In the summer months, you may be wondering “can you shave a german shepherd?” After all, not only can it become incredibly hot for them, but they also tend to shed a lot more.
So keep reading to find out whether you can shave a german shepherd!
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So Can You Shave A German Shepherd?
In the vast majority of cases, you should avoid shaving your german shepherd. While you may think you’re doing them a favor, in actuality, you’re probably going to be doing more harm than good.
While there are certain circumstances when it may be okay to shave your german shepherd, they are few and far between.
Why Is Shaving Your German Shepherd Bad For Them?
It’s not just one or two reasons that should put you off shaving your german shepherd, but a whole host of them. And here they are.
They’ll Be More Vulnerable To Sunburn& Heatstroke
Without their coats protecting them from the harsh UV rays of the sun, your german shepherd is going to be much more susceptible to sunburn and heatstroke.
As you know, sunburn can be extremely painful. But heatstroke is worse, it doesn’t take much for it to become extremely dangerous for a german shepherd.
While you may think their coat is going to make matters worse, it actually helps to provide them some amount of protection.
They’re Much More Likely To Be Bitten
As we all know, mosquito bites are extremely frustrating. However, your german shepherd doesn’t have to deal with them as much as we do. Because it’s much harder for a german shepherd to get bitten, thanks to their fur.
When you remove their fur, they’re going to be the perfect feast for mosquitos, which is going to become extremely irritating for them.
Without proper protection, your german shepherd may end up being cold all night!
The Fur Doesn’t Always Grow Back Properly
Even if you plan on letting your german shepherd’s fur grow back by winter, this isn’t always the case. Sometimes the fur will never grow back properly.
When winter comes it may not be long enough, and it may even be uneven in places. This means it’s more likely that they’ll get cold easier, and if they’re wet, they may end up staying wet for longer.
As well as this, german shepherds have a double coat. When it grows in again, the topcoat and the undercoat may end up blending together. This means your german shepherd won’t feel the effects of either as much.
(Did you know german shepherds get cold? And that it can have life threatening consequences.)
They’re More Likely To Suffer From Dry Skin
Without fur on their bodies, they’re going to be much more likely to suffer from dry skin. Exposure to the sun and elements (including wind and rain) are going to dry their skin out, much like with us. This, in turn, can open them up to a whole range of skin conditions which result in lots of itching and scratching.
If you’ve shaved your german shepherd to stop them shedding, then, unfortunately, this may not give you the desired effect you wanted.
Your german shepherd is always going to shed, the only difference is now, they’re going to be shedding prickly hair instead.
Imagine the sharpness of stubble, now imagine that all over your home. This type of hair can often be harder to clean up as well.
Their Coloring Won’t Be The Same
And lastly, their coloring will be different if you shave them. The patterns and markings they had on their bodies before may grow back differently.
In fact, it may even grow in a lot more dull than when you shaved it off.
When Should You Shave Your German Shepherds Fur?
While there are lots of reasons you shouldn’t shave your german shepherd’s fur, there are times when you may have too.
For example, your vet may need to shave their fur if they’re going to have an operation, when this happens, vast amounts of fur will be shaven off, and hopefully, it should grow back.
Another time is when your german shepherd has a hot spot. When my old dog had a hot spot, she was in agony for a long time. Fortunately, once the area was shaved, it provided a lot of relief for my pup!
(Here’s everything you need to know about hot spots in german shepherds. And if you do notice one, make sure you take your pup to the vet as soon as possible.)
Instead Of Shaving Them What Should You Do?
Fortunately, if your german shepherd’s hair is growing out of control, you don’t need to shave them. There are other things you can do to keep them well-groomed, and most importantly, cool on a hot day.
Take Them Outside And Brush Them
One of the most important things you can do is take them outside and brush them. When you brush your german shepherd you’re going to remove all of the loose fur from their coat.
The amount that will come out will leave you astounded, and you’ll wonder how they have any fur left at all.
In the summer I used to have to do this for my dog about once a week.
And for best results, you should do this after a bath (just make sure you aren’t bathing them once a week.)
Give Them A Bath
On the subjects of baths, you can also try giving your german shepherd a bath to remove some of their fur. You should only do this every 4-5 months, and the best time to do it is when they’re shedding.
This is going to make it easier to remove any fur later on because it’ll be softer. And remember, when bathing your german shepherd, make sure you’re using dog-friendly shampoo.
(Find out more about bathing your german shepherd.)
Blow Out Their Undercoat
Another great choice is to blow out their undercoat. You can go to a professional groomer to do this.
When you blow out their undercoat, you’re going to remove the loose fur that can build up in the undercoat, which is otherwise hard to remove.
Doing this is going to reduce the amount of fur that gets shed.
What About Keeping Your German Shepherd Cool?
If you’re shaving your german shepherd to keep them cool, then you’ll be pleased to know, that’s not the best method.
There are plenty of other ways to keep them cool, such as making sure they’re in shape, providing plenty of shade for them, giving them water to drink, and not taking them out in the hottest times of the day.
(Find out all the different ways you can keep your german shepherd cool.)
Interested In Training Your German Shepherd The Right Way?
If you haven’t trained your German Shepherd properly, then this is the perfect time to start. Whatever bad behavior your shepherd has, whether it’s barking at night or other bad behaviors, using the right training program is the key to having an obedient and happy pup.
With Brain Training For Dogs you’ll save yourself a ton of time and effort. Instead of banging your head against the wall trying to figure out why your dog won’t listen, you’ll follow a path that has been tried, tested, and most importantly, that’s given proven results. Not to mention the fact, you’ll be able to fit the course around your schedule, not fit your schedule around a trainer or obedience class.
So instead of worrying about whether they’re going to be well-behaved or not, you’ll only have to worry about how much fun you’ll have with them!
And in most cases it’s still going to be:
Cheaper than hiring a professional.
Cheaper than replacing everything they might break.
And definitely cheaper than a lawsuit against you, if they decide to bite someone.
Just imagine how great it will feel to finally be able to trust your German Shepherd completely and never worry whether they’ll be naughty or not. Instead, you’ll have the peace of mind that you have a well-behaved pup, and the boundaries you set for them, will always be there, EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT.
And the best part is it also has a 60-day money-back guarantee! So there’s no reason not to give Brain Training For Dogs a try!
So if you’re tired of your dog’s bad behavior, or how they react around other people and pooches, then give it a try! You’ll be amazed by the results!
(You can also check out a full review here, to learn exactly what the course has to offer!)
Recap
Now you know that in the vast amount of cases, you shouldn’t shave your german shepherd. In fact, by doing so, you’re going to be doing a lot more harm than good.
And here are a few of the most important things to remember from this article:
If you shave your german shepherd they’re going to be more vulnerable to sunburn and heatstroke, they’ll be bitten by insects more often, they won’t have protection from the cold, the fur won’t grow back properly, they’re more likely to suffer from dry skin, they’ll shed prickly fur, and their coloring won’t be the same.
The only time you should shave your german shepherd is when a vet recommends it.
Instead of shaving them when they’re shedding too much, you should brush them, bathe them (every 4-5 months), and blow out their undercoat.
If you liked this article make sure you check out the rest of the website. Otherwise, have a great day.
