Friday, November 23, 2007

German Shepherd Grooming Tips and Guide

Title: German Shepherd Grooming Tips and Guide
Author: Moses Wright

German Shepherd Grooming Tips and Guide
Despite its double layered coat, the German Shepherd does
not require a lot of grooming. The outer coat of the German
Shepherd is coarse with a medium-length. The undercoat, on
the other hand, is soft and dense. This inner level is
responsible for keeping the dog warm during the winter
months and protected from the sunshine during the summer.

The best way to take care of your German Shepherd is to
make sure that he is getting the right nutrition he needs.
The German Shepherd is, after all, a strong carnivore and
you need to make sure that the food he is getting is high
in protein and vitamins. The dog requires a high-protein,
high-fat diet. Chicken, lamb or beef are excellent choices.
If you decide to make your own dog food, be sure that it
has the right balance and all of the components the dog
needs to stay as healthy as possible.

Vegetables are more difficult for dogs to eat. Rather than
the curved stomach like a human, dogs have a straight
stomach. This can cause them to have problems while
digesting their vegetables. Wheat, corn and other
plant-like materials can be tough for the animal and they
should only make up a small portion of the dog's overall
digestive diet. Once you are sure that the dog is getting
an excellent diet, you can move on to the grooming needs.

It is generally recommended that you brush your dog's hair
at least twice a week. You want to be sure that the oil in
the fur is evenly distributed to prevent matting and
tangles. You can also be sure to remove the dead skin cells
and loose hair clogging the coat. A standard metal brush or
slicker will work well if it is used properly. You must
take care not to cause a lesion or scrape the dog's skin
while brushing.

When you start to brush, take the brush in the same
direction as the coat hair. Using a variety of brushes with
different size brush heads will help to ensure you reach
all parts of the dog.

Depending on the dog's typical routine, you will have to
bath your dog more or less once a month. The bathing will
depend on where you live and what your dog loves to do. For
example, if your dog loves to be outside in the dirt and
dust, he will require a bath more frequently than an
animals that loves to be indoors. If the dog is an indoor
dog, taking a bath every few months will be sufficient.

If you pat your dog and dust puffs off his skin, that's a
good sign he needs a bath. Also, if he is starting to
smell, a bath will quickly solve that problem and make him
more enjoyable during cuddle time. If the coat is very
greasy, that can be another sign that he needs a bath.

Proper shampoo can be important to the dog's coat hygiene.
German Shepherds can be very sensitive to wheat and other
allergic reactions, so the right shampoo can be important.
Oatmeal shampoo, for example, can provide soothing relief
to your animal, but they can also allow material to build
up on its coat faster, causing you to bathe it more
frequently. An aloe shampoo might be a good solution if you
are not worried about fleas. Nevertheless, with regular
care, your German Shepherd is bound to look beautiful all
year long.

About the Author:

Moses Wright is a pet lover and loves to help new pet
owners deal with their dog problems at home. You can find
more dog problems and solutions for free here:
http://www.petquery.com/dog.htm

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