Not all breeds of dogs are the same. You need to consider what is good for your German Shepherd. And the main factor to consider is that they are a double-coated breed of dog. The growth of their topcoat and undercoat vary. The topcoat protects your German Shepherd from dirt and sun exposure, while the undercoat protects from the cold.

Now, there are two main reasons for cutting a German Shepherd’s coat: give relief to them during the hot months of summer, and to control your german shepherds shedding. Read more about how to control the shedding and how to properly trim a German Shepherd’s coat.

Quick Tips For Grooming Your German Shepherd’s Coat

Before cutting your German Shepherd’s coat, here is some basic information first that may help you.

• German Shepherds shed their coat twice a year. They have a double coat that keeps them warm during the cold winter months, and during the summer months, it blocks the excess heat and UV rays. In the spring, German Shepherds shed the winter coat. And again in the fall, they shed their summer coat.
  
  
• Your German Shepherd’s coat has plenty of natural oils, and bathing too often will strip the coat of its oils. Making the coat dry and itchy could lead to irritation. It is recommended that bathing is done every 3-4 months.
  
  
• Brush and blow your German Shepherd’s hair 3-4 times a week to minimize shedding. This way, it also keeps your dog’s coat shiny, and it contributes to your home’s overall cleanliness.

Tips For Cutting Your German Shepherd’s Coat

1. No to Shaving
   Before anything else, it is not advisable to shave your German Shepherd’s coat. Shaving will take away your German Shepherd’s protection from the cold and heat. Brushing and proper cutting will be sufficient. Shaving will affect your dog’s natural protection from insect bites. Shaving will also affect the growth of both the topcoat and undercoat. You will see that it won’t grow back in the same way, with the topcoat growing together with the undercoat. In effect, the dust and other particles get stuck in both layers now.
   
   
2. Trimming is Better
   Many owners are tempted to cut their German Shepherd’s coat, especially in the hot months. Instead of shaving, trimming is a better option so as not to remove all that precious double coat.
   
   Try to bathe your dog with organic shampoo, or at the very least, avoid strong shampoos. Bathing your german shepherd will soften their hairs to prepare them for brushing later on. It will also remove excess hairs.
   
   Dry your German Shepherd with a towel to wipe away excess water. Use a dog hair blowing machine if you have, or a high velocity hair dryer. This is another effective way at removing your dog’s loose hairs. Blow in the direction of hair growth, and not back and forth.
   
   Brush your dog’s coat to bring out the shine and remove more hairs. Brushing will also straighten their coat in preparation for trimming.
   
   You may want to simply trim a few hairs here and there, and not all over. Remember that their double coat serves a purpose. This is just to polish their overall look. You can start from the neck and work your way down, keeping the head for last.
   
   
3. Use the Right Grooming Scissors
   
   Although there really is no special dog hair cutter for German Shepherds, you can use a good pair of dog grooming scissors. If you are a novice, you may want to practice with curved scissors, especially as you notice, your GSD has a lot of curves. This can be used for the legs and feet, rib cages and the head area.
   
   There are straight scissors available too, for grooming dogs. But don’t get the long one, such as the 7” or 8”, as you might hurt your German Shepherd if you’re not used to these scissors. Many prefer the shorter pair even if it is more time-consuming.
   
   As a quick summary, bathe, dry and brush your German Shepherd prior to trimming. Keep a steady hand and make sure too, that your dog is calm and ready for a trim. Simply trim parts to protect the double coat to finish off your German Shepherd’s grooming routine.