German Shepherds are known for a lot of things; their fierce loyalty, their incredible sense of smell, their excellence as working dogs, and their shedding.
So, if your question is do german shepherds shed? Yes, German Shepherds shed, and they shed a lot. German Shepherds shed naturally two times per year with the changing of seasons, but they could also shed for other reasons.
Their shedding is one of the things you need to keep in mind while adopting or buying a German Shepherd puppy.
When getting a new family member there are a lot of things to keep in mind: what breed would be suitable for your family, what age should you adopt them at, do they lose a lot of hair, e.t.c…
If you have decided to go to adopt a GSD, then lucky you!
They are super loyal and dorky dogs that are used in many, many different feels. The police, military, firefighters, and people with disabilities benefit greatly from this unique dog breed.
Thankfully, there are ways to handle this shedding, so let’s get to it.
Table of Contents
The Basics of the German Shepherds shedding
There are some things you need to learn about the german shepherd shedding situation to avoid surprises.
How much do German Shepherds Shed?
German Shepherds shed a lot. They shed all-year-long, but the shedding gets at the most extreme during the shedding seasons, which happen twice every year in the spring and fall to prepare them for the changing weather.
German Shepherds have an outer coat and an undercoat. This means that no matter what the fur type is (plush, long-haired, or double), the shedding is pretty much the same.
Usually, a German Shepherds’ outer coat is thick and coarse. It gives way for hairs that fall flat against the body. Their undercoat is thicker than the outer coat and works as a sealant for certain times.
Their double coat is important as it regulates their body temperature and helps them adapt to the hot and cold climates. The double coat is also why German Shepherds can swim confidently and efficiently, it insulates the dog’s skin from the water.
The Shedding Season
A Shedding German Shepherd is something you have to deal with year-round, but it gets particularly difficult during the shedding season.
Even though German Shepherds shed the whole year round, It is at its heaviest during the fall and spring. During winter they shed the least and it’s slightly worse in the summer, but nothing like during the shedding season itself.
However, even during less shedding seasons, the amount of hair your dog will lose is dramatic. It can basically be described best as a German Shepherd shedding another german shepherd. I’m sure you have seen the memes online. They are not fake, they’re absolutely true.
This is why grooming your dog properly will be essential in this case. For some tips on grooming your dog, you can read this article…..
Why does a German Shepherd shed so much?
German Shepherds shed to adapt to the weather and to understand why, we need to take a quick detour in their history.
Well, it can be traced mostly back to their origins.
Since they come from a long line of herding dogs, thick coats were a necessity to provide a means to protect them from the cold weather.
During cold winters, their coats were pretty much the only thing that kept them warm as not a lot of dogs lived inside comfy, warm homes as they do now.
Additionally, they need to regulate their body temperature. Just like with many other animals, when hot seasons start, they need to get rid of the thick double coat. So they shed it off and grow a lighter coat that gives their skin more breathing room to get rid of the excessive heat. ….
Controlling A Shedding German Shepherd
A lot of people have asked me over the year this one question: “How do I get my German Shepherd to Stop Shedding?” No, you can’t get your german shepherd to stop shedding. Shedding is natural and necessary, but what you can do is control the amount of shed hair and where this hair is shed.
Let’s start with the basics. Here are the x ways to control your german shepherd shedding:
1. A Healthy Diet
A healthy, balanced diet that contains many nutrients can have a large impact on your German Shepherd’s coat quality. A healthy coat is your number one defense line in your fight with your german shepherd shedding.
Similar humans and other animals, the “cleaner” one eats the better it is for one’s appearance.
A healthy coat is easier to maintain and responds better to grooming. It also helps preserve the natural oils that can be found in your dogs’ coat. The dryer the skin the more shedding.
Check out our recommended best foods for a German Shepherd puppy here.
2. Regular Brushing
It sounds simple, but it goes a long way.
Furthermore, make sure to brush your dog’s fur gently as rough brushing may damage the hair follicles and only make the shedding worse.
Make sure to brush in line with the hair growth. If you encounter any knots or tangles try to gently get them out with a bath and comb first. Only if necessary cut it out with a pair of scissors. Check out our recommended scissors here. (I do recommend checking them out, the value for the price is awesome with these).
4. Bath time!
I have already previously written a more in-depth article on how to properly bathe your dog, so if you are curious you can read it up easily.
You don’t need to bath your German Shepherd every day, or even week. Once or twice a month is more than enough, thanks to their thick and coarse fur.
As long as you use the correct dog shampoo, you should be fine. If you are unsure of what to use, simply ask your veterinarian for help.
4. Groom them
First of all, to avoid unnecessary shedding, just take care of your GSD by grooming them properly.
This includes baths and brushing, but also regular home grooming times.
Set a date in your calendar that you have reserved for your beloved German shepherd. Spoil the two of you that day with a full-on spa day! I am sure both of you will enjoy it greatly.
Check out the Hertzko Self-cleaning brush on Amazon here, It’s our recommended dog brush for German Shepherds, and highly recommend you give it a try.
5. Regular Exercise
German Shepherds are a very energetic breed that needs daily exercise. They’re the opposite of a couch potato, and they are more than happy to go on long walks, runs, and hikes with you for hours every day.
Exercise is important for german shepherds and plays a part in the amount of your german shepherd’s shedding. If you want their shedding to be limited to just heavy shedding twice a year and light shedding for the remainder of the year, you need to pay attention to their exercise.
If you ignore their shedding, they will be stressed and more prone to diseases and infections, which will have a direct effect on the health of your german shepherd’s coat. Now instead of heavy shedding only twice a year, your german shepherd’s shedding will be heavy all the time, and it will be like they are shedding a new coat every week.
But why does exercise have such a significant effect on their coat? Stress, let’s discuss this a bit more.
Stress and German Shepherd Shedding
While Normal Shedding is healthy, excessive shedding is usually a sign of trouble. If you have been a German Shepherd owner for a while, or if you have owned another large dog that’s also a heavy shedder like a Golden Retriever or a Husky, then you know what a normal shedding for a heavy shedder looks like.
However, if the shedding is too much to the point that your dog’s coat is actually becoming thinner, then that’s a sign of a problem.
The most common cause of excessive shedding is stress, and stress is a very real problem in German Shepherds (and dogs in general) as it is in humans.
What can cause Stress in German Shepherds?
- Too little Exercise
- German shepherds need lots of exercises and they need it daily, not getting enough exercise can cause your dog to be stressed and start shedding excessively.
- Too Many Changes
- Moving cities, areas, or houses can stress a dog out just like it can to a child. Some dogs can be too stressed by such moves that they become very stressed and start shedding excessively.
- Loud Noises
- Storms, car noises, and other loud noises can stress a dog out. Maybe your neighbor’s renovations have gone on for too long that your dog is now shedding, or maybe living near a highway or an airport is taking its toll on your dog’s psyche.
- Separation Anxiety
- If your dog is spending a lot of time alone, it could stress them out very easily. Try spending more time with them and see if this reduces the shedding.
Related Questions
Do German Shepherds Shed all year long?
Yes, German Shepherds shed all-year-round. A German Shepherd will shed the most during the shedding seasons than any other time during the year. If you don’t have the time or want to regularly clean behind your dog in those regards, then maybe opt for adopting another dog breed. However, if you have a GSD then you both will be more than fine as long as you take care of them properly.
If you have one of these dogs in your home show me a picture in the comments with just how much fur they produce. Read you next time!
Sources
Signs your dog is stressed and how to relieve it.
Is Your dog’s Shedding Related to Stress?
