German Shepherds are popularly known for their muscular bodies, graceful gaits, and sloped body profiles. They are also known for their courage, loyalty, and intelligence that’s why this dog breed is among the favorite pet for families in America. German Shepherds are also recognized for thick double coating furs and most of you have confusion in your mind there may be shedding problems in German Shepherds but why do German Shepherds shed so much?
The shedding among German Shepherds is quite common as when their hair follows the growth cycle, they lose their old or damaged hair. This shedding process happens all around the year. German Shepherd’s fur is also thick-coated which plays a vital role in maintaining their health as it protects their skin maintains their body temperature and prevents them from different climatic conditions.
There will be a rewarding experience of owning a German Shepherd and as a dog owner I assure you that there will be no regret after having this breed as your pet but at the same time you should look out for the common problems that you may face after bringing them in your home.
German Shepherds have thick double-coated furs which means they have two layers that help them from different climatic conditions. They do face problems of blowing their coat which is quite common in German Shepherds and you can’t avoid it.
To get the best knowledge about German Shepherd’s shedding, you should follow this post as here in this post you will know the best method for why German Shepherds shed so much, their shedding reason, and of course, how can you reduce their shedding.
Let’s dive into the topic and discuss it in detail:
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Do German Shepherds Shed?
Shedding in all dog breeds is quite common. Oh yeah !!! almost all dog breeds shed then why not your German Shepherds? You may have also noticed the shedding issue in German Shepherds and rather many of you may think do German Shepherds shed?
Of course! No matter the season or the weather, German Shepherd dogs do shed. German Shepherds have double coats, which is the primary cause of the year-round severe shedding and molting of their fur. They also blow their coat as the spring season is the time when they change their undercoat. They shed a lot in the upcoming season and shedding becomes heavy for them.
The shedding issue in a German Shepherd breed can’t be ignored but at the same time, you should be aware of their coating session.
For better understanding, let’s get depth knowledge about the types of their coating.
Double Coated with Two Layer Of Furs
German Shepherds are blessed with a thick and soft coat that protects them from the cold and heat i.e they are highly helpful in changing temperatures. German Shepherd’s outer coat is also known as a guard coat that lets their skin be protected from water, dirt, and other external environmental factors.
All the features of the coating of German Shepherds make them the perfect breed and that’s why they are the best working dog as they easily survive and tolerate changing environmental conditions.
There may be a little bit of confusion in your mind and you might not know your German Shepherd’s shedding habits.
Let’s discuss the shedding habits of our German Shepherd that will ultimately help you in controlling their shedding.
Blowing Coat For German Shepherds
If you are owning a German Shepherd then you must know the shedding habits of your beloved pet. As German Shepherds come in the category of double-coated dogs and they use to shed twice a year, especially in the spring season, German Shepherd blows their coat.
German Shepherds use to switch their coats in changing weather for adapting to the new climatic conditions. This process of shedding is natural among German Shepherds as this transition allows them to be comfortable all over the year.
The thick undercoating among the German Shepherds comes under the process of clumping for about two weeks each time. The shedding is quite intense during this time and they also molt their dead undercoat.
However all these shedding processes of German Shepherds will be well notified to you, the only thing to consider is to observe them when you notice the clump of fur falling here and there of German Shepherds. Also, they may not look good when there will be a befall of their coat but it will grow back quickly.
Shedding All Round Year
German Shepherds shed most severely during the blow-out period. They use to shed all around the year. considering their physical traits there is no wonder why German Shepherds shed.
It’s very frustrating to see our German Shepherds shedding all around the year but we can’t do anything as this is a natural phenomenon we can try to avoid their shedding in many ways which I will discuss in this article.
How do I stop my German Shepherd from shedding?
A German Shepherd’s shedding habits are a natural phenomenon that all German Shepherd owners must know. German Shepherds shed all year long, but there are vital steps you can take to stop this.
Let’s look for some of the key steps that can help your dog during shedding season.
7 Ways For Reducing Shedding In German Shepherds
The shedding among German Shepherds is natural but we can’t ignore their shedding period as they use shed twice a year. There are various steps that you can follow for reducing the shedding in German Shepherds.
Here are the 7 best tips that will help you reduce the shedding of German Shepherds dog that I have targeted from all angles and will help you a lot for sure.
Use The Best Tool Suitable For German Shepherds
Using tools that are suitable for German Shepherd’s fur can help you reduce shedding the most. You can use the best de-shedding tool that suits German Shepherd dogs and that is specifically designed for them. These de-shedding tools allow you to groom them well but they also prevent their loose hair to fall on the floor here and there.
The only thing you should do is pick the best comb or brush that goes through the whole fur of German Shepherds as it will prevent them from damaging their hair and is also ideal for them when they are blowing their coat.
Bathing And Grooming Your German Shepherd 3-4 Times A Year
As you may already be aware, German Shepherds use to shed their coats twice a year—once in the fall and again in the spring. Though their fur clumping can’t be stopped you can help your dog by making them bathe and grooming them just to avoid excessive falling of their hair.
If your GSD is used to lose more hair during the blowing period, you can get rid of it at bathing time. It will slow down their fall and it will let you groom them well.
Never overwash them because doing so can promote dry skin in German Shepherds and, of course, will allow more shedding to occur.
Proper Diet Plan For their Skin And Coat
A proper diet plan plays a significant role in the life of not only human beings but dogs also. You may have also thought to feed the best diet to your dog but do you know feeding the relevant diet also plays a huge role in shedding habits?
The majority of dog owners may feed their pets inexpensive market-available dog food, which contains substances that may be difficult for dogs to digest. These market products contain chemicals, preservatives, and colorings that ultimately harm their health.
Seeing their negative impact you should prefer a high-quality protein source for your dog.
If you are not feeding proper nutrition to your pet, the protein they get will only help them to maintain their muscles but their coat will be left to suffer.
Giving your dog the proper diet also contributes to the health of its coat because a poor diet has an impact on it.
You can go through our post “20 fruits German Shepherds can eat and those to avoid” to get the proper diet plan related to fruits will also help you a lot in getting the diet plan.
You should feed dry food that lets your GSD maintain a nice and thick coat as it also helps in reducing the amount of year-round shedding.
Regular Brushing
As per your knowledge, German Shepherd sheds all around the year and it can’t be stopped entirely rather we can avoid it while their shedding period.
Brushing and de-shedding German Shepherds will allow their hair to be kept in the right place otherwise you will always see their fur falling on the floor which will be quite frustrating for you.
Brushing your canine does not take any effort as you should use not a brush that goes inside the furs of your dog. Brushing your GSD also removes their loose hair and they also start looking nice.
Always Give Your German shepherd Freshwater.
Most of you must be unaware of the fact that giving your GSD more water to drink not only enables them to fill their body with water but also lessens the quantity of shedding they experience. A dehydrated dog sheds a lot for this reason.
Providing one ounce of water for every pound of the body allows your GSD to maintain their health and limit the amount of hair that they lose.
Flea and Tick Treatment
Flea treatment stops German Shepherds from gnawing and scratching at themselves when they find the discomfort of fleas and ticks. Though this treatment does not help to stop shedding in German Shepherds. But it is helpful for them in preventing the discomfort they face because of the fleas and ticks.
When German Shepherds relentlessly scratch to free themselves from the fleas and ticks, more hair they pull and damage more hair during the process.
Remember to follow flea treatment every three months along with deworming medication as it helps a lot in providing comfort to German Shepherds.
Include Omega Fatty Acids in The Diet
As I have already discussed how vital role a diet plan can play in reducing German Shepherd shedding but you can still include fatty acids in their diet plan to minimize the shedding that they face all around the year.
You can use certain foods that are high in Omega 3 fatty acids, or you can take supplements that can do the same. But at the same time, you should also consult your nutritionist before giving them supplement as it is well said: “prevention is better than cure.”
Feeding food that contains omega-3 fatty acids will let German Shepherds lessen the shedding and your dog will always be healthier in the longer term.
What Months Do German Shepherds Shed The Most?
German Shepherds shed all year long, but during a certain time known as blowing coat season, they shed in large quantities. It’s vital to know which month is when this happens.
The spring season is when German Shepherd sheds a lot. In September, October, and November, they frequently lose their coats, which are then replaced by new, warmer coats. In March, April, and May, they once more shed this winter coat to obtain the lighter one for the summer.
It’s typical for GSDs to lose their coat as needed because it makes them more comfortable and helps them endure various seasonal circumstances.
Seasonal shedding helps them to get a thicker coat during winter and keeps German Shepherds warm which prevents them from cold.
When they shed again to get the soft fur that also allows them to survive the hot weather conditions. This means that their shedding process allows them to survive the environment in different climatic conditions.
Final Thoughts:
German Shepherds are the most loved breed among us and we as dog owners do not want our pets to suffer from any ill effects like shedding. Though this shedding is natural among this large fur breed we can try some steps for reducing it.
Here is a quick recap from the post that you can use for reducing shedding among German Shepherds:
- Get in the best De-shedding tool for your GSD and tries to brush them every single day.
- Try to bathe your dog three to four times a year to prevent them from excessive hair fall.
- Always provide your pet with a balanced diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids to preserve their skin and coat’s health.
- Use fresh water for drinking your dog.
- Do Flea and tick treatment when needed including deworming medication.