Many owners very often wonder how to brush German Shepherd hair the right way.
As is already known to German Shepherd owners, these dog breeds have double coats which means an inner and an outer coat. The inner coat is generally soft and thick and helps to regulate the temperature of the body, while the outer coat traps all the dirt and debris to prevent fungal infections.
Now, keeping in mind the fact that, bathing daily is not an option for the German Shepherds, regular brushing becomes an absolute necessity.
How to brush German Shepherd hair?
Now that you are already aware of how important it is to brush a German Shepherd’s hair, knowing the frequency and the procedure of how to brush a German Shepherd hair is also important.
Consider brushing your German Shepherd at least 3 to 4 times a week for a minimum of 10 minutes each time. Whereas, you need to increase the frequency of their shedding periods. Try brushing him daily on such days.
Not only this, but you also need to brush your dog after every play session if he is a very active dog and gets dusty all the time. Give special attention to areas which are prone to tangle easily like the underbelly, the backside of the legs, the tail, etc.
Follow the below-mentioned steps to know how to brush German Shepherd hair conveniently:
Step 1: Things would become easier if your dog is happy and cooperative. Firstly, command your dog to lay down. Once done, scratch his neck and make him comfortable. He would generally not run away in this situation.
Step 2: Now when he is comfortable, take the slicker brush and place it on his neck and start brushing slowly from his back. Starting to brush from the back does not make German Shepherds anxious and hence he would not escape. Continue brushing the back until you see almost no hair on the brush.
Step 3: Once done, brush the other areas like the hip, tail, neck, etc. This will be easier if he already did not react while brushing his back.
Step 4: Now comes the trickier part. Roll our dog in such a way that his belly is upwards. This will help you brush his belly as well. Be a little gently with the belly as the skin here is very soft compared to other body parts. If he does not cooperate in this situation, give him some belly rubs first to make him comfortable.
Step 5: Now, run a metal brush all across the upper side of the body to collect the loose hair which is left behind by the slicker brush. Do not use the metal brush on his belly.
Step 6: With the help of a rake, brush in the opposite direction of the fur grown; this will take out the deep-seated loose fur from the inner coat and will save your house from being a mess with dog hair.
Step 7: Finally, run a soft bristle brush again to settle down the fur.
If you comb and brush regularly, you can see a noticeable reduction in the shedding of your German Shepherd. Many people avoid brushing thinking that it would reduce the shedding of their pet, but as counterintuitive as it may sound, the more the brushing the lesser the shedding. Apart from knowing how to brush German Shepherd hair, knowing the right type of brush is also necessary.
Types of Brushes and Their Usage
There is no one type of brush which is used for grooming the German Shepherds. Various types of brushes are available and are used for various purposes. Some of the types along with their usage are mentioned below.
Pin Brush
A pin brush is used to prevent matting which generally occurs because of excess accumulation of dirt and debris. This brush can be used for everyday brushing to keep your dog free from all the dirt and knots. But if your dog has already developed mats, then this brush would not be useful.
Undercoat Rake
This type of brush is also known as a de-shedding brush and must be bought if you own a German Shepherd. This is used to remove the debris and the dead hair from the coat of the GSD. This type of brush contains two rows of tightly packed pins and looks similar to a razor.
Slicker Brush
This is the most commonly used brush for almost all dog breeds. It has fine wires which are placed very close to each other pm a flat surface. It is very useful for medium and long-haired German Shepherds. It prevents matting and helps detangle hair knots very easily. This can also be used as a replacement for the pin brush.
Bristle Brush
This brush is useful for medium to short-haired German Shepherd. This can also be used when your German Shepherd is in his puppy stage and has short hair. But when your puppy grows and has long hair, you will have to switch to other tools.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this blog will be helpful to all the new owners who have just got a little German Shepherd at their home. You can find all the types of brushed online or in any pet shop. Having a German Shepherd as a pet can be a lot of fun but regular grooming is very important to them otherwise they can easily fall prey to various types of diseases which makes it an undesirable experience for both the pet and the owner.