German Shepherds are known by many to have gorgeous full coats. With stunning fur, however, comes great responsibility. German Shepherds are also known as ‘German Shedders’ for a reason. These dogs have coats that shed often, and if they aren’t properly groomed, they will stick to your clothing, floors, and furniture.
With this in mind, you are probably wondering how to find the best brushes for German Shepherds among a sea of products. Getting started can be a little overwhelming with product titles ranging from undercoat rakes to daily grooming brushes.
No reason to fret, though, as learning about these different dog grooming tools can be easy with the right guidance. There are several types of grooming tools you should become acquainted with, but once you know it, you know it.
Before we get started if you are still considering whether you should get a German Shepherd as a pet, check out these stunning German Shepherd mixes. Without further ado, here are the best tools for taking care of your doggo’s stunning coat.
Our Favorite Dog Brushes for German Shepherds
Best Overall Brush | Furminator Undercoat De-Shedding Brush
Best Undercoat Rake | PawsPamper Undercoat Rake for Large Dogs
Best for De-Matting | GoPets De-Matting Comb
Best for Daily Use | KylePet Double-Sided Bamboo Slicker Brush
Best for Puppy | Pet Neat Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush
Best for Shedding | DakPets De-Shedding Brush
Best for Long-Haired | Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush
Best for Sensitive Dogs | Delomo Pet Grooming Glove
What Kind of Brush Should I use on my German Shepherd?
Choosing a brush for your dog is one of the most important steps in taking care of its coat. Read on to find out what you should consider when searching for the best brush for German Shepherds.
How to Choose a Dog Grooming Brush
With so many dog grooming tools available on the market, overwhelm can hit fast. Depending on your dog’s breed, you will want to use certain grooming tools for their fur type. By learning about your German Shepherd’s coat, you can more easily find what brush type works best. Here are the main types of grooming tools and their uses.
Types of Grooming Tools
Basic Brushes are the ultimate daily brushing tool for German Shepherds. They come with plastic bristles or metal wire bristles. Plastic bristles work to remove your dog’s loose guard hairs, which are the stiff, coarse hairs that you feel when petting your German Shepherd. The plastic bristles also help distribute skin oil, which will keep your dog’s skin healthy and moisturized. On the other hand, the pin brush will work deep into your dog’s fur to detangle and loosen any dead undercoat.
One of the main benefits of this type of brush is its convenience. Whether your German Shepherd has a short, medium, or long coat, this type of brush will be your go-to daily maintenance grooming tool. For extra convenience, be sure to pick up a 2-in-1 brush that will give you the best of both world-plastic and pin brushes.
De-Shedding brushes are the best way to keep your clothes and furniture as fur-free as possible. Use your de-shedding tool to remove under guard hairs and brush into the undercoat layer of your dog’s coat. This will remove any loose hairs, so they do not end up on your clothes, floor, floating in the air, or on your furniture.
Slicker Brushes, bristle brushes, and pin brushes work best for German Shepherds with a long coat. Not only do they help prevent long coats from becoming tangled, but they also help maintain their shine. Use your slicker brush to ensure your long-haired German Shepherd’s fur stays clear of debris and other dirt.
Gloves and Mitts will allow you to groom your dog even if they typically do not enjoy being brushed. While it may seem crazy that any living being would not want its hair or fur brushed, some dogs have really sensitive skin. Dog grooming mitts will trick your dog into thinking they are getting a casual petting session and welcome it.
These convenient grooming tools have many other benefits like being easy to clean, increasing your dog’s blood circulation, and distributing their natural body oils. Some brands even offer machine washable gloves that you can throw in the washing machine for effortless cleaning.
De-Matting Tools will save your dog’s coat from issues like dandruff. If your long-haired German Shepherd enjoys rolling around outside, you will want to remove any tangles and knots that may occur.
These matted areas should be addressed immediately to ensure your dog’s coat overall health. Allowing matted fur to sit will make the affected areas more difficult to address and will likely result in skin inflammation and dandruff.
Combs should be the last step when giving your long-haired German Shepherd their daily brushing session. All of your dog’s fur should be untangled at this point to avoid unintentionally hurting them. Using a comb will smooth out your dog’s coat and help maintain its beautiful and shiny appearance.
Best Brushes for German Shepherds Reviews for 2020
FURminator DeShedding Dog Brush
Designed for dogs weighing over 50 pounds with a double coat, the FURminator de-shedding tool will remove any loose hairs. This brush works through the topcoat without damaging any hairs or cutting skin. If you are prone to getting tired while brushing your dog, you will enjoy the ergonomic design. The FURminator dog brush features a ‘FURejector’ button that easily and quickly releases collected dog hair.
Hertzko Self Cleaning Dog Brush
The Hertzko self-cleaning slicker brush is perfect for both short and longer-haired German Shepherd dogs. This brush gently removes loose hair, dander, knots, and tangles. Best of all, it is effortless to clean. Once you are finished brushing your German Shepherd, click the button on your brush to retract its bristles. This makes it easy for you to clean the hairs off your brush.
DakPets De-Shedding Brush
The DakPets de-shedding brush is an ergonomic and hypoallergenic brush perfect for regular grooming. This brush will gently remove your dog’s itchy undercoat, recommended for those looking to brush their German Shepherd 2-3 times a week. The DakPet’s de-shedding grooming tool conveniently comes with a quick-release button located on the brush’s head that detaches a comb. Use this detached comb for long fur and difficult-to-access areas of your dog’s coat.
PawsPamper Undercoat Rake for Large Dogs
Pawspamper’s undercoat rake for large dogs is a de-matting tool that is safe, effective, and won’t irritate your dog’s skin. This tool is meant specifically for heavy-coated and double-coated dogs and is not meant to be used on other animals or thin fur types. If you are looking for a tool that will give your German Shepherd a show-quality look, definitely give this tool a try. There is a no questions asked refund policy, showing the company’s confidence in their product.
KylePet Double-Sided Slicker Brush
KylePet’s double-sided slicker brush is a very convenient way to give your dog professional-quality grooming at home. Instead of dealing with two separate brushes, you can easily flip this brush over to work through your dog’s fur. Use the pin side to remove tangles from your German Shepherd’s coat and then flip over to the bristle side to remove the loosened fur from the coat. KylePet promises a 30 day 100% money-back guarantee for any reasons of dissatisfaction with this product.
Delomo Pet Grooming Glove
Use the Delomo pet grooming glove on dogs who hate regular brushes or have sensitive skin. With enhanced 255 silicon grooming tips, this glove mimics the touch of your hand to ensure your dog’s comfort. For maximum efficiency, you can even use this glove while bathing your pooch. You get two gloves as a set, one glove for your left hand and one for your right. This makes for an easy and stress-free grooming session.
GoPets De-Matting Comb
GoPet’s 2-sided de-matting comb helps you get a professionally groomed look within minutes. Use the lower density side to remove those stubborn tangles and knots in your dog’s fur. Next, flip the comb and use the higher density side to remove the loose undercoat and reduce shedding.
Pet Neat Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush
The Pet Neat self-cleaning slicker brush helps remove all those nasty tangles and mats from your dog’s fur. Perfect for small, medium, and large dogs, this grooming tool gives you a little more bang for your buck. If you are looking to reduce your dog’s shedding as much as possible, you’ll love that this brush reduces overall shedding by up to 95 percent. Once you are done with your grooming session, click the release button to make the bristles retract back into the brush. Then, remove the fur from the brush bristles.
Pat Your Pet 2-Sided Undercoat Rake
Pat Your Pet’s 2-sided undercoat rake for cats and dogs is Amazon’s #1 best-selling dog grooming rake. This undercoat rake comes with a 9-teeth side for stubborn mats and tangles and a 17-teeth side for thinning and de-shedding fur. Each tooth on this rake is rounded on the outside to ensure maximum safety for your pet. However, the inside of the tooth is sharp enough, so tough mats, tangles, and knots can be cut through.
HappyDogz Professional Deshedding Brush
Reduce your dog’s shedding by up to 95 percent with the HappyDogz de-shedding brush. This brush comes highly recommended by pet owners, professional groomers, and veterinarians. This brush can be used on both cats and dogs and help prevent your home from becoming overrun with pet hair. This brush is designed to be a does-it-all product, meaning you won’t need to purchase any other brush to groom your German Shepherd.
Easy Grooming Tips for German Shepherds
These tips will help you learn how to brush your German Shepherd dog properly. Based on whether your dog is used to being brushed, you may want to take extra measures to ensure your dog is comfortable.
- When brushing your German Shepherd, be sure you are in a comfortable environment where your pup can relax and hold still. It will take some time to work through all of your dog’s fur, especially if it is matted or tangled.
- Keep dog grooming tools stored in a secure area away from your pooch. Tools tend to have pointy edges and pose some danger if your dog were to play with them.
- Clean your dog grooming tools after each use to avoid introducing contamination to your dog’s coat.
- Brushing in the direction of your dog’s hair growth is essential for removing loose hairs. Avoid going against the hair growth as it can cause you to accidentally tug out healthy hairs that aren’t ready to come out. This can cause your Shepherd great discomfort and must be avoided at all costs.
- Grooming your dog while they are still a puppy will make things easier later on. If you attempt to brush an adult German Shepherd, try using treats to help them associate being brushed with rewards.
- If you are limited on time, using a high-velocity hair dryer will allow you to cut down on drying time and remove the last bit of loose hair from your dog’s coat.
- Always keep an undercoat rake on hand for seasonal and in-between de-shedding sessions. By maintaining your dog’s fur with an undercoat rake, you can limit the amount of time they need to go to a professional groomer.
When You Should Expect Extra Grooming Sessions – German Shepherd Seasonal Shedding
German Shepherds shed on a regular basis throughout the year. They get their alternative name ‘German Shedders’ for a reason! Not only should you expect your GSD to shed every day, you should expect seasonal shedding as well.
This means that your GSD will have particularly heavy shedding that coincides with seasonal weather changes. It is totally normal for dogs to do this, as it prepares them for temperature changes.
Typical heavy shedding seasons start around the spring months like March, April, and May as well as fall months like September, October, and November. Shedding months can vary depending on what part of the world you are living in.
For example, if you are living in an area like Washington state, where things don’t heat up until a little bit later, let’s just say you get an extra winter break before brushing sessions.
How to Deal With the Extra Shedding
You can prepare yourself for seasonal shedding by choosing the right brushes for your German Shepherd. I like to rotate between different types of brushes in order to get as much loose hair out as possible. My favorite brushes to alternate between are the rake brushes, grooming gloves, and slicker brushes.
Having a variety of brushes is particularly important for me as my German Shepherd dog HATES being brushed. Her tolerance is very low, and she will run away from a brushing session if given the chance. Unfortunately, regular brushing is non-negotiable, so she will have to endure it. 🙂
In addition to brushing, dry shampoos will be an enormous help. Using dry shampoos are primarily used to keep your dog’s fur clean in between bathing, however, they are also fantastic at detangling. Regardless of whether your dog’s fur is tangled or not, be careful brushing to avoid hurting them.
If your dog’s fur is very matted, it is best to bring them to the vet so the affected fur can be removed gently and safely. Your veterinarian will know the best methods of helping your dog’s coat.
Popular Grooming Questions Answered
How often should you brush a German Shepherd?
Brushing your German Shepherd daily will help keep their coat beautiful and shiny. Be sure to use one of the daily grooming brushes above if you choose this frequency.
At the very least, you will want to brush your Shep once a week. In this case, you will want to do a long brushing session and remove all of the built-up dead hairs.
How can I get my German Shepherd to shed less?
Regardless of how much you brush, your German Shepherd will continue to shed. It is something that all German Shepherd dog owners have to come to terms with. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t minimize the amount of loose hair that sticks to clothing and various parts of your home. Using the brushes listed above and the tips provided will work wonders for reducing loose hair.
Can a German Shepherd be shaved?
It is important never to shave your German Shepherd. It may seem like shaving would help your dog during hot weather, but it actually does the opposite. Your Shep’s coat is responsible for regulating their temperature and protecting their skin from alopecia and skin cancer. In addition, shaving your Shepherd ruins the natural beauty of your pooch’s fur.
Can you shave a German Shepherd with human clippers?
Shaving your German Shepherd with human clippers is risky and not advised. Human clippers can hurt your dog’s skin and is especially bad for dogs with sensitive skin.
What is the difference between dog clippers and human clippers?
Dog clippers are made with heartier materials and are more widely set apart. On the other hand, human clippers are closer together to accommodate thinner, human hair. Please do not use human clippers on your dog.
How often should I bathe my German Shepherd?
German Shepherds are low-maintenance when it comes to how often they should be bathed. Bathing your Shepherd once every four to five months will keep their fur clean and healthy. Take care not to bathe your Shepherd too frequently as you can strip the vital natural oils of their skin.
What is the best shampoo for German Shepherds?
We recommend Burt’s Bees Natural Shampoo for Dogs Made with Colloidal Oat Flour and Honey
Are German Shepherds Double-Coated?
Both medium and long-haired German Shepherds have a dense undercoat, making regular grooming important to their wellbeing.
Final Thoughts
German Shepherds have gorgeous coats that can easily be maintained with the right grooming tools. By using the best brushes for German Shepherds, you can keep your dog looking show-ready 24/7 while promoting the health of their skin and fur.
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