Do German Shepherds Shed a Lot?

Yes. German Shepherds do shed. A lot? Well, I would have to say that that in many ways this is up to the owner because some people may have more have more of an aversion to Dog, cat or any kind of pet hair than others do. Personally, I've been around German Shepherds since I was a kid so I don't even think about their shedding any more - it's just a part of life for me and my Dogs and we just handle it as it comes. Not having Dog hairs for me would mean that I don't have a GSD either and I'd much rather have the Dog (and it's coat) any day than a spotless house.

There is a chance you'll hear them referred to as "German Shedders" by people too. Why? Because they do shed - pretty moderately all year long. I can tell you this without reservation though - if you are offended by dog hair and have a "clean freak" type personality, then do not get a German Shepherd Dog because you will have to deal with dog hair. I promise you that.

New owners of German Shepherds, also called Alsatians, or people thinking about getting one, however, need to be aware that GSDs do shed. Just so you'll know, the GSD is a "double-coated" dog breed. This means that its coat consists of a fluffy undercoat that helps insulate the dog and stiffer guard hairs on the top that help "waterproof" the dog.

Now here's the main thing you need to keep in mind about the GSD and its coat - those guard hairs on the outside will be shed - all year long - every day. And what about that fluffy undercoat? It gets shed too - about twice a year - once in the spring and again in the fall as the seasons change. This is what many people refer to as "blowing coat" so if you hear that term thrown around you'll know what it means.

When they do seasonally blow coat you can easily comb out enough dead hair to make a good sized Pekingese statue with all the dead hair. During this shedding process do yourself a favor and buy an undercoat rake, also called a shedding rake. This is the best grooming tool on the planet for removing all that dead undercoat easily on a GSD and will help you maintain your sanity as your dog "blows" its coat. The rest of the year you can take control of shedding easily by combing your dogs daily and vacuuming as necessary.

And what about long-coated German Shepherds?

Many people own the longer coated Alsatians. No problem. In fact, I've owned several of them myself as well. But keep this in mind, the longer coat does need more grooming overall to keep it in tip top shape. I would also like to take the time to point out that in my observations of owning both long and standard coated GSDs that it seems that my longer coated German Shepherds seem to physically shed less than my shorter coated GSDs - but the tradeoff is that they need more hands on grooming.

So, if you want a German Shepherd - really, really want a GSD, then you're going to have to deal with a dog that sheds all year too. So buy some new bags for your vacuum cleaner or get a good broom because you will need it - because German Shepherds do shed! A lot.

German Shepherds are really incredible dogs. But they're not for everyone - and if you're thinking of getting one I highly encourage you to do all the research you can about them ahead of time. One place you can learn about them is at: Total German Shepherd.

And if you love to read, why not check out my ebook, "Your Total German Shepherd Dog" now too? Filled with over 200 pages of "German Shepherd goodness" - health info, puppy news and so much more.

Are German Shepherds Good Family Pets?

A German Shepherd Dog can be an excellent choice of family Dog, with the right family. Remember that German Shepherds are great dogs but they're not for everyone - no more so than would be a saint bernard, a chesapeake bay retriever, or a parson russell terrier - you get my meaning I hope, not every dog breed is a good fit for every home, that's just the way it is.

Something else I would like to remind everybody about is just how smart they are. These are very intelligent animals and need to be tested mentally as well as physically. And this is one thing many first time owners simply aren't aware of. You need to work these dogs brains as well as their muscles to have the happiest GSD possible. Mental exercise simply can't be overstated. New tricks, games, training of all types and giving the dog a job to do are all good ways to keep that furry little Einstein in tip top shape.

German Shepherds, also called Alsatians in some parts of the world, can get along quite well with children too - especially if they are socialized with them early on. It is very important that you take the time to make sure that your German shepherd puppy is comfortable around human beings, as well as other pets and dogs and the importance of training and socialization simply can't be overstated.

And if I could tell you only one thing to do with your German Shepherd to make it the best dog possible for your family it would have to be to socialize your GSD well - this one thing above all others can make such a huge difference in how well your dog is, socially speaking, later on in life. Get your dog out and about in as many places as you can safely - on tile/hardwood/linoleum and other kinds of floors, riding inside cars, going inside pet friendly businesses, etc., and introduce it to as many dog friendly people, cats, and other pets as you can. Let it observe horses, goats, sheep or whatever other kinds of animals that you can and let it interact with other friends pet dogs to help make it a a secure and friendly dog.

Also, don't forget just how big and strong a GSD can get to be as an adult. If you have very small children it could potentially be a problem for them if you don't supervise the dog and the kids together. And if you have a small GSD puppy, you don't want to leave it unsupervised with small kids either. Better safe than sorry I've always felt.

Lastly, don't ignore just how much exercise a growing German Shepherd will need. You'll need to make sure that you can give your GSD lots of exercise outside, and inside too if you have the space, to help use up a lot of that excess energy. You'll be surprised just how happy a tired GSD can be!

So, there is a lot to think about before you bring home a German Shepherd dog or puppy. But if you think of these key items first you'll have a better idea of whether or not a German Shepherd would make a good fit in your own home. Remember, this is a fairly long lived animal and if all goes well you can expect to have this dog in your life for 8 to 13 years or so so please don't bring home any dog or puppy on impulse. And if you happen to follow the steps above all those years together should be good ones.

German Shepherds are really incredible dogs. But they're not for everyone - and if you're thinking of getting one I highly encourage you to do all the research you can about them ahead of time. One place you can learn about them is at: Total German Shepherd

And if you love to read, why not check out my ebook, Your Total German Shepherd Dog now too? Filled with over 200 pages of "German Shepherd goodness".