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German shepherds are one of the most popular breeds, and rightfully so. But, one thing on everyone’s mind before adding a german shepherd to their family is whether they shed or not.
And if they do shed, how much?
Do German Shepherds Shed:
According to a survey of 471 real german shepherd owners, 92% of people said that their german shepherd sheds a moderate to extreme amount. So unfortunately, yes, german shepherds do shed and they shed a lot. Even more so twice a year when the seasons change.
In this post you’ll discover:
- What real german shepherd owners had to say about their pup’s shedding
- 6 things that cause german shepherds to shed more than usual
- 6 tips from owners on how to best limit and manage a german shepherds shedding (Tip #1 & 3 help the quickest!)
- And much more
Let’s jump right in.
Table of Contents
What Real German Shepherd Owners Had To Say About Shedding
IHeartDogs did a survey asking 471 real german shepherd owners to pick 1 of 4 options in relation to how much their dog sheds.
- Extreme Shedding
- Moderate Shedding
- Low Shedding
- No Shedding
38% said their german shepherd was an extreme shedder.
54% said their german shepherd was a moderate shedder.
7% said their german shepherd was a low shedder.
1% said their german shepherd didn’t shed.
A few people gave detailed answers I felt were very helpful that you can find below.
Rana said *Moderate Shedding* “Brush often. When getting groomed have the groomer use a deep shedding conditioner. Helps get excess hair out of coat. Although they shed bad…They are worth every hair.”
Jene said *Moderate Shedding* “I feed my german shepherds great food and brush them often. Shedding does not really bother me, love the dogs too much to stress about hair.”
Mona said *Extreme Shedding* “Brush dog at least 3 times a week and daily during shedding season. Be prepared to vacuum daily. Best brush is Furminator; expensive but will outlast the life of your german shepherd.”
Jean said *Low Shedding* “Brush every day or at least 3 times a week, especially spring & fall. Good nutrition can be good for her hair, bones, especially the back legs. ”
Stephanie said *Moderate Shedding* “Grain free or Raw diet food, and brushing at least several times a week. Sable german shepherds shed more than Black and Tan’s and Long Hairs shed the least.”
All in all, it’s pretty well unanimous.
Over 100 different german shepherd owners shared their dog sheds, and they shed a lot.
So if you decide to add a german shepherd to your family, expect them to shed.
Many people said that while it was a lot, it was well worth it to have them be a part of their family.
Once a habit of brushing is created it simply becomes a part of your daily routine that isn’t too bothersome.
If you’re not off-put by the survey results and still want a german shepherd, let’s look at reasons why they’d shed more than usual and the best shedding management tips.
What Causes Excessive Shedding In German Shepherds?
While german shepherds will shed year-round, there are certain situations that will cause them to shed much more than usual.
Temperature Changes
If you live in an area where there are noticeable seasonal changes, this will cause a german shepherd to excessively shed twice a year.
Once when the temperature starts warming up after winter.
And again when the temperature starts cooling down after summer.
The reason for the additional shedding is their coat is regulating itself to prepare themselves for the new weather.
In the summer they don’t need as thick of an undercoat so they shed it to keep themselves cooler while it’s warm outside.
And in the winter their undercoat grows a lot more to help insulate their body during the colder weather.
While they still year throughout the year regardless, seasonal temperature changes will always cause them to shed a lot more than usual.
Bad Diet
When a german shepherd isn’t eating a healthy diet, this can also lead to excessive shedding.
Just like with people, the quality of the food they put in their body directly affects the quality of their skin and hair/fur.
If they eat food that mostly contains fillers and doesn’t give them the proper nutrients they need, they’ll shed much more than you’d like.
This can also happen when they get too many treats and fill up on snacks as opposed to their kibble/wet dog food.
When it comes to a german shepherd’s daily calorie intake it’s important to keep it 90% healthy dog food and only 10% treats/snacks.
The worse their diet is the more likely they’ll be to shed excessively no matter the time of year.
Health Issues
If a german shepherd were to get any health issues, it’s normal to see them shedding more than usual.
This is because their body is under a lot of strain and is also allocating most of its resources to helping heal whatever the problem is.
Which leaves their skin to dry out, become less healthy and start losing more of their fur.
Some health issues that could come up are:
- Hypothyroidism
- Hormonal imbalances (e.g. Cushing’s disease)
- Cancers
- Liver disease
- Heart disease
While german shepherds are generally healthy dogs, they’re still able to get health issues that could cause increased shedding.
Stress
Stress can also lead to a german shepherd shedding more than usual.
This can be from things like moving to a new home, being around too many people or other animals, adding a new baby or pet to the family, or changes in their routine.
These types of things directly impact/change the environment they’re used to.
And dogs, especially working breeds, thrive on structure and routine.
Which means when their environment changes abruptly, many have difficulties adjusting to the change.
Causing them to be stressed out and anxious which results in excessive shedding as well as other excessive behavior.
Pest Infestations
External parasites, such as fleas, ticks, and mites can also lead to a german shepherd shedding more than usual.
These pests attach themselves to a dog’s skin and feed off their blood which causes inflammation.
This inflammation then leads to excessive shedding as the dog’s body is trying to get rid of the pests.
Not to mention the increased itching that happens whenever a dog gets these pests.
Which of course increases how much fur they lose.
If you live in an area where there’s lots of tall grass or you plan to take your german shepherd to the dog park often, be sure to give their coat frequent inspections.
Fleas and ticks can be seen with a thorough inspection.
But mites are too small to be seen without special equipment.
Each of these pests will cause increased shedding in a german shepherd if they stay in their coat for too long.
Skin Irritations
If a german shepherd’s skin is irritated for any reason, this can also lead to excessive shedding.
This could be from an allergic reaction to something in their environment, such as pollen, dust, or grass.
Or an allergic reaction to one of the ingredients in their food.
It could also be from an infection caused by bacteria, fungus, or a virus.
Any form of skin irritation will always result in more itching from your pup.
Which will also result in more fur lying around your home.
Top Tips To Keep A German Shepherds Shedding Under Control
1) ‘Blow Out’ Their Coat
Something that works really well (if your german shepherd will let you) is blowing out their coat during their heavy shedding seasons.
It does a really good job of getting rid of any dead/loose fur that’s trapped underneath their top coat.
The video below does a great job demonstrating how much fur can be blown out.
This Free Paw Dog Dryer is one of the more affordable options available.
If you prefer quality the Shernbao Blow Dryer is one of the best dog blow dryers you can find.
2) Brush, Brush, Brush
Regular brushing is one of the best ways to keep excessive shedding at bay.
It not only helps remove any dead/loose fur, but it also keeps their coat healthy and shiny.
I’d recommend brushing your german shepherd once a day, at least.
After a couple weeks it’ll become a habit and you’ll do it without having to think about it anymore.
3) Helpful Tools
If you’re finding an excessive amount of shedding happening in your home, there are some tools you can use to help control it.
One is a robot vacuum.
They work great at getting hair off of surfaces where it tends to accumulate (carpet, furniture, etc.).
Many owners said the Roomba robot vacuum was the best in their experience. I’d recommend the Roomba i3 EVO.
It’s one of the best robot vacuums around and it does a great job at getting rid of dog hair.
Another tool is a good quality human-run vacuum.
I’m not talking about the $30 ones from Walmart, I’m talking about something like the Dyson V7 Animal Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner.
If you want something that won’t break down because of too much dog hair, Dyson vacuums are a great choice.
Lastly, if you have a lot of fabric furniture or carpet, or simply like wearing black clothes, using a lint roller will become a staple in your day-to-day.
They’re not expensive and they work great at removing dog hair from these types of surfaces.
4) Healthy Diet = Healthy Coat
Another thing you can do to help reduce excessive shedding is making sure your german shepherd is eating a healthy diet.
A diet high in fatty acids and omega-3 oils will help keep their coat healthy and free of dandruff.
The better quality food that goes in your german shepherd the healthier their skin and coat will be.
Which in turn will reduce their shedding as much as possible.
Another thing you can do is make sure they’re getting plenty of water.
Dehydration will always lead to an unhealthy coat and excessive shedding.
So make sure your pup always has access to clean, fresh water.
5) Supplements
If you’re finding that your german shepherd is still shedding more than you’d like, there are a few supplements you can give them to help.
One is biotin.
Biotin helps strengthen the hair follicles and can help reduce shedding.
Fish oils contain omega- fatty acids which help keep their coat healthy and strong.
Many dog foods don’t contain these important nutrients to keep a dog’s skin and coat in tip top shape.
Which is why supplementing can be very beneficial.
6) Bathing & Grooming
Creating a healthy bathing and grooming schedule is a great way to limit a german shepherd’s shedding.
Bathing too often can dry out their skin and end up doing more harm than good.
But not bathing often enough can also have negative effects on their skin and coat which causes more shedding.
Many groomers say bathing every 6-10 weeks is a good bath time schedule as it’s not too often but also not too far apart.
When it comes to professional grooming, if you’re not interested in getting a good quality dryer to blow out your german shepherds coat, taking them to a groomer a few times a year can also help keep their shedding under control.
Other posts you might find interesting:
Are German Shepherds Good With Cats? (100+ Owners Asked)
Are German Shepherds Good Family Dogs? 472 Owners Asked
Are German Shepherds Aggressive? (100+ Owners Asked!)