How to Take Care of Your German Shepherd Coat

The German Shepherd is deceptive as many might think that the heavy double layered coat needs additional care. In actual fact, less grooming is needed than expected. The external coat of the dog is thick with medium long hairs while the undercoat is far denser and softer. The undercoat does double duty by keeping the dog safe from UV rays during the hot summer months and keeps the dog warm during colder seasons.

One principal to adhere to when making sure your German Shepherd is well taken care of is to ascertain that he is getting the right diet and nutrients. The German Shepherd is, after all, a strong carnivore and you need to make sure that the food he is getting is high in protein and vitamins. The dog requires a high-protein, high-fat diet. Chicken, lamb or beef are excellent choices. If you decide to make your own dog food, be sure that it has the right balance and all of the components the dog needs to stay as healthy as possible.

Vegetables are harder for dogs to digest. Rather than the curved stomach like a human, dogs have a straight stomach. This can cause them to have problems while digesting their vegetables. Wheat, corn and other plant-like materials can be tough for the animal and they should only make up a small portion of the dog's overall digestive diet. Once you are sure that the dog is getting an excellent diet, you can move on to the grooming needs.

It is usually advised that you brush your dog's fur at least 2 times per week. You want to be sure that the oil in the fur is evenly distributed to prevent matting and tangles. You can also be sure to remove the dead skin cells and loose hair clogging the coat. A standard metal brush or slicker will work well if it is used properly. You must take care not to cause a lesion or scrape the dog's skin while brushing.

When you start to brush, take the brush in the same direction as the coat hair. Using a variety of brushes with different size brush heads will help to ensure you reach all parts of the dog.

Depending on the dog's typical routine, you will have to bath your dog more or less once a month. The bathing will depend on where you live and what your dog loves to do. For example, if your dog loves to be outside in the dirt and dust, he will require a bath more frequently than an animals that loves to be indoors. If the dog is an indoor dog, taking a bath every few months will be sufficient.

If you stroke your dog and dust you can see dust waft up, that's a clear signal it's time for a bath. In addition, if he is starting to smell odorous, a bath will be a solution to that and make him far more appealing during your bonding periods. If the coat is oily, it can be a signal that it is time for a bath.

Proper shampoo can be important to the dog's coat hygiene. German Shepherds can be very sensitive to wheat and other allergic reactions, so the right shampoo can be important. For instance, oatmeal shampoo can be calming for your dog but they also cause material to collect on the coat far more easily, so you might have to bathe your dog more often. A shampoo with aloe added might be a good choice if you are not concerned with fleas. Nevertheless, with regular care, your German Shepherd is bound to look beautiful all year long.

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Moses Wright is a an experience dog owner. He tries to help fellow dog owners with their dog behavior problems for free whenever possible. You can find more free info on German Shepherd health problems and facts on his site.

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