German Shepherds are one of the most popular dog breeds in America. They are intelligent, loyal, and fun. But there is one question that owners ask themselves when they bring their new German shepherd into their home, do German shepherds shed a lot?
Many various elements influence the answer to this question. While shedding can happen, it doesn’t have to be as bad as you think! There are several things you can do to keep your home from being covered in dog hair all the time! Let’s dive right into this post for more detail!
Do German Shepherds Shed A Lot?
The funny thing is, people have this idea that German shepherds are not shed. However, the truth is that this breed sheds a lot.
While it’s natural for some amount to be shed off every day, other causes such as poor diet, stress, dehydration, and skin allergies can exacerbate it.
There are various reasons why this breed sheds so much, and they are as follows:
Double Coat
Shave causes shepherd to lose their double coat. A double coat is an undercoat made of soft fur, woolly and outer hairs long to protect themselves from disease, infection, and injury. This is why shaving your German shepherd is never a good idea.
Shedding year-round
This breed may shed all year, so you’ll need to clean them regularly. As old hairs fall off and new ones develop to replace them. This ensures that the dog will always have hair with them, keeping it from becoming bald.
Seasonal
What is the best time of year for a German shepherd to start shedding? Summer and fall are when you’ll find them at total capacity, so this process helps keep those warm by getting rid of excess hair. On the other hand, fall shedding helps the dog prepare for the chilly winter months by preparing a better new coat.
Underlying health issues
Few health conditions might unduly increase shedding in this breed. Dehydration, poor nutrition, stress, and other issues are examples of such difficulties.
Give your dog some dog vitamins if he seems to shed more than average! He’ll be back to his fabulous coat in no time.
What Can I Do To Stop German Shepherds From Shedding?
You won’t be able to stop your dog from shedding totally. However, there are a few things you can do to limit the number of shed hairs in your house:
Keep your dog inside
Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to keep your dog from going through the winter coat change. One simple thing is making sure he doesn’t spend too much time outside. As the weather turns colder, his fur thickens and sheds more than usual during the autumn.
Daily brushing
Shedding is the result of a dead undercoat dropping to the ground. If you can eliminate this unsightly hair by brushing it before it falls, the dog will shed less and be more confident in himself overall!
Five minutes of brushing every day will help reduce the amount of hair around the house significantly.
Spay your female dogs
Female canines are infamous for shedding excessively after being in season. Therefore, it’s not beneficial to delay spaying your female dog until it is fully mature.
After her heat period, your dog may shed excessively, so you should consider getting her spayed. In addition, male dogs frequently have lighter hair following neutering.
Change your dog’s diet.
One of the most prevalent reasons for excessive shedding is feeding your dog non-nutritious and cheap food. Such dog feeds often include high levels of grain and maize, both of which are poorly digested food.
These meals do also not good for the dog’s skin. Indeed, it may be the source of itchy skin.
If you feel the dog food is of poor quality, try a different brand, but make sure it contains actual meat as the first component.
Another excellent choice is providing them with raw vegan diets; research and learn how much they should consume to suit their health requirements!
A healthy diet is the most efficient strategy to reduce your shepherd’s shedding, but make sure to adjust the food gradually. Changing their menu too quickly might create stomach disturbances and other problems that could jeopardize their health.
Feed specific sorts of human food
Even though dogs’ dietary demands differ from people’s, some meals are ideal for them.
When fed in moderation, foods like fruits, vegetables, and lean meats are beneficial to a dog’s skin and coat.
Add oils to your dog’s food.
Many people want to know how to improve their dog’s coat. You can supplement the dog diet with oils such as flaxseed or fish oil. In some cases, these oils will aid in the improvement of texture and the healing of inflammatory skin!
Adding a dry dog food supplement to your pup’s diet is another option. Most dog food brands contain more ingredients to a healthy coat, such as omega 3 fatty acids.
Additionally, if you want your dog to have fabulous fur, you should frequently feed salmon and tuna.
Provide enough water to your dog daily.
Dehydration is just as bad for your dog’s health and coat quality. In addition, dry skin can lead to increased shedding, which may make them sick if it’s not bonusing with water or other drinks like “water” foods like watermelon.
Is There A German Shepherd That Doesn’t Shed?
The German shepherd breed is not the only one that sheds, but combining it with a Poodle will create a dog that sheds much less.
Any Doodle mix will benefit from their parent’s non-shedding quality. The combination of German shepherds and poodles is known as Shepadoodles.
Dog ownership entails more than just grooming and shedding. So you shouldn’t choose a dog breed based on those two factors.
Conclusion
Do German shepherds shed a lot? As you can see, German shepherds are not the best choice for someone looking to avoid their dog shedding all over their home.
However, if you have no qualms about having fur everywhere or don’t mind picking up after your pet, then this may be the perfect pup for you!
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