Olsen 

The German Shepherd Dog has a "double-coat". Their coat consists of a "downy" type undercoat next to the skin, with longer, coarse guard hairs as an outer shell. Under normal conditions, the GSD will require regular brushing, and an occasional bath. Daily grooming of the GSD boils down to this: a quick brushing to keep the coat clean and healthy and also to help to combat shedding. German Shepherds do shed constantly throughout the entire year and even more heavily with the changing of the seasons, so we encourage new GSD owners to consider this before buying. The dog's guard hairs will be shed all year round. The undercoat is "blown" twice a year. Without regular grooming, however, there is a great potential risk that the wooly undercoat of your German Shepherd will mat. This can also result in hotspots, bald spots, rashes and other coat and skin problems, so do not take grooming too lightly. If you let the clumps of fur build up and hang off their bodies, the coat and skin underneath cannot breathe properly and could possibly suffocate as a result causing more potential health problems for your furry friend. Expect to have to sweep or vacuum several times a week during the time these dogs "blow" their coats. A shedding rake is a great tool to have.

 

Bathing and Grooming the German Shepherd

German Shepherd Dogs only need baths occasionally. This is the case assuming that they are fed good quality food and brushed out and groomed on a regular basis. Remember to use a shampoo made specifically for dogs since their body "pH" is so different from shampoos made for people. You may find that during flea season that you will need to bathe your German Shepherd more often as part of a complete program to control these little critters. When grooming the German Shepherd and bathing it you should also place cotton in their ears to prevent water from entering the ear canal. This will help to prevent potential future ear infections.

 

Clipping your GSDs Toenails

If your German Shepherd runs on pavement or other types of hard scapes on a daily basis then you probably won't have a much of a problem with their nails. It is a good idea to check their nails on a weekly basis (while you are already grooming your GSD is a good time) to keep split or broken nails in check. Broken nails are often the result of nails that have been left to grow too long. Since GSDs nails are usually very hard in density and are often very dark in color, the "quick" (the small vein that feeds the nail) will often be hidden. If you do happen to cut into the quick of your GSD's nail and it starts to bleed you can do the following: use styptic powder, scrape the nail against a bar of soap, or press cornstarch firmly into the quick, to stop the nail from continuing to bleed. It is very important to have at least one of these items on hand, and within easy reach when trimming the German Shepherd's nails, BEFORE you start, just in case. Teach your German Shepherd puppy to accept having its nails clipped early on for better results when your German Shepherd is an adult.

 

Ear Cleaning

Your GSD's ears should be checked at least weekly and cleaned as necessary. You can buy products from your vet that will help to dissolve excess wax in the German Shepherd's ear canal. Prevention is easily the key to maintaining healthy ears in your German Shepherd. While there are several "home remedies" that can be bought over the counter, I heartily suggest that you let your veterinarian treat any ear problems that your GSD may have right away. Painful ear infections may also occur as a result of water being trapped inside the ear canal. This is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria and fungus, often leading to painful sensitivity, redness, swelling, and infection. Never use Q-Tips or alcohol when cleaning your German Shepherd's ears. If you are uncertain as to how to proceed in the ear cleaning process while grooming your GSD, then just don't do it. Seek professional veterinary care to learn the right way. Ear mites are another problem in dogs ears and ear mites may also be present in ear wax. GSD's with this problem often shake their heads and scratch at their ears. You can sometimes see ear mites by looking at ear wax removed from the affected dog - look for tiny white specks. Ear Mites must be treated for weeks and are very contagious. Since insecticides for ear mites kill the adult mites only, repeat applications are necessary to rid the dog of the ear mite infestation when grooming the GSD.

 

Common GSD ear problems to watch for:

Ears that are sensitive to touch.

Swelling and/or skin redness.

Head shaking and/or ear scratching.

Discharges or powerful odors.

Hematomas (blood blisters) on the ear flap.

Melanomas (tumors).

 

If you suspect any of these issues happening with your dog, seek veterinary care.