German Shepherd shedding is a very common problem. In fact German Shepherd shedding you could say ranks as number one amongst dogs.
German Shepherds shed constantly. Most dog breeds shed a few hairs here and there throughout the year mainly shedding twice a year for about three weeks in spring and again for about three weeks in fall as their summer coat changes to a thicker winter coat.
How often do German Shepherd’s Shed?
German Shepherd shedding occurs every day of the year. German Shepherds shed moderately most of this time. Apart from the two three week periods in spring and again in fall as their coat changes for a thicker winter coat. During these two periods German Shepherd’s shed heaps.
Different Types of Coats
German Shepherds have either short or long hair. Short hair is the most common.
The short coats are double coats, and consist of a short outer coat that is harsh to the touch and, a soft, woolly undercoat to keep them warm.
The long coat also comes either with or without an undercoat. Believe it or not long haired German Shepherds tend to shed less than short haired breeds.
German Shepherd shedding is something that happens every day of the year.
Many of the hairs that they shed end up getting caught in their long coat instead of in your home on the furniture and floors. This must be attended to, and this means that you need to brush your shedding German Shepherd regularly to prevent the long hair turning into a matted mess.
It is important to understand the different types of coats and know which type your German Shepherd has.
Coping with your German Shepherd Shedding Heaps
Now we’ve established that German Shepherd shedding is a common problem and that they shed every day of the year. During the spring and fall when the German Shepherd shedding is at its height, this is often referred to as blowing coat. It is important to understand that you need to brush your shedding German Shepherd regularly so he doesn’t become matted and tangled.
Long haired German Shepherd’s shed less than short haired German Shepherd’s, but they require more time spent on grooming their coats than the short haired German Shepherds.
During the blowing coat stage it is important to get yourself an undercoat rake for your German Shepherd shedding his soft, woolly undercoat. The undercoat rake this is great for your German Shepherd shedding his double coat. Buy one that has one row and twenty teeth.
Some German Shepherd’s when shedding will also enjoy getting vacuumed to remove their loose hair, so you may like to try this with your German Shepherd when he is shedding, and it certainly will remove all that loose hair if he enjoys being vacuumed.
A comb will also be very useful and can be used all year round when your German Shepherd shedding is at a moderate level. Your German Shepherd shedding is a part of everyday life and so a comb should be used daily to keep his coat in nice condition.
Long haired German Shepherd’s shedding need more combing and brushing, and although they shed less, they are at greater risk of developing knots and tangles if they are not brushed regularly particularly during the blowing coat stage.