on the neck and hind legs. Attention is paid to the outline, but no radical haircut is applied. There is a need for regular brushing, especially during the shedding period. If the animal is being prepared for a show, it will take time for the long-haired species such as the Belgian Shepherd to settle down after bathing. Sometimes it takes a couple of days.
Ears and teeth are cleaned every week. The nails should be trimmed as needed unless they are worn off on their own.
Shaving Can Lead To Skin Problems:
Without a dense coat there to protect their skin, your dogs body is exposed to more things. This includes the sun! Just like humans dogs can get sunburn. Dogs only have about half as many layers as humans have, making their burns worse. Humans have 16 20 layers, and dogs only have 6 10.
Sunburns can lead to hot spots, skin, irritation, and even skin cancer! Make sure if your dog does get burnt to keep them from licking the burns. Use a dog cone if necessary. Licking those burns can make it a lot worse. Your dog may experience dandruff and flaking for a while, even when their fur has grown back.
If you do shave your German Shepherd for the summer, play and exercise out of the sun as much as you can.
More about hot spots:
Hot spots are when your dog scratches their skin so much that it leaves red irritated lesions on the skin. These are somewhat like wounds. Yet they can not only be caused by burns but also bugs. Now that your dogs coat is gone, bugs can just bite your shepherds skin. After getting those bites your dog will scratch like crazy. This will form these hot spots.
These hot spots can also lead to alopecia areata, which is patchy hair loss. We dont want that!
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What Not To Do
In addition to shaving, there are a number of things to avoid that can cause discomfort to your German Shepherd. These include:
- Hot sidewalks when its warm outside and the sun is beating down, its worth avoiding sidewalks for the wellbeing of your pooch. To test whether theyre too hot, keep your hand placed on the ground for 20 seconds. If its too hot for you, itll be equally unpleasant for your German Shepherd to walk on.
In the most severe cases, your dog may end up scorching the pads on their paws, which can be incredibly painful for them.
- Hot cars one of the most common, but important pieces of advice for all dog owners is to avoid leaving your pooch in a hot car. This is especially important for German Shepherds. Often, it only takes a few minutes for the damage to be done, and the consequences can be fatal.
Therefore, if you see a dog trapped inside a hot car, its important to contact the emergency services. They can then advise you on what to do next. Be mindful that if you cause unnecessary damage to a car, you may end up being convicted with criminal charges.
It only takes one traffic jam or one travel delay for a journey to become dangerous for your dog. Needless to say, make sure you pack plenty of water if youre embarking on a long trip.
Metro Air Force Quick Draw Dryer
- 18,000 feet / min.
- Compact and lightweight.
Includes 6 ft stretch hose, air concentrator nozzle, air flare tool, shoulder strap, and mounting hook.
This dryer delivers warm air without an auxiliary heating source. Some users think that this is not as powerful as some of the more expensive models but that it works well.
Some pooch parents noted that the noise level is high. But that goes for any high-velocity dryers.
You cant have a high-velocity airflow without a strong motor, and a strong motor makes noise.
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Is It Good To Shave Your Poodle
The answer depends on why you are shaving your dog. If it is to improve its physical appearance then that is good. However if you are shaving the dog due to an injury then that is not too good. Some dogs may not be accustomed to being shaved and they will not enjoy the experience. However, you can make it easier for your dog by using a calming spray or masking tape to protect its ears and paws. Shaving your dog is only necessary if it has an injury or if it has too much hair..
Shaving Leaves Your Dog Cold In The Winter And Hot In The Summer
The undercoat and guard hair insulate them from cold air, but also create a ventilation system to help cool them in the summer. Think of their double coat as a self-adjusting heating and cooling system.
In the summer, shaving them puts your dog at risk of overheating. This is because the different fur layers act as an air conditioning system by allowing air to circulate against the skin, which provides a cooling effect.
Without the longer hairs to help circulate the air against the skin, the suns rays burn into your German Shepherds shaved body directly.
The longer guard hair keep the cool air against the skin, and the hot hair away from the skin. This helps prevent overheating.
Unless your vet advises you, its better to find other options to help with your dogs thick coat. Dogs left exposed to the elements are more at risk for health issues and additional skin problems.
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Why You Should Use De
De-shedding tools are your best chance to remove the dead undercoat from your German Shepherd.
Without a de-shedding tool, you’ll be brushing until the cows come home. But you’ll be getting nowhere.
De-shedding tools are a must-have when grooming a German Shepherd for summer or you’ll have a collection of fur balls all over your home.
And a very hot and unhappy pooch.
There are a ton of de-shedding tools that both professional groomers and pet owners use.
And de-shedding tools are a must unless you want your house filled with tumbleweeds of hair.
Do German Shepherds Shed A Lot
Yes, German Shepherds shed a fair amount throughout the year, in particular between the hotter and cooler seasons.
So, living with a German Shepherd means youll have to cope with copious amounts of hair around your home.
Its worth bearing in mind the more often you groom them, the less likely theyll be to leave their hair everywhere around the house.
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What Exactly Is A Double Coat
German Shepherds are among dog breeds that have a double coat. Quite simply, a double coat has two layers:
- The undercoat of short hairs.
- A top coat of longer hairs .
A dogs coat is not there just to make them beautiful. It serves a purpose based on what the dog was bred to do.
German Shepherds originated from Germany. Their main job was to herd and protect sheep in harsh climates.
Their medium-length coat fits the job perfectly. It protected them from rain and snow.
Also, the top coat was resistant to picking burrs and dirt. This made their upkeep easier for shepherds and farmers.
In modern times, the double coat protects them from cold nights while doing police duties.
How Do You Cut A German Shepherds Coat
Not all breeds of dogs are the same. You need to consider what is good for your German Shepherd. And the main factor to consider is that they are a double-coated breed of dog. The growth of their topcoat and undercoat vary. The topcoat protects your German Shepherd from dirt and sun exposure, while the undercoat protects from the cold.
Now, there are two main reasons for cutting a German Shepherds coat: give relief to them during the hot months of summer, and to control your german shepherds shedding. Read more about how to control the shedding and how to properly trim a German Shepherds coat.
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Make Use Of Dog Grooming Scissors
Its interesting, but although theres not really such a thing as the best dog hair clippers for German Shepherds, you can still have a go at trimming their hair. By using a set of dog grooming scissors instead. This is just a great way to finish off their overall look, so that they look every bit the sophisticated and handsome dog they should.