As a dog-parent, you always want to keep them looking their best. German Shepherds have gorgeous, thick coats, and like all dogs, they enjoy playing around outside, digging holes, and doing gross things, like rolling in poop. Sooner of later, your German Shepherd (GSD) will need a bath! But how often?
German Shepherds are generally clean dogs that will not often require a bath if they are brushed regularly. You should bathe your German Shepherd four to five times a year. Bathing too frequently strips their fur of natural oils and can cause skin problems.
How often you bathe your German Shepherd depends on you and your dog. Many breeders and trainers report never washing their dogs except before shows. Depending on where you walk them, where they sleep and whether they get wet often, you may have to wash your German Shepherd more or less frequently. Here is everything you need to know about bathing your German Shepherd.
When To Give A German Shepherd Puppy Their First Bath
When you bring your German Shepherd puppy home, the likelihood is that they have already had their first bath. Breeders begin bathing German Shepherd puppies from as early as three weeks. Getting puppies used to bathing from a young age is important so they become comfortable later in life. This makes the job of bathing them much easier – you will avoid wrangling them into a tub or chasing them around with the garden hose.
You do not have to bathe puppies with shampoo every time they get dirty playing outside, just get them used to being rinsed off in the bath of shower with lukewarm water. Place them in an empty tub and fill the bath slowly until the water is paw deep. Praise them while they are in the bath and give them lots of treats so that they have a positive experience. Towel dry them and give them a good brush.
What Happens If You Bathe A German Shepherd Too Often?
German Shepherds have a thick double coat. The glossy topcoat captures dust and other particles and protects the skin from sun exposure, while the fuzzy undercoat provides insulation, keeping them warm in winter and cool in summer.
Their coats are naturally covered in healthy bacteria and oils that moisturize their skin and keep its pH balanced. Bathing your German Shepherd too often will strip away the beneficial oils and bacteria and will lead to skin dryness and irritation.
It increases their risk of getting hot spots – these are caused by a damp patch in your dog’s coat getting infected and becoming itchy and sore. Dogs will chew and lick on their hot spots, making them worse.
How To Bathe A German Shepherd
- Choose the right shampoo. Never use human shampoo on your German Shepherd. Use an organic, gentle shampoo that is made for dogs and will not strip away all their skins natural oils. Avoid brands that contain harsh chemicals like sodium lauryl sulphate.
- Bathe your German Shepherd in a bathtub, if you have one, or use a large bucket of water.
- Bathe them with warm water, not hot water. Check the temperature of the water to avoid burning them.
- Begin by wetting their entire body, start at the neck and move down the length of their body, soaking their coat all the way through. Don’t let the water level get above your dog’s elbow level.
- Put an ample amount of shampoo on your hand or a washcloth, and massage it into the fur using circular movements. Begin at the top of their neck, and work your way down to their chest, legs, and sides. Scrub thoroughly to ensure that you reach the undercoat.
- Shampoo and scrub their head, being very careful not to get soap in their eyes.
- Drain the dirty tub water and thoroughly rinse their coat of all the shampoo. I find that using a handheld showerhead works very well, but you can also use a jug to pour clean water over them.
- Ensure that you rinse all the shampoo out of the undercoat, and from between their legs. Dry shampoo residue can cause skin irritation.
- Towel dry your dog and allow them to shake off!
- Brush their coat to leave them soft and shiny.
Grooming A German Shepherd
- German Shepherd require regular brushing to keep their coats glossy. Their topcoat sheds twice a year in preparation for summer and winter. You will need to brush them at least three times a week to keep up with the shedding. Use a de-shedding comb or brush and give your dog lots of treats to encourage them to enjoy brushing. Invest in a vacuum that is good for pet hair.
- Do not shave or cut their coat. GSs double coat keeps them warm in winter and cool in summer. There is no need to cut or shave them.
- Trimming nails. If your German Shepherd regularly walks on pavement or gravel, their nails will wear to the correct, natural length and you will probably not need to cut them. Dogs that spend most of their time on carpet or grass will need a trim at least once a month. German Shepherds have very thick nails, so use heavy duty clippers that are made for cutting dog’s nails and smooth them using a Dremel tool. Do not cut them too short!
- Cleaning ears. Check their ears for infection when you groom your German Shepherd. Wipe them using gentle, hypoallergenic wipes.
- Brushing teeth. Never use human toothpaste on your dog! The easy way to prevent plaque from building up on your dog’s teeth is to give them chew treats that remove it. One can also brush their teeth two to three times a week using a doggy toothpaste and toothbrush. Tooth cleaning wipes are also available at some vet shops.
Taking Your German Shepherd To A groomer
Grooming a German Shepherd is hard work, and it may be easier to outsource the job to a professional groomer. They have the right tools and equipment, shampoos, and skills to make your dog look their very best.
Choose a groomer carefully. Ensure that they are licensed and certified to groom dogs safely and have a look at their facilities and how they conduct their grooming business. Can you stay with your dog while they get groomed, or do you drop them off and fetch them afterwards? If you are going to leave them with the groomer, ensure that the dogs are well cared for in their kennels and that grooming staff are trained for emergencies.
Why Does My German Shepherd Go Crazy After A Bath?
Frenetic Random Activity Periods (FRAPs), also known as the bath time crazies, or zoomies, is something almost all dogs do, especially when they are young. Why do German Shepherds run laps around the house and garden, jump and roll around after a bath?
It could be an expression of happiness and relief that the bath is over, or it may be that dogs are not used to their smell after we have bathed them. They may be trying to rub familiar smells back onto their body. If you are not happy with messy, wet floors, confine them to a room or behind a gate until they have calmed down.
Final Thoughts
Bathe your German Shepherd at least once every 3 to 4 months, when they are smelly or have gotten filthy playing outside. It is not good for their coat to wash them too often. Their thick double coat is covered in natural oils and bacteria that keep their skin healthy, and frequent bathing disturbs their skin’s balance.