German Shepherd Grooming

German Shepherd Dogs require a lot of grooming to keep them healthy and happy. Bathing is not so much required as brushing, cleaning their teeth and making sure that the various bits of their body remain free of bugs, burrs, and other debris. This page will help you keep your GSD beautifully groomed.

German Shepherd Coat Care

Getting the right German Shepherd grooming tools is highly essential. You will definitely need an undercoat rake for German Shepherds. You should also take the time to find the best grooming brush for German Shepherds. It's best to teach yourself how to groom her while she's a puppy so you and she can get used to it. You can learn German Shepherd grooming tips such as clipping and making sure the undercoat is brushed out by watching professional groomers do it. More than brushing is required, however, as diet plays a huge role in the condition of the dog's coat.

Brushing

Finding the best brushes for German Shepherds all depends on how much grooming you want to do and how much will be done by a pro. You'll first want to find the best brush for your German Shepherd puppy so she gets used to being groomed. Getting a good brush for shedding will help keep your house clean, and a good one is the DakPets Deshedding Brush. You may later need a German Shepherd comb as well as various brushes depending on what kind of grooming you need to do. If you want to make sure the undercoat is groomed regularly, you can try the PawsPamper Undercoat Rake. Depending on the variety of dog you have, you may even need a dog brush for long haired German Shepherds. You will want to brush your GSD about 3-4 times weekly.

Getting Out Tangles

The first step to keeping your GSD's coat tangle-free is a daily brushing that gets down to the undercoat but does not harm the skin. This calls for a brush that is strong yet without ends that will scratch that soft skin and cause health problems. The Fulminator for German Shepherds is an excellent tool, one that most people call a rake. Along with an anti-tangle spray, this rake-style brush can keep tangles, matting, and debris from taking hold in your dog's coat. A good de-tangling spray is ShowSheen Dog Detangler. You should be sure to use it or any such spray with a towel and not spray it directly in the dog's hair. You don't want to get it in their nose, eyes or inside their ears.

Bathing

German Shepherd bath time should not be frequent. If they are dirty from rolling around in mud or other smelly things, or the coat feels greasy, then it's probably time for a bath. You should only use shampoo for German Shepherds. One of the best bathing combinations for your German Shepherd is going to be a hydrating oatmeal shampoo & conditioner. The oatmeal with help remove dry itchy skin keeping your Shepherd happy and the coat clean and healthy. If you find that oatmeal shampoos cake up too quickly in the coat, you can use a special aloe vera shampoo meant for dogs too.

One of the best German shepherd bathing tips, however, is to not bathe your dog too much. This can strip the coat of its natural oils that keep the skin and coat healthy and comfortable. Sometimes it's just a slight German Shepherd odor that needs to be taken care of, and this is where deodorizing wipes or spray will be great.

German Shepherd Styling & Haircuts

If you have ever seen a shaved German Shepherd, then there was something seriously wrong. Unless it's a medical emergency, a German shepherd haircut should be carefully done. If you are not ready to start trimming a German Shepherd, you should take her to a professional groomer.

There are many things you can do to get comfortable with styling your GSD, however. You can get ideas by looking up pictures of haircuts for German Shepherds. There are lots of ways to have your German shepherd ears clipped to be stylish too. You can also research the look of the old style German Shepherd and do that.

There are some people who like to go way out there, and you will find pictures of some stylings such as a pink German Shepherd. Before you attempt that, however, you might want to take a slightly less bold step and try the German Shepherd lion cut.

Paw Care

If you don't know how to cut German Shepherd nails, there are plenty of groomers out there who will do this. If you prefer to do the job, you should know how to cut a German Shepherd's nails.

The first thing is to research which are the best German shepherd nail clippers. A good set to start with is the Millers-Forge Safety Bar Nail Trimmer. It's best to start trimming when your German Shepherd is still a puppy. When she is grown up and you are ready to move on to bigger clippers for your German Shepherd's longer nails, you can get a pair of Millers-Forge Large Dog Nail Trimmers. You might also look into a nail grinder. They are said to be safer, easier to use and more concise. A good one to use is the Oster Professional Spin Li+Ion Cordless Nail Grinder which is made for dogs.

Fleas, Ticks, & Other Pests

There are a number of bugs that can latch onto your GSD in various places. One of the most common bugs are German Shepherd ear mites. You should check your dog's ears daily and whenever she has been running around outside. If you detect redness, scratches, strange buildup or a foul smell, this may be caused by mites. If she is constantly holding her head to one side, and you can't see or smell anything wrong with her ears, mites deep in her ear may be the issue.

While there are no German Shepherd fleas specifically, GSDs have a thick coat with two layers. This can make for a very comfy home for fleas, ticks and other parasites. It's best to have a flea comb for immediate brushing after the dog park, the daily walk or even when she's just been outside in the back yard.

Other Care

Caring for your German Shepherd's teeth is mandatory. Neglecting GSD teeth will cause all sorts of health problems for your dog. You should know the difference between German Shepherd bad breath and typical doggy breath. You should check their teeth regularly, buy a brush meant for dogs, and clean the teeth frequently. Using a dog-friendly toothpaste is a must and a good one is CET Beef Tartar Control toothpaste. They also sell tooth brushes meant for dog teeth. It's suggested to learn when to expect your German Shepherd puppy teeth will be replaced by regular dog teeth.

German Shepherd Care

See the complete guide on how to care for German Shepherds.

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About this Article

Authored by:Dog-Learn
Updated:August 4, 2017
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