A long-haired German Shepherd is a rare thing to be seen. German Shepherds mostly have double-coated medium length hair. In general practice, German Shepherds despite having long hair would not require a haircut as it does not cause any hindrance in their daily activities.
Though a haircut is not necessary, maintaining long hair is very important. The simple answer to the question do long haired German Shepherds need haircuts is a ‘no’.
Tips on long haired German Shepherd grooming
German Shepherds have a history of mixing the best breeds to get the most intelligent companions though the original intention of the breeders was not to produce the long-haired GSDs. Due to genetic diversity, some long-haired GSDs still exist today. Since single coat long-haired are prone to more diseases, they are slowly becoming rare. They are mostly tan-black or red-black in color.
The American Kennel Club does not consider the long-haired to be of the original breed and hence they do not qualify in many of the shows.
Grooming requirements for long-haired GSDs
If you have a long-haired German Shepherd, then there are certain things you need to take care of like brushing, care during the shedding period, washing, etc. Some of the long haired German Shepherd grooming tips have been mentioned in detail below:
As is known by dog owners, brushing becomes very important if you have a furry dog. Likewise, German Shepherds, since they have a thick coat need regular brushing to limit the shedding. It is recommended to brush at least 3 to 4 times a week. This will not only reduce the shedding but also provide a tangle-free shining coat.
Bathing is not very important for German Shepherds. By ‘not important’ it is not meant never, but hardly. You should bathe your GSD not more than once in 2 to 3 months.
As already stated above, never shave your German Shepherd unless prescribed by your vet for a serious medical emergency. Unless single coated dogs, whose hair grows back the same way after shaving just like humans, doubled coated dog’s coat do not grow back evenly and this cause a lot of problems.
Double coat helps German Shepherds regulate their body temperature and protect themselves from the sun and dirt. So, if you think that shaving them might provide them relief from the heat, you are absolutely wrong.
Normal length German Shepherd might experience less shedding than long-haired GSDs, then try to take out as many loose stands as possible while brushing so that later your house does not become a mess. In this way, long haired German Shepherd grooming can be a relaxing experience.
Grooming Tools for Long Haired GSDs
Long haired German Shepherd grooming can be a challenging task, hence, it is recommended to purchase some of the finest qualities of grooming tools to ease your work and provide comfort to your German Shepherd as well.
- Slicker Brush: These brushes have flexible and thin metal bristles which can penetrate deep into the double coats and can get rid of the dirt and loose hair. These self-cleaning brushes are quite easy to use as they can accumulate all the loose hair on the brush itself. After brushing, you can easily take them out and dispose off them.
- Double-sided de-matting brush: These have rounded ends and are quite gentle on even sensitive skin dogs. These help to detangle the tangles without pulling your German Shepherd’s coat and causing him pain.
- Good pet wash: Bathing once in 2 to 3 months is required for German Shepherds this would remove the dirt and debris which gets accumulated over time. Try to purchase a hypoallergenic pet wash as most of the German Shepherd has sensitive skin. This will not cause any irritation and will also keep the long traces soft and shiny.
- Deshedding tool: Another important tool for long haired German Shepherd grooming is a de-shedding tool. This tool is very effective for removing the loose strands of the undercoat without causing any damage to the topcoat.
Also, purchase a good vacuum cleaner if you have a hairy creature like a GSD. This will help you keep your house clean and hair-free. It is often annoying when we find loose dog hair flying all around the house or sitting on our food. A vacuum cleaner can be of great help in such situations.
Conclusion
The above-mentioned grooming tips and tools are all as per the requirements of a double-coated long haired GSD. It is said that there are some long-haired GSDs who do not have an undercoat and their fur looks sleeker compared to common ones.
They are hence less resilient to adverse weather conditions and can get cold very easily. This is one of the reasons why long-haired German Shepherds are not preferred for police jobs and professional work or shows.