German shepherds are beautiful, strong working dogs known for their intelligence and hard-working attitude, as well as their characteristic long, thick dog hair.
They were originally bred to work outside whatever the weather so their thick coat was practical, but some potential owners might be put off by how much hair German shepherd dogs shed, so today we’re going to look at their shedding habits, how much hair they shed and how you can take steps to prevent it.
This dog sheds a lot. Your German shepherd will shed its coat year-round and heavier again during their seasonal shed, so expect to feel like you’re always vacuuming dog hair off the carpet and couches.
During the shorter, colder days of the winter, your German shepherd’s fur will grow out as they get rid of their summer coat to make way for their warmer winter coat. During this time you can expect a big increase in your German shepherd’s shedding for a few weeks during fall.
The inverse is true as summer rolls back around and the days get longer. Over spring, this double-coated breed will start shedding its outer coat, also known as ‘blowing out’ their coat, in the run-up to the warmer summer months.
Like almost all dog breeds, your German shepherd is born with a puppy coat that they will shed as they grow, though it’s a slightly different case with GSDs as fur isn’t the only thing they lose – your dog’s coat may also change in colour, so a German shepherd owner should not get too attached to their pup’s appearance.
Over the first 18 months of their life, the colour of your German shepherd’s fur may change dramatically as they lose the soft fur they have as a puppy and develop their adult coat.
Between 4-6 months is when you’ll notice this heavy shedding begin but it will drop off after a few weeks once their adult coat has settled.
The German shepherd dog breed can have either short, medium, or long hair, which will be straight and coarse.
If they are short or medium-haired dogs they will have a double coat with a slightly longer guard coat that doesn’t sit close to their skin.
Long-haired GSDs only have a single coat as their long topcoat negates the need for an undercoat to keep the warmth in.
Completely stopping your German shepherd’s shedding habits can’t be done but there are plenty of ways to make them more manageable.
GSD owners should be brushing their pet’s hair two to three times a week to remove loose hair, maybe upping it to four times during periods of excessive shedding when your German shepherd blows out their hair.
It doesn’t take long to brush their hair and will save you a lot of time vacuuming dead hair up from every corner of your home. Brushing your dog regularly is also important to spread natural oils around their fur and decompress their base coat.
A dog’s diet is a crucial part of maintaining a healthy coat that many won’t consider. The practical approach to cleaning fur is great but the right dog foods can reduce the problem across the board.
Make sure you have a meaty dog food source with plenty of fatty acids and nutrition to form the cornerstone of your dog’s diet. Try adding fish oil, like cod liver oil, to their food which is an inexpensive way to keep skin healthy and soothe allergies or irritation which can reduce your dog’s shedding.
Regular baths are useful for removing dead fur but make sure they’re not too common as they can dry their skin out, leaving it irritated.
Using specialized de-shedding products during bathing will go a long way to removing loose hair as you wash your dog.
No, German Shepherds will shed profusely all year round and will not be a comfortable addition to a home where people are allergic to dog dander.
If you’re a dog lover, the German Shepherd is a winner. They’re sweet, intelligent and active dogs that make fantastic companions, but there is plenty of maintenance to go along with those winning traits.
With proper grooming and care it won’t take much work to main the beautiful coat these dogs are loved for.
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