How much is too much? - Page 1

Ok, I know that GSDs are nicknamed German Shedders, but how much is too much?  I have a three year old male that started blowing his coat last month and it's still going on.  Is this normal?  I groom him twice a week with a normal shedding rake and slicker brush.  His back and hind quarters seem to have stopped shedding as much, but now it is coming from his neck and shoulders.  He is otherwise healthy, but leaves a trail of hair everywhere.  Three petting stokes on his beck will bring up enough hair to pick up with you bare hand.  Just wanted to make sure I didn't have a problem, and confirm that I will have to sweep and vaccum daily, LOL!  Let me know what you guys think and if it will stop eventually.

Well, one of my girls sheds every day, I swear...thru all four seasons.  She spends the majority of her time outside and will blow coat totally of course in the summer and around her heat cycles.

After yesterdays grooming session, I swear, I could have covered a few german shepherds with alopecia!

As far as my other girl, she has an extremely heavy coat but, for whatever reason, she does not shed anything like her half sister.  I really have to work to remove her undercoat as it does not seem to want to leave her.  I've never understood it.

People use Alpaca's hair to make clothing....I wonder what a sweater of german shepherd hair would be like.  ooooh, probably itchy...but, definitely warm.

And, it's been so dastardly hot and humid here (Virginia) this past week.  Forecast is for 100 today (not including heat index).  The girls are inside today...hating life (they hate to be inside when nobody is there).  But, who can keep them out in that!?  At night, they cry to be outside again...but, without the intense heat of the sun, I guess it's alright....just so darned humid.  My hair is going to start to fall out soon if it keeps up!!!  eghad!  What a sight that would be....

My Males are not to bad, Now my females specialy the one who just had a litter 9 weeks ago, she never shedded like that befor after she had a litter, at the moment she is down to like Boxer, Dane etc coat very slick a weird thing for me to see , I did took her to the vet just to be sure nothing is wrong my vet said it's normal specially here in the heat ,also she explained to me since my dogs are mostly inside in Airconditioning , it messes with their shedding cicles cool most of the day then out in the heat the body funktions get confused, thats what I was told by my Vet.

Other was my girl is healthy.

Feed better food, buy a furminator and drink more beer.  My dog is so well trained, he brushes himself.

When my dogs start shedding, I use a Metro Air-Force dryer on them.  OUTSIDE......  Even when their coat is dry,  it works great, it blows the hair, dander and dirt off.  It also works great if they are muddy.  Mine is the 4.0 PHP, it runs around 139.00 at most online grooming sites.

My dogs love it and push each other out of the way so they can be next.

KIM

www.justk9s.com

That's funny Don.   Does your dog hold the Furminator in its paw and look in the mirror when finished, LOL!

I find that fish oil helps tremendously. I have been using it for years. Check with your vet first. Most dry and even wet foods dont' have the kind of good fat that is needed. I rarely have any problems. Good luck, and again, always check with your vet first. Von Leistung

Mine aren't really shedding that bad at all surprisingly.  My younger male I noticed today could use a good brushing, some tuffs on his hind legs but nothing overkill.  Maybe diet does have something to do with it because honestly I don't have a big problem with shedding.

i got a furminator(worth every penny) OMG they are amazing!!!!

don any training tips on how to get them to brush themselves