New owners often find it difficult or confused with the pattern and frequency of brushing their German Shepherd. As you might already know, German Shepherds are double-coated dog breeds and brushing is an important part of their grooming process.
Not only German Shepherds, but brushing is also important for all dog breeds, especially for the furry ones. 3 to 4 times a week is the frequency of how often should you brush a German Shepherd. The brushing session should be at least 10 minutes and thorough.
There are some areas of German Shepherds which are prone to clumping and should be paid special attention to while brushing. Some of such areas are under the belly, the hanging fur from the tail, the back part of the legs and the ears.
Moreover, the brushing frequency should be increased if your dog is very active and plays outdoors most of the time, Brushing every day should be the frequency under such conditions.
Brushing also saves German Shepherds from excessive shedding. Choose a particular time for brushing your dog and use the right tools otherwise, it can be harmful and useless for your dog. Hence, you should not only focus on how often should you brush your German Shepherd but also on the pattern and the tools used during brushing.
When Is The Right Time To Start Brushing a German Shepherd Puppy?
You can start brushing your German Shepherd puppy as early as 6 to 8 weeks age. German Shepherds have very soft fur in the beginning and hence grooming gloves will be sufficient for brushing their coat at the puppy stage.
Do not pull the fur as it can cause pain to your puppy and he might not take the grooming session pleasantly the next time. Make him habituated to the grooming schedule so that he does not run away every time you go to brush his coat.
Start by brushing his coat for 1 to 2 minutes daily with the grooming glove. To make him habituated to the process, feed him his favourite treats after every successful grooming session. You can eventually increase this to 3 to 5 minutes when he starts growing.
How often should you brush a German Shepherd?
According to Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS, there is no harm in brushing your German Shepherd daily, though keep the brushing time in check. Regular brushing during the shedding season will keep the shedding limited as well as keep its skin healthy. Other seasons you can brush 3 to 4 times a week.
It is very important to keep in mind that while brushing do not put a lot of pressure as it can cause pain to your dog and make scratches on his skin. In addition, it would make the brushing session a terrifying experience for your dog and he would never want to do it the next time.
Just knowing how often should you brush your German Shepherd would not be enough, you need to know the detailed process of the appropriate way of brushing.
1. Start by brushing from the back
You may see your dog become very anxious when first starting with the brushing process. To prevent him to cause any menace, you start brushing his backside first and then slowly moving upwards. It is found that when started with the backside, dogs do not become very anxious. You can brush the longer fur at the backside of their legs, his tail, and coat around the neck. This will make them accustomed to the process eventually. This will help remove as much loose fur as possible from their undercoat.
2. Usage of grooming sprays to loosen knots
If you find it difficult to glide through the fur of your German Shepherd because of knots in the fur, using grooming sprays is a good option. This will help to loosen the knots and make the brushing process easier and less time taking. Some grooming sprays are designed to make the skin smooth and soft thus preventing the formation of flaky skin. One such product is Vet’s Best Moisture Mist Conditioner.
3. Using the pin brush
When our puppy is a little grown-up, the soft bristles’ brush would not work anymore as the fur tends to thicken over time. Areas like the back of the legs, under the belly, and around the neck generally have thicker hair and need pin brushes. Pay special attention to these areas and comb gently to avoid any injury. If you are not very confident with using the pin brush, avoid using them in areas which are soft like stomach.
4. Comb the entire coat with a handy comb
Finally, when the selective brushing is done, take a handy comb and comb the entire coat. This will make sure that there is no place left untouched or knots not detangled. The hanging hair can also be combed in the same way.
Some of the best brushes for German Shepherds available in the market are FURminator Long Hair Dog Deshedding Tool, Hertzko Self Cleaning Dog Slicker Brush, Safari Dematting Hair Brush, etc.
Conclusion
Just remember that patience is the key; if you find your GSD to become grumpy while brushing, stay calm and take things slowly. He will eventually become accustomed to the process. Also, never forget to feed him treats after every successful attempt of brushing him. This would make the session a pleasant experience for your pet.