Home Grooming Tips for Your German Shepherd

If you own a German Shepherd, then you know that keeping them well groomed is one of the most important things you can do as their owner. German Shepherds are notorious for their double coat and excessive shedding. The last thing you want for your dog is for him to develop mats, hot spots or other skin rashes. Here are some tips to follow when grooming your German Shepherd.

First, it's important to keep up with regular brushings, to reduce shedding and keep the coat looking clean, shiny and mat-free. Two tools you will want to use are a shedding blade and a metal brush. A flea comb is also great to have to check for fleas, though you should always protect your dog with a flea and tick preventative.

A metal brush will help detangle any knotted hairs that may be in the dog's top coat. The shedding blade is easy to use, and will help remove the loose hairs in the dog's undercoat. I like to brush my dog 1-2 times per week, or as needed. Be sure to be as gentle as possible, and don't tug if you do happen to come across a mat or knot in the coat.

German Shepherds shed all through the year, especially in the change of seasons, and even more in the springtime when their undercoats thin out. They will shed a little less once cold weather moves in, as they will be growing their "winter" coats. You should expect this, it's totally normal. Just be prepared with a good vacuum and lint brush!

As far as bathing goes, I've heard many different opinions on how often you should bathe your dog. Well, once or twice a year is not enough, in my opinion, just as twice or three times a month is way too much. I usually bathe my German Shepherd once a month, the day before I apply his K9 Advantix. I haven't had a problem with this frequency of bathing; he does great and his skin and coat have always been in great condition.

I do bathe him in my tub, using a detachable shower head especially for him. Yes, he is spoiled a little! I'd much rather bathe him in lukewarm water, then in the cold water coming out of the hose outside, especially in the colder months. I'm sure he appreciates this as well. My favorite shampoo and conditioner to use both contain an oatmeal formula with moisturizers. They smell great too.

Wet down your German Shepherd's coat with lukewarm water, then start shampooing. Be sure to massage the shampoo into every part of the dog, except for the face and ears. You should just use a warm wash cloth for the face, and special ear cleaning wipes for the ears. If water gets into a German Shepherd's sensitive ears, an infection could develop. Allow the shampoo to sit 1-2 minutes before rinsing.

After rinsing the shampoo, apply a good amount of conditioner all over and allow to sit for another 1-2 minutes. At this point, make sure you rinse the dog's coat very thoroughly, or else any residue left behind will cause some major itching and irritation for your dog.

For drying, use old bath towels that will absorb lots of moisture. Do NOT use the blow dryer, as this will be irritating to the dog's skin. The only time a dog should be dried with such a device is at a professional groomer, but not at home.
While the dog is still a bit damp, go ahead and give another brushing, to remove any hairs that may have become loose in the bath.

After the bath, clean the outside of your dog's ears with special wipes formulated for ears. This will remove any dirt and keep it from getting further into the ear. Special care should be taken to clean the inner ear, and most people take their dogs to the vet for that.

Overall, grooming and bathing a German Shepherd is not hard work at all, if you are committed. I love my German Shepherd and enjoy brushing and bath times, and I think he loves it too. Always be sure to reward good behavior with a tasty treat when it's all said and done.