German Shepherd Shedding: Managing Seasonal Coat Blows and Reducing Allergens in the Home

To say that German shepherds shed is an understatement. Not only do they shed year-round, twice a year they engage in a perfuse shedding known as “blowing their coat.”

The good news is, there are things you can do to help keep the shedding under control and also manage in the Spring and Fall when they blow their coat.

But first, let’s take a look at why it seems like this breed sheds more than others. First, nearly all dog breeds shed. There are only a handful of breeds that are considered low or no shedding. Even low-shedding breeds require regular coat maintenance and do lose some fur.

German shepherds, however, have thick double coats that are medium length. They have a top coat that is made up of thick shafts of hair that protect their skin and also are somewhat weatherproof. Their undercoat is soft and acts as insulation in both summer and winter. It’s the shedding of this undercoat that is referred to as “blowing the coat.”

To help keep shedding and allergens to a minimum, your best defense is a good offense. You’ll need to tackle their shedding head on and when you do, it’s manageable for those willing to put in the time and effort.

But, it’s important to know that people who are allergic to dogs have an immune system response to the dander on the dog. The dander is made up of skin cells, saliva, sweat, and urine and is all part of owning a pet.

For environmental allergy sufferers, dogs also pick up pollen and dust on their fur, which can cause people with seasonal allergies misery. For these reasons, you can help minimize allergens in your home but it is impossible to eliminate them all.

The best way to manage shedding and reduce allergens in your home:

Regular Brushing

Daily or weekly brushing will help you remove loose fur and all the pollens and dust that collect in it. Use a good de-shedding brush to remove the undercoat and a slicker brush to remove the rest of the loose fur and top coat.

By keeping your dog brushed you may be surprised by how clean they stay and how much it reduces the amount of loose fur you have in your house and car. The investment of time you put into their grooming, will save you time in cleaning.

Bath your Dog Regularly

Most German shepherds only need baths every 3-4 months, if you keep them regularly brushed. Of course, if your dog gets dirty, by all means, bathe it. However, a bath with de-shedding shampoo and conditioner will help cut down on the hair and make it easier to remove.

German shepherds tend to have sensitive skin and frequent bathing can strip their coat of its natural oils and dry their skin. So be sure to use a gentle shampoo that is pH balanced for dogs and follow with conditioner.

Dog Wipe

In between baths, you can use dog wipes to help keep your dog clean and remove allergens from their body. You can use them to spot-clean your pet and also to remove dust and pollen from their face, paws, and anywhere else before they come indoors. Wiping their paws and face during high pollen season, it also helps reduce their seasonal allergies, if they suffer from them.

Vacuum Often

Most German shepherd owners will go through several vacuums during the life of their dog. Investing in a good vacuum designed to pick up pet fur is a good idea because you’ll be reaching for it often. A good vacuum will also help reduce allergens if you keep the filter clean between uses.

Dust and Clean Often

Keep dust to a minimum and wipe down surfaces often. Create a cleaning schedule that allows you to give attention to all areas of your home weekly to keep accumulated fur, dander, dust, and other allergens to a minimum.

Use Lint Rollers When You Can’t Vacuum

When you don’t have time to vacuum, lint rollers are great at removing loose fur from furniture and clothing.

Cover Furniture

If you don’t mind furniture and bed covers, invest in some that are easy to wash so you can toss them in the washer and dryer. This way, you can wash them more often to help keep loose fur, dander, and environmental allergens away from where you sit and sleep.

Keep Pet Bedding and Toys Clean

Pet bedding and toys should be washed to remove excess fur and dander. Buy pet bedding that has easy-to-remove covers and toys that you can wash in your washing machine or clean with soap and hot water.

Use Floor Rugs

Floor mats and rugs at your entryways are great for trapping dirt and potential allergens before they spread around your house. They also have the added benefit of helping to remove moisture from your dog’s paws when they come inside.

Air purifiers and Air Filters

If your allergies are causing you to suffer, consider using air purifiers and HEPA air filters that remove allergens and dust. A High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter traps 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns or larger - which you cannot even see with your naked eye, according to the Allergy and Asthma Institute.

Declutter

Declutter to help reduce the number of areas where pet fur and allergens can hide. It will also make cleaning easier since you won’t have so many things to move when you dust and vacuum your house.

Hard Flooring

Hard flooring is easier to clean than carpet. After a time, it’s hard to remove all the dander and pollen that is sticking in the deep carpet fibers but with hard floors, you’ll never have that problem.

Restrict Dogs from Certain Areas

As hard as it might be, if your allergies are severe, you may have to restrict your dog from certain areas of your home at least during certain times of the year. For instance, if you have a serious allergy sufferer in the house, you may not want to allow the dog in their room so they have a place to go that is allergy-free.

Throw Bedding and Similar Items into the Dryer Before Washing

For bedding and covers that you can wash in the washing machine and dry in the dryer, toss them in the dryer for 10 minutes or so to help remove fur and pet dander.

We hope these tips help you keep your home free of fur and allergens so that you can spend more time enjoying your wonderful German Shepherd dog. Yes, it takes an investment of time to stay on top of their fur, but they are worth every minute.

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You might also like: The Art Of Grooming Your German Shepherd