You finally gave in and bought those adorable German Shepherd puppies that were for sale. Only after getting them home did, you realize that your new furry friends sure do have a lot of hair. Like A LOT!
It is important to groom your German Shepherd Puppy because this particular breed of dog does shed. Knowing when to groom your new German Shepherd puppies, how to groom them, and what tools to groom them with will make your life easy.
So let us learn some important tips on how to make your German Shepherd pup look its best!
When Should I Start Grooming My German Shepherd Puppy?
The answer to this question is: the sooner, the better. German Shepherd puppies have a lot of hair, and you want to take control of their grooming from the start. Here is the logical sequence of events we recommend:
- Step 1: You see the German Shepherd puppies for sale post,
- Step 2: Your heart melts, and your eyes water. You immediately buy the little buggers and bring them home,
- Step 3: You get the grooming equipment while you are bringing them home. Not after, but immediately, if you know what’s best for you! (Beware, you have been warned).
If you do not trim and brush your puppy’s coat, then you will find that their beautiful fur will become clumpy and matted. So, you need to groom regularly to keep your German Shepherd puppy’s coat silky and smooth.
It is important to have your puppy get used to having their coat trimmed and brushed. This way, they will get used to being groomed later on in life. It is also a good idea to clean your German Shepherd’s ears, clip their toenails and regularly bathe them.
All of these things will help your puppy get used to having someone pick and poke these areas so that the next time you make your veterinarian visit, your dog does not feel scared or uncomfortable.
A question that many first-time dog owners ask is How often should I groom my German Shepherd Puppy?
Well, the answer to that is it depends on what their coat is like. But three to four times a week is recommended. You can spend about 10 minutes brushing the fur each time.
Can I Groom my German Shepherd Puppy at Home?
Many dog owners just cannot find the time to take their puppy to the groomers and would like to groom their German Shepherd puppy at home.
It is certainly possible to do this if you have the right tools and know the steps. Before you begin, you should have the following:
- A deep brush that is suitable for brushing includes a round trip rake brush
- An undercoat rake
- A pin and double-sided bristle brush
- A spray detangler
- A dog shampoo
- A high professional high-velocity dryer
Once you have gathered the items, you should work on trying to coax your German Shepherd puppy into the tub. Now, as a dog owner, you will soon find that bathing a dog is not the easiest thing to do.
There are various ways you can do this, but some dog owners swear by peanut butter. They place a small amount on the tub wall, and that often helps the puppy stay preoccupied.
You will have to find what works for your puppy. It is important to have everything ready when you take your dog into the bathroom. You do not want to be running around looking for items when your dog is half wet and already scared of taking a bath.
After successfully bathing your dog, follow the steps below to groom their fur.
- Dry your puppy with towels and allow them to shake off any excess water
- Wipe up any extra water that still may be in their coat. It will be hard to brush wet hair.
- Use the high-velocity dryer to dry your German Shepherd puppy’s coat thoroughly. It is important to make sure they are dry to avoid infection.
- Use the spray detangler before your brush.
- Use the undercoat and rake brush to brush out any matted fur and knots in your puppy’s fur.
How Can I Groom my German Shepherd Puppy for the First Time?
If you are a newbie, don’t be scared! Grooming German Shepherd puppies is not as difficult as it looks. Sure, you may get sopping wet, and the puppies may claw at you a little to get away from the water, but overall, it won’t be that hard (we swear).
Your puppy will be scared in the beginning, especially if you start trimming their nails right away. It is important to create a loving atmosphere when first initiating grooming. This way, your puppy will remember the experience as enjoyable instead of dreading it.
Some tips for your first time grooming experience:
- Trim nails in the end. No dog likes this, do not begin with this task.
- Keep puppy and distractions nearby to distract your puppy while you are grooming.
- Set up before you bring your dog into the bathroom or room so that you can organize all of your tools.
- Make sure you test the water temperature of the bathwater. You do not want it too hot or cold.
- Invest in good tools that will make your job easier. The FURminator is a tool that helps with brushing but should never be used on wet hair. Is it bad for puppies? No, as long as you use it the way it was intended.
Invest In a German Shepherd Grooming Kit
Investing in a great German Shepherd grooming kit will make your job easier when grooming your puppy. You want to make sure that you make your job easier and provide an enjoyable experience for your German Shepherd puppy.
Let’s look at some must-haves:
1. Pet Clippers
Having good quality pet clippers will decrease the time you spend making your puppy’s coat look trimmed and neat. The pet clippers you buy should be cordless and not very noisy. Your German Shepherd will be very anxious anyways and having clippers that make a lot of noise may set them off. You can find a lot of different kinds of Pet Clippers on the market, but a few good ones include Ceenews Pet Clippers and the Wahl Lithium Ion Pro Series.
2. Undercoat Rake
To make sure the undercoat of your German Shepherd puppy is looking its best, you need to get an undercoat rake. This is specifically made to take out matted hair from the undercoat of your puppy. They take out a lot of hair with little effort, and they have a smooth handle, so you do not lose grip if your dog is squirming around.
3. De-shedding Grooming Tool
The de-shedding grooming tool is an absolute for homes with German Shepherd puppies. This is an added tool that you can include in your grooming kit to prevent shedding. It is much gentler than a rake. It can also be used on furniture and carpet to pull out dog hair.
4. Good Quality Dryer
A high-speed dryer is important to dry your German Shepherd’s puppy’s coat. If the coat is left wet especially, the undercoat may cause infection. These dryers have different nozzles and vary in their noise levels. It is a good idea to get one that is not too loud because it can be frightening for your puppy.
5. Slick Brush
Having a proper brush to make your German Shepherd’s coat shine is very important. The sleek brush is very fine and has small wire bristles that will bring out the shine of your puppy’s coat. Find a brush that has a self-cleaning button, so you do not have to spend hours trying to clean the brush. The Pet Portal Pro Quality Brush has some of these features and is a good buy.
6. Nail Grinder
So this is another must-have item that can be used instead of your clippers. It is a nail grinder that will help to polish and trim your nails. You can charge most nail grinders from a USB port, and it gives you a diamond finish. It makes very little noise and has very little vibration.
Grooming a Long-Haired German Shepherd
Long-haired German Shepherd grooming is more intense and frequent than short-haired German Shepherd grooming. If you have the long-haired breed, then you will need to set aside some time about every two weeks to groom your pet.
A long-haired German Shepherd will shed more than a shorter-haired dog. If you do not regularly groom your dog, there is a high risk that you will be finding a large amount of hair around your house.
But longer hair dogs are not groomed the same way as shorter-haired dogs. They are naturally gifted, with a lustrous longer coat, and we should not trim a large amount of their hair.
For long haired German Shepherd, it is better that you hire a proper groomer to give your pet a haircut. Longer hair dogs have a double coat, and it is important to make sure that you do not trim this too short because this protects them from the cold, sun, UV rays, and dirt.
If you trim too much hair, your dog won’t be able to regulate its body temperature.
Grooming a Short Haired German Shepherd
Grooming short hair dogs is different compared to long-haired dogs as the growth of hair and the kind of hair that makes up the dog’s coat are different.
A short-haired German Shepherd dog will have hair that is about one inch long. They, too, have shiny coats like the longer hair German Shepherd. Surprisingly, a short-haired German Shepherd has a higher volume of hair than a longer-haired German Shepherd.
The longer-haired dog has long hair, but the amount of hair is less. Therefore, grooming for your short-haired German Shepherd dog will require products that can handle the thickness of the fur.
Short-haired German Shepherd dogs also shed quite a bit like longer-haired German Shepherds. So, it is important to groom them regularly. It is recommended that they are brushed daily or at least 3-4 times a week, and their coat is properly tended to so that no matting or knots occur.
Hair matting is very painful for dogs, and because shorter hair dogs have shorter hair, when you try to get the matting out, it hits closer to their skin. This can result in injuries to your dog. So, it is better to prevent the issue from occurring by brushing your dog’s coat every day.
How Often Should I Brush my German Shepherd Puppy?
You should brush your German Shepherd puppies once a day or at least 3 – 4 times a week.
Be careful not to overdo it. Yes. You can overbrush your pet, and you should be careful what tools you are using. If the tools you are using are not suitable for dog grooming, it is possible that you could injure your puppy.
Also, overgrooming can strip the oils from your dog’s coat, causing your dog’s skin to become flaky, itchy, and irritable. That is why you mustn’t do overbrush your dog.
You should develop a schedule and technique that works for your puppy so that you do not injure them. Some people start with the head and work their way back, and others vice versa.
Are German Shepherd Puppies Hard to Groom?
German Shepherd puppies are not hard to groom if you have the right tools and know-how to deal with the temperament of your dog. If you can purchase the right set of tools that make the job easier and provide an enjoyable environment for your dog, then you will not take grooming as a chore but as an important bonding time between dog and dog owner.
Dog’s do like to be cared for and tended to when it comes to their coat. Like humans, dogs feel more relaxed and better after they have taken a bath and had their coats brushed out.
We all like a relaxing warm bath and a nap afterward. Well, your German Shepherd puppies will love that nap after they have been washed and cleaned. So do schedule time and create a routine so that you can regularly groom your pups.
Grooming German Shepherd Puppies Is Not That Hard
If you have the right tools and the right information, then grooming your puppies becomes pleasurable. Grooming can be a time when you bond with your furry little friend and provide them some well-deserved love and care.
To groom your German Shepherd puppy, it is important to establish a proper routine. Once you and your puppy have a schedule down, it will be easier for you and your puppy to be comfortable with each other, and you will be able to groom them comfortably.
Finding the right technique of brushing and overall grooming is important so that your puppy enjoys the experience. You do not want them to feel scared or dread the task. Offering treats and words of encouragement will help them know they are doing a good job of sitting still.
If you want to learn more about German Shepherd puppies, read: How to Train German Shepherd Puppies
