Do you have a German Shepherd puppy and want to know how to groom them? Maybe you want to find out what grooming you can do yourself and what needs the help of a professional. Here’s everything you need to know about how to groom a German Shepherd.
How To Groom A German Shepherd:
- Introduce Your German Shepherd To Grooming Early
- Brush Your German Shepherd Regularly
- Use A Slicker Brush On Your German Shepherd 2-3 Times A Week
- Use A De-shedding Brush Once A Week On Your German Shepherd
- Check Your German Shepherd’s Coat For Any Tangles
- Trim Your German Shepherd’s Nails Regularly
- Bathe Your German Shepherd Once Every 3-4 Months
- Brush Your German Shepherd’s Teeth Regularly
- Keep Your German Shepherd’s Ears And Eyes Clean
Read on for the complete guide on how to groom your German Shepherd at home.
Never use the advice in this article as a substitute for professional veterinary advice or treatment. I am NOT a Vet, qualified dog trainer or dog behaviourist. This article is based on research, personal opinion and experience of owning dogs over the last 12+ years.
How To Groom A German Shepherd
German Shepherds require regular grooming to keep their coat and skin in good condition.
It helps remove loose hair and dirt from their coat, helps to strengthen the bond you share with each other and allows you to check them over for any issues.
Long-haired GSDs require a little more attention than their short-haired relatives, but they’ll both benefit from a regular grooming schedule.
Here’s everything you need to know about grooming your German Shepherd:
Introduce Your German Shepherd To Grooming Early
Ideally, it would help if you got your German Shepherd used to being handled and groomed when they’re a puppy.
If you’ve adopted an adult GSD, it’s still possible to get them to feel comfortable being groomed.
This may take longer if they’ve not experienced this before, not had good previous grooming experiences.
Get them used to having all parts of their face and body touched first, before introducing your grooming tools.
Use A Lickmat To Keep Your German Shepherd Distracted
A lickmat can be a great way to keep your German Shepherd distracted and still while you groom them.
Cover it with doggy safe peanut butter (must be xylitol free!), meat paste, or cheese spread to keep them busy licking it off.
You can use this at bath time, when they’re being brushed or having their nails trimmed.
This also helps form a positive association for your GSD between grooming and getting a tasty treat.
Reward Your German Shepherd For Staying Calm
German Shepherds can be apprehensive about new situations and grooming can make them nervous.
You should reward them for staying calm with tasty treats and lots of love and attention.
This helps to show your GSD that being groomed brings them good things, which can help them feel more comfortable about the grooming process.
Brush Your German Shepherd Regularly
German Shepherds shed moderately all year round and lose even more hair twice a year when they blow their coats.
So, you may need to brush them more often during this time. They should be brushed 3-4 times a week usually and every day during shedding season.
Without regular brushing, their fur can quickly develop knots and tangles, especially if they’ve got mid to long length coats.
Use A Slicker Brush On Your German Shepherd 2-3 Times A Week
A slicker brush helps to remove any loose hairs trapped in your German Shepherd’s double coat.
It’s gentle enough to use 2-3 times a week without damaging their topcoat or causing any irritation to their skin.
Start at their neck and work down their back, doing their legs and belly last.
Use A De-shedding Brush Once A Week On Your German Shepherd
A de-shedding brush like the Furminator is designed to pull out the dead undercoat from your German Shepherd.
You may be surprised just how much hair comes off them, even if you groom them regularly!
De-shedding brushes are a little harsher on the skin and can damage their topcoat if you use them too much. So, it’s best only to use them once a week.
Check Your German Shepherd’s Coat For Any Tangles
Some German Shepherds can still get knots and tangles in their coats even with regular grooming.
This is usually more common when they’ve got wet and not been thoroughly dried off, which encourages knots to form.
If the knots are tightly matted, it’s best to gently cut them out with scissors or clip them off with clippers, if you’re sure you can do so without hurting them!
Trying to brush out badly matted hair will be painful for your GSD and it’s often unsuccessful, so avoid trying this.
If your GSD is really matted, it’s best to take them to a professional groomer.
Trim Your German Shepherd’s Nails Regularly
German Shepherds have thick nails that tend to grow quite quickly.
This can become a problem if they don’t get a chance to wear them down naturally by walking on hard ground.
If they start curling in on themselves, they can cut into your GSD’s paw pads, which is hugely uncomfortable.
Ensuring their nails are a suitable length is crucial to make sure they can walk comfortably.
It also stops them from putting pressure on their joints by walking differently because of having long nails.
Most black and tan coated German Shepherds will have black nails.
This can make it more challenging to see the nail’s blood supply (quick) so take extra care not to cut too much off.
If you’re unsure, ask a professional dog groomer to show you what to do.
Bathe Your German Shepherd Once Every 3-4 Months
German Shepherds don’t need bathing too often unless they get especially dirty or roll in something gross!
Once every 3-4 months should be fine for a short-haired GSD and slightly more frequently for those with long coats.
Make sure you use a dog shampoo and not a human one, so you don’t irritate their skin.
Brush Your German Shepherd’s Teeth Regularly
You should aim to brush your German Shepherd’s teeth at least 3 times per week. Use a doggy toothpaste and brush, not human ones!
This can help keep on top of plaque and stop it from building up to form tartar on their teeth.
If you’re concerned about the condition of your GSD’s teeth, speak to your Vet who can advise you.
Keep Your German Shepherd’s Ears And Eyes Clean
You should gently wipe your German Shepherd’s eyes each day to remove any discharge.
Use a soft cloth or sponge and be careful not to poke their eyes! Check for any redness or issues with their eyes too.
Check your GSD’s ears regularly for any wax build-up.
If there is some, gently wipe them out with cotton wool and speak to your vet for advice on the best ear cleaning solutions.
Never Shave Your German Shepherd’s Coat
German Shepherds are a double-coated breed and this means they should never be shaved!
Some people may be tempted to do this, to help try and keep them cool. However, this will have the opposite effect!
The harsher topcoat protects your GSD from the elements and helps regulate their body temperature.
If this is shaved off, they can quickly overheat and even get sunburnt too.
Never Handle Your German Shepherd Harshly
Although grooming your German Shepherd is an important part of their lives, you should never force them to do something they’re clearly uncomfortable with.
Some people are tempted to tie up or even muzzle their GSD to be groomed.
However, harsh handling and forcing them to be groomed should never be the answer.
If your German Shepherd is uncomfortable at any part of the grooming process, respect this and give them some space.
In this situation, it’s best to speak with your Vet and a qualified and experienced dog groomer for advice.
Give Your German Shepherd Regular Breaks
Even German Shepherds who are comfortable being groomed will benefit from having regular breaks.
Because they’re such a large breed, it can be a lengthy process to complete a full groom.
Expecting them to stand still for the whole time they’re having their coat, nails and teeth tended to can be too much for some dogs.
So break your grooming routine up into more manageable lengths of time. Groom them one day, do their teeth the next day, trim their nails on another – and so on.
Your German Shepherd will be much more comfortable and tolerant of this than having it all done together.
So there you have it! German Shepherds have thick coats that need a lot of grooming each week to stop them from getting matted. So break things up into small manageable grooming sessions and schedule them throughout the week!
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