7 Best Dog Brushes for German Shepherds

Last Updated: May 10, 2023

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German Shepherds are a revered dog breed. Throughout this breed's century-long history, they have been praised for their loyalty and intelligence. With so much admiration, it's not uncommon for people to dream of the day when they can bring one of these precious pups home.

When that day finally comes, many new owners are surprised by the amount of upkeep German Shepherds require.
brushed german shepherd

With their beautiful coats comes a lot of shedding. German Shepherds have a double coat of fur. The upper layer is the one that we see and touch. It's a bit coarser and feels like hair. Underneath that, there's a dense layer of soft fur that's meant to provide insulation.

German Shepherds are constantly shedding fur to make way for new hair to grow. To make matters worse, these dogs go through a couple of heavy shedding periods throughout the year!

Whether you already have a German Shepherd of you're own or you're planning for a new adoption, you need to have some solid brushes to keep all that fur under control.

There are many dog brushes on the market. To prevent your dog's fur from taking over your home, you're going to need high-quality tools that can get rid of it quickly and safely

. Here's a list of some of the best dog brushes for German Shepherds.

7 of the Best Dog Brushes for German Shepherds

1. FURminator deShedding Edge Dog Brush

FURminator deShedding Edge Dog Brush

Furminator is one of the leading dog brush brands. Their signature de-shedding tool is very easy to use and is capable of reducing the amount of loose hair that falls off your dog by 90 percent if used regularly. The brush has two layers of stainless steel teeth. When you glide the brush across your dog's skin, the blades gently remove loose hair. 

Skin guards prevent the metal from scratching your dog in the process. It's even curved to follow the contours of your pooch's body. Once you have a brush full of fur, you can toss it out without even touching it. A small ejector trigger pushes the fur off the teeth and into the bin. The brush is available in a few different sizes. There are also options for long or short-haired dogs.


2. Pat Your Pet Two-Sided Undercoat Rake

Pat Your Pet Two-Sided Undercoat Rake

The Pat Your Pet brush is made for tackling your dog's undercoat. It's a double-sided brush that can get rid of tangles as well. On one side, there are nine teeth. On the other, you'll find 17 teeth.All of the teeth are made out durable stainless steel. 

They have a unique rounded shape that serves two purposes. First, it helps to prevent scratches. The rounded edges glide over your dog's skin instead of digging into it. Secondly, the shape helps to grip onto loose fur. It acts as a hook to remove even the most stubborn fur.


3. Hertzko Self-Cleaning Dog & Cat Slicker Brush

Hertzko Self-Cleaning Dog & Cat Slicker Brush

The slicker brush from Hertzko is a great option for many grooming tasks. It has thin wire bristles made of metal. They're angled on the ends to grip onto loose fur in your canine companion's undercoat. However, the brush can also be used to remove dirt and clean up your dog's topcoat. No matter how you decide to use it, the brush makes the job much easier. 

The top of the handle features a retraction button. Pressing it will cause the bristles to move down into the brush head, leaving any fur behind. The self-cleaning mechanism ensures that you don't have to pick through the bristles to get rid of shed fur.


4. Dakpets FURblaster Deshedding & Light Trimming Tool for Long & Short Hair Dogs

Dakpets FURblaster Deshedding & Light Trimming Tool for Long & Short Hair Dogs & Cats, Blue

With the FURblaster brush from Dakpets, you can get rid of loose fur in a matter of minutes. The de-shedding brush uses a durable stainless steel blade. Thick teeth are cut into the blade, making it easy for the brush to grab onto fur in one swipe.

It can be used for German Shepherds with all coat variations. The brush is comfortable to use thanks to its ergonomic handle and non-slip coating. When you want to clean the brush out, you can press a button to remove the head. The blade is resistant to rust, so you can wash the dirt and debris off the brush without having to worry about affecting its longevity.


5. Groomm Bamboo Double Sided Dog Grooming Brush for short and long-hair breeds

Groomm Bamboo Double Sided Dog Grooming Brush : Latex-Free Eco Brush with Ergonomic Handle for short and long-hair breeds

If you're looking for a good everyday tool that you can use to get rid of stray fur, check out this Groomm brush. It's a double-sided device. One side features metal bristles while the other has natural boar-hair bristles. The metal side is great for removing shed fur from your dog's undercoat. 

The soft-bristle side can be used to tame the topcoat and remove dirt from dogs with short hair. The base of the brush is made out of bamboo. Holding the metal bristles to the head is a flexible rubber pad. It moves to follow the curves of your dog's body as you brush.


6. Professional Magic Pro Deshedding Tool; Reduces Shedding by up to 95%

Professional Magic Pro Deshedding Tool; Reduces Shedding by up to 95%; Prevents Flakiness on Pet's Skin, and Lessens Dandruff; a Trusted, Durable, and Long Lasting Pet Shedding Brush for Cats and Dogs

Whether your pooch has short, medium, or long fur,this brush from HappyDogz can effectively manage shedding. Like other de-shedding tools, this brush has a metal blade with teeth etched into one side. It's made out of stainless steel and is more than capable of removing fur from deep within your dog's undercoat. 

The brush is available in two sizes. You can get it with a three-inch or four-inch blade. Both models have a removable brush head for easy cleaning and a rubberized grip for safety. With regular use, this tool can help to reduce shedding by as much as 95 percent.


7. Safari De-Matting Dog Comb

Safari De-Matting Dog Comb

The Safari De-Matting comb is ideal for German Shepherds with long hair. Though, it can also be useful in managing tangled hair for dogs with medium coats as well. It features nine stainless steel blade. Each blade is serrated to slice through tangles without pulling on your dog's skin. 

The tips of the blade are rounded, ensuring that the brush doesn't scratch your pup or cause any pain. The handle has an anti-slip rubber coating. Towards the top of the brush, there's a large metal finger stabilizer. You can use it to get a better grip on the tool when you're dealing with stubborn mats and tangles.


The German Shepherd Shedding Cycle

German Shepherds are capable of shedding throughout the year. In most cases, you'll notice a regular supply of fur coming off your dog every day. To manage the lost fur, it's recommended that you brush your pup a few times a week at the very least. Spending a few minutes to get rid of loose hair can do a lot to prevent it from covering your floors and furniture.

If you don't brush regularly, you may notice large clumps of fur sticking out from their coat. These clumps of hair often get trapped beneath the top layer of fur, preventing it from falling out naturally. You can pull these out with your fingers or a brush. Eventually, those clumps will fall out, so it's a good idea to catch them before they do.

At certain times of the year, German Shepherds go through a blow-out phase. During this time, they will lose fur at a very rapid pace. It's recommended that you make brushing a daily task. Otherwise, your pooch will start looking unkempt and scraggly as the fur starts to fall out.

The blow-out period usually occurs twice a year. In most locations, it's during the spring and fall. Your dog has no control over this increased shedding. Their bodies are simply preparing for seasonal changes.

In the Fall

In the fall, the soft undercoat sheds away to make room for a thicker coat that will provide better insulation. When winter's over and the temperature starts to rise, the same process will occur again. However, the thick winter undercoat is replaced with lighter fur that's a bit more breathable.

While twice a year is the norm for German Shepherd blow-outs, it can occur more frequently. Dogs who live in warmer climates tend to shed more often to stay cool.

German Shepherd Coat Lengths

When most people think of a German Shepherd, they typically picture a pooch with medium-length fur. However, these dogs have a few different coat variations. Before you start planning your dog's grooming regime, 

it's important to understand the differences. The quality of your dog's coat will affect how much they shed and what types of tools you will need to manage fur loss.

Short Coats

German Shepherds with shorter coats are, by far, the easiest to manage when it comes to shedding. However, that doesn't mean that you don't need to brush! They still have that soft undercoat. The main difference with short-haired dogs is that you can often see when they need a good brush.

The soft undercoat will start to poke out from the thicker fur when they are shedding. The bright white fur stands out from the black and brown topcoat.

To keep short coats in good condition, you'll need an everyday brush as well as a de-shedder for blow-out season. Because their fur is on the shorter side, you probably won't have to deal with any mats or tangles.

Medium Coats

Medium-length coats are the most common. When compared to pups with a short coat, these dogs look significantly fluffier. The increased fur length tends to make dogs look bulkier.

You may see a noticeable change in size after they have blown out their coat. It takes time for the new undercoat to grow in, so your pup may look a bit untidy for a few weeks.

For medium coats, you'll need a standard brush and a de-shedding tool. You may also want to invest in a de-matting brush as well just in case.

nicely brushed German Shepherd

Long Coats

Last, but not least, there are long-haired German Shepherds. The long-haired gene is recessive, so these dogs are relatively rare when compared to pups with other coat variations.

In fact, some canine organizations view long fur as a genetic fault. In the UK, long-haired German Shepherds aren't even allowed to compete in competitions.

Despite all of that, long coats are very impressive if they're taken care of. The longer fur requires a bit more work, but it's manageable. You just have to brush daily to remove fur before it has the chance to get tangled.

It's a common misconception that long-haired GSD ;s shed less. The issue is that the undercoat gets caught in the upper coat as it falls out. So, it takes longer for that shed fur to make itself known. Unfortunately, during this time, mats and tangles can occur. 

If you have a long-haired German Shepherd, you'll need to have de-matting tools on hand to take care of any tangles you might have missed during their regular grooming session.

Types of Dog Brushes

Now that you understand the types of coats German Shepherds can have, let's go over some of the brushes that are available. Chances are, you're going to need a couple of these tools to complete your grooming arsenal. They all serve different purposes and can be used together to keep your pup's shedding under control.

Standard Bristle Brush

These brushes look a lot like the tools that we humans use. They often have long bristles that are capable of pushing through thick fur. The bristles can be made from plastic or metal. Whatever the case may be, the bristles aren't placed too closely together.

They're designed to be used as an everyday tool. The bristles are long enough to reach down and grab the dead undercoat that has been shed. However, the placement of the bristles isn't going to get everything.

They can get rid of loose fur that's ready to fall out. These brushes can also be used to get rid of light tangles, keeping your pup's coat in good condition on a daily basis.

Slicker Brush

Slicker brushes can be identified by the thin wire bristles. When compared to a standard bristle brush, the wires are much shorter and placed closer together.

These brushes are designed to treat the topcoat. They're a must-have tool for long-haired German Shepherds as they can prevent tangles from forming.

A slicker brush isn't the most efficient tool when it comes to removing undercoat shedding. However, it can help remove dirt and tufts of fur. They can be used every few days for more detailed grooming.

De-Matting Brush

As the name suggests, these tools are all about removing stubborn mats. In German Shepherds, matting is usually caused by loose hair getting tangled with the protective topcoat. It can be a nightmare to deal with if you're using standard combs. Not just for you but also your dog.

De-matting brushes have large metal teeth that are capable of moving right through tangles. The teeth often take on a triangular wedge shape. The small point can get right into the source of the knot. As you lightly pull the brush through, the increasing width of the teeth can pull the knot apart.

Of course, it's not always a quick process. If you plan on using a de-matting brush, do so carefully. Take all the proper safety precautions to avoid pulling your dog's hair and causing pain.

De-Shedding Brush or Rake

One of the most valuable brushes you should have in your collection is a de-shedding tool. De-shedding rakes and brushes are specifically designed to reach down to your dog's soft undercoat and remove fur efficiently.

If you're never used one of these brushes before, you'll be surprised by how much fur comes out. Some brushes feature a dual-layer of teeth, which helps to grab more fur in one pass. Others have a hook design or smooth flat blade. 

Regardless of the method the brush uses to capture fur, these brushes can help to speed up the blow-out process. When your dog starts shedding, a de-shedding brush will remove dead fur before your pup has a chance to shake it out.

Conclusion

To keep your German Shepherd healthy, clean, and looking their best, you need to keep their coat under control. Regular grooming with an excellent brush will get rid of any loose hair before it can get all over your home.

While there's no way to stop the shedding process, being proactive about your dog's grooming routine can make all the difference in everyone's comfort.

Also Read:  Best Dog Food for German Shepherds

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About the author 

Steve

Steve is a writer with over 10 years of experience in dog training and nutritiion.

His goal is to educate dog owners about the ins and outs of canine behavior as well as keeping up with the latest scientific research in the field.