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Despite its double layered coat, the German Shepherd does not require a lot of grooming. The outer coat of the German Shepherd is coarse with a medium-length. The undercoat, on the other hand, is soft and dense. This inner level is responsible for keeping the dog warm during the winter months and protected from the sunshine during the summer.
The best way to take care of your German Shepherd is to make sure that he is getting the right nutrition he needs. 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 more difficult for dogs to eat. 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 generally recommended that you brush your dog's hair at least twice a 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 pat your dog and dust puffs off his skin, that's a good sign he needs a bath. Also, if he is starting to smell, a bath will quickly solve that problem and make him more enjoyable during cuddle time. If the coat is very greasy, that can be another sign that he needs 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. Oatmeal shampoo, for example, can provide soothing relief to your animal, but they can also allow material to build up on its coat faster, causing you to bathe it more frequently. An aloe shampoo might be a good solution if you are not worried about fleas. Nevertheless, with regular care, your German Shepherd is bound to look beautiful all year long.
Moses Wright is a dog lover and loves to help new dog owners with their dog problems at home. You can find more free German Shepherd Health Problems and Facts information on his site.
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