The German Shepherd belongs to the AKC/UKC Herding Group and is a large muscular breed with a lustrous double coat that can be either black and tan, black and red, solid black, and sables of various shades. White is not accepted in the show ring. This is an even-tempered breed that makes for one of the best companion breeds. The German Shepherd is self-confident, intelligent and sensitive as a breed, and easily trainable.
If you’re a new pet parent to this magnificent breed, you’re going to have to understand that besides taking your pup to puppy training classes, you should also learn the best ways of grooming this terrific breed. This review will show you our top picks for undercoat rakes for the German Shepherd!
Not only is positive training necessary during puppyhood to ensure that you have a relatively peaceful adolescent stage with your Shepherd, but you’re going to need to socialize your pup and enjoy an active lifestyle that includes your new best friend. That means trips to the dog park, beach, dog sport fun days, and more. Here’s the takeaway;
Best Slicker Brush for Everyday German Shepherd Grooming
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German Shepherd coat
The German Shepherd coat comprises two layers: the outer coat, which is dense and coarse, and the undercoat, which is softer and thicker. The undercoat helps to protect the dog from extreme weather conditions and provides insulation against cold and heat.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) adds that the ideal dog has a double coat of medium length. The outer coat should be as dense as possible, hair straight, harsh, and lying close to the body. ”
A slightly wavy outer coat, often of wiry texture, is permissible. The head, including the inner ear and foreface, and the legs and paws are covered with short hair and the neck with longer and thicker hair.”
The AKC concludes that the rear of the forelegs and hind legs has somewhat longer hair extending to the pastern and hock, respectively. Faults in coat include soft, silky, too-long outer coat, woolly, curly, and open coat.
The undercoat also sheds regularly, which can be a problem for some dog owners. An undercoat rake is a tool that helps to remove the undercoat from the dog’s coat without damaging the outer coat. There are many types of undercoat rakes and grooming brushes that you can use on your German Shepherd to remove loose undercoat hair.
Diet and supplements for skin and coat health
For your GS to have a healthy coat, you need to feed a high-quality diet and supplement with the correct ratios of omega-3,6, & 9 fatty acids to support skin and joint health. In most cases, it’s necessary to complement your GS’ diet to provide the proper balance of vitamins, enzymes, probiotics, lignans, minerals, protein, amino acids, and antioxidants to keep your German Shepherd in tip-top health.
The German Shepherd dog has a medium-length coat that consists of an outer dense, harsh layer and a softer undercoat. The breed requires just brushing every few days to help remove loose hairs with more frequent rooming during shedding. All-in-all, it takes a healthy diet, supplements, and regular grooming with quality tools and products to boost coat health and sheen.
- Pros
- Optimize your pet's skin, coat, joint, immune and general health
- Fish oil from Icelandic sardine, herring, mackerel, and anchovy
- Use BioVITES and BioFATS together for maximum health support.
- Easy to administer
- Potency and freshness guaranteed
- It can be easily added to dry or wet food
- It may be beneficial in combatting inflammation, arthritis, poor skin health, and immune and joint health
- Formulated to work synergistically to maximize the nutritional content of your German Shepherd's diet.
- Cons
- Like all fish oils, refrigeration is needed
We had to include this supplement for German Shepherds for optimal coat health because this is a great way to ensure that you’re giving all pets a precise ratio of Omega 3-6-9 fatty acids to support coat health; this food supplement is easy-to be added to any type of raw or dry diet. For year-round health, use BioVITES and BioFATS together for maximum health support.
With an ingredients list including Omega 3-6-9 blend, which includes fish oil, flaxseeds, and olive oils, you can help combat hot spots, fleas, and skin irritations. This also helps with joint health year-round. It’s a molecularly- distilled fish oil made from salmon, herring, sardine, anchovy, and mackerel.
Features
- Three size options
- 7930 kcal ME/kg
- Nitrogen flushed for freshness
- Omega 3-6-9 balanced blend of fish, flaxseed, and olive oils
- NASC (National Animal Supplement Council) quality approved
- Affordable
- Free from PCBs, heavy metals (mercury), dioxins
- Molecularly distilled triglyceride form fish oil
- Pros
- Functional
- Suitable for German Shepherds
- Removes undercoat and loose, dead hair with speed and efficiency.
- Angled rubber handle for ease of use
- Wide girth
- Ribbed rubber is permanently double-molded onto the handle
- Provides gentle cushioning and non-slip reassurance for greater control
- Size: Measures 5½ "L x 4½ "W.
- Easy to use even when hands are wet
- Cons
- More sizes needed
The Ergonomic Double Row Undercoat Rake is a must-have tool for professional and at-home groomers alike. The hardened steel teeth glide through the coat to remove the undercoat and loose, dead hair quickly and efficiently. The varied teeth size allows this undercoat rake to go through dense coats easily.
The contoured shape of the ergonomic handle allows your hand to remain in a more natural position, reducing tension on muscles and joints. This Master Grooming Tools rake also features an offset head that will enable you to easily reach all areas of the dog’s body. We like this undercoat rake for the German Shepherd because it moves freely through the coat and grabs loose hairs quickly.
Features
- Wide girth and contoured shape
- Ergonomic handle
- Blue/black color
- Double-row varied-sized stainless steel teeth
- Affordable
- Pros
- Teeth remove undercoat hair without damaging the topcoat
- Removes undercoat hair and loose hair easily.
- Easy to use
- Reduces shedding by up to 90%
- Suitable for large dogs over 50lbs
- Best undercoat rake for German Shepherds
- Releases hair with ease
- It does not damage the topcoat or cut skin
- Cons
- More colors needed
The FURminator Undercoat Deshedding Tool for German Shepherds is perfect for large dogs over 50 pounds. The FURejector button removes loose hair. The stainless steel deShedding edge reaches through the topcoat to safely and efficiently remove loose hair and undercoat without damaging the topcoat or cutting skin.
The Skin guard curved edge glides over skin, preventing digging in at edges, and conforms to your dog’s natural build and shape for comfort. If you’re parenting a German Shepherd, this is a must-have undercoat rake for deshedding.
Together with the Zoom Groom and slicker or pin brush, this dog grooming tool is excellent for removing the majority of loose hair and undercoat from German Shepherds. This product has over 35,500 positive reviews.
Features
- Affordable
- Numerous models for long and short-haired dog breeds
- Ergonomic
- Curved edge
- FURejector button
- Over 35,500 positive reviews
- Pros
- Suitable for shampooing and dry use
- Easy to use
- Easy to clean
- Affordable
- Fun color options
- Numerous sizes
- Massaging teeth for optimal skin and coat health
- Improves circulation
- Cons
- More colors needed
Zoom Groom by KONG is a rubber grooming brush that gently cleans and massages dogs’ skin and coats. It’s excellent for shampooing and dry use to remove loose hair, dirt, and dead skin.
The Zoom Groom has soft rubber tips with smooth massaging teeth that help improve circulation in dogs while removing loose hair. This is another must-have for German Shepherds and works well on all dog breeds. This product has over 2,000 positive reviews.
Features
- Rubber tips
- Kong product
- 2-in-1 tool that massages and removes loose hair
- Large size ideal for German Shepherds
- US-made from globally sourced materials
- Over 2,000 positive reviews
- Pros
- Grooming rake for loose undercoat hair
- Affordable
- Suitable for German Shepherd coats
- Prevents tangles and mats in dense fur
- Easy to use
- Allows for optimal coat care
- Cons
- Some may prefer another brand
The Furminator Grooming Rake is the perfect solution for daily undercoat care. The rotating metal teeth remove loose hair and help combat tangles and mats in dense fur.
The ergonomic non-slip handle allows for maximum control, while the guaranteed to work on or your money back makes it a risk-free choice for your pet’s grooming needs.
We like this grooming rake for German Shepherds because it works well on dogs with thick fur like the German Shepherd. This product has over 12,600 positive reviews.
Features
- Stainless steel teeth that does not rust
- Ergonomic, nonslip handle
- Rounded pins fully rotate to eliminate skin irritation and minimize tugging
- Features rotating teeth that remove loose hair
- An extensive array of grooming tools is available
- Over 12,600 positive reviews
- Pros
- Extra broad brush for easy grooming
- Good for dematting and deshedding German Shepherds
- Suitable for medium and long coats
- It comes with free engravable tags for pups
- Deshedding on the 17 teeth side
- Dematting outer fur on the nine teeth side
- Easy to clean
- Cons
- Some pups may prefer a different brand
The Pat Your Pet de-shedding brush is another effective tool for removing excess hair from your German Shepherd’s undercoat. The dual-sided design of this dog and cat brush for shedding allows you to use either the 9-teeth side for smooth dematting or the 17-teeth side for quick coat thinning and deshedding.
This double-sided dog brush removes loose fur from pets with thick, long fur – but it works well on different types of coats. The teeth on this dog brush for shedding are also rounded to protect your furry friend’s skin.
We recommend this brush for German Shepherds because it features a non-scratching blade and is dual-sided. This product has over 35,000 positive reviews.
Features
- Affordable
- Easy grip handle
- Dual grooming rake for shedding
- Suitable for German Shepherds
- Crafted with non-rusting stainless steel
- Over 35,000 positive reviews
- Pros
- Relaxes dogs while grooming
- It makes it easy to groom hard-to-reach areas like the belly and legs
- Loose hair sticks to the glove
- Suitable for German Shepherds
- It does not scratch the skin or damage the coat
- Lightweight and breathable
- Over 66,000 positive reviews
- Cons
- It may not fit all hands
With 255 silicone grooming tips that mimic the touch of your hand, these flexible, slip-on gloves will help you brush away dirt and hair with ease. The shedding hair will stick to the glove, making it easy to peel and throw away. Most of all, your GS will enjoy the feel of this glove. The nubs feel like a massage for your pup, and the shedding hair is removed quickly.
The gloves are also great for bathing your pet – the five-finger design helps you groom hard-to-reach places like the tail or face, while the soft rubber ensures a gentle massage. This product has over 66,000 positive reviews and is another necessary addition to any German Shepherd grooming kit.
Features
- Best-selling grooming product
- Massages skin
- Deshedding glove
- Numerous color options
- Crafted with soft, breathable mesh
- Affordable
- Five finger design
- Adjustable wrist strap
- One size fits all
- Pros
- High-quality grooming rake
- Easy to use
- Suitable for double-coated dogs
- Removes tangles easily
- Comfortable, sturdy, and efficient.
- Good German Shepherd undercoat rake
- Cons
- More sizes and color options needed
This is another German Shepherd undercoat rake for deshedding that works well for large dogs, mainly German Shepherds. It features round pins, so it won’t scratch your dog’s skin while you groom them, and no hair will fly around the house. It also features a soft anti-slip rubber handle that makes grooming easier.
We like this undercoat rake because it massages the skin and ensures better blood circulation. The soft, anti-slip rubber handle makes grooming easier, and the stainless steel teeth are durable.
Features
- Safe rounded pins
- Crafted with titanium steel
- No scratch undercoat brush for German Shepherds
- Affordable
- Anti-slip handle
FAQ’s Best Undercoat Rakes for German Shepherds
How often should German Shepherd’s be groomed?
It’s best to brush your German Shepherd daily and use an undercoat rake once or twice a week. This will depend on the length of their coat and how much shedding they do.
If your German Shepherd has long hair, you’ll want to brush them more often to avoid tangles. Additionally, it’s essential to keep up with other grooming maintenance tasks such as trimming nails, cleaning ears, and brushing teeth. Ideally, teeth should be brushed every day to prevent tartar buildup and gum infection.
Do German Shepherds need their hair trimmed?
The best way to maintain their coat is to brush and rake it regularly. This will keep the coat healthy and free from mats, tangles, and excess fur. If your dog’s hair is particularly long or tangled, you can take it to a professional groomer who has experience trimming German Shepherd coats.
“According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), skin cancer is the most common type of pet cancer in the United States, resulting in more than a million cases each year. The AVMA also adds that skin cancer is the costliest to treat, with annual and direct costs estimated at $2.5 billion,” via Animal Wellness magazine.
Without the protective qualities of their double coat, your dog could be more prone to sunburns and other issues due to overexposure. Your German Shepherd’s coat helps them regulate their body temperature in cold and hot climates. Removing it by shaving can put them at risk of heat stroke in the summer months.
Additionally, their coat helps protect them against dirt and debris, so going without it can put your pup at risk of skin irritation. In short, shaving or cutting your German Shepherd’s coat can do more harm than good. Instead, brush regularly and take them to a professional groomer.
German Shepherd Dog 101 – Feeding, Grooming, Training, and Health care of a German Shepherd
Video credit: The Animals Influence
Final thoughts
Undercoat rakes for German Shepherds are key to maintaining their coats and keeping them healthy. Using a high-quality rake explicitly designed for German Shepherds will provide the best results when de-tangling and removing fur from the coat. With regular brushing, your German Shepherd’s coat will stay looking shiny and healthy.
Regular use of an undercoat rake is also essential for controlling shedding and keeping the coat free from mats and tangles. The best way to ensure your German Shepherd stays healthy is by providing them with a consistent grooming routine, including regular brushing and the use of an undercoat rake. Doing so will keep their coats free from debris, mats, tangles, and excess fur. Ultimately, this helps promote good health and makes your German Shepherd look and feel their best.
Claudia Bensimoun is a writer who specializes in dog content and veterinary topics! Aside from writing for We Love Doodles, Claudia also writes for other major dog blogs like Fido Friendly, Animal Wellness Magazine, and the United States Dog Agility Association (USDAA). She has a ghostwritten over 50 different dog e-books. Her passions include animal welfare, veterinary research, and wildlife conservation.
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