Rank: | Photo: | Model: | Rating: | More Info: |
#1 |  | BEST OVERALL Furminator Undercoat Deshedding Tool | ||
#2 |  | Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush | ||
#3 |  | HappyDogz De-shedding Brush | ||
#4 |  | The Pet Portal Brush For Shedding | ||
#5 |  | DakPets Pet Grooming Brush |
When a specific dog breed is affectionately referred to as a ‘shedder,’ you know you have your work cut out.
The German Shepherd is that dog and lovers of the GSD breed have become used to loose fur and pet dander as part of their dog grooming process.
As well as making houses look untidy, a dog’s fur can cause irritation and allergies in humans, particularly in those with oversensitive immune systems.
Lucky for us, manufacturers are well aware of the issue, but this presents us with another problem – there are too many GSD brushes to choose from and they all seem to cater for different coat lengths!
While many short-haired dogs may be ok with grooming gloves, long-haired GSDs need something a little more robust.
So, what’s the best brush for German Shepherds?
Browse our guide to discover our top-rated German Shepherd brush and why, including the best brush for a German Shepherd puppy and FAQs about GSD coat care.
Best Brush For German Shepherds – Reviews & Buying guide for 2021
Our Recommendations for the Best Brush For German Shepherds
Some brushes are good for the daily removal of loose hair from your pet’s topcoat. Others, like undercoat rakes, are designed to retrieve dead hair from your GSD’s undercoat.
Pet owners can purchase a selection of tools, like dog combs and brushes to keep their German Shepherd’s coat and skin well-conditioned with regular brushing. After all, a healthy coat is a key to a healthy dog!
Our buying guide discusses the best type of brush for German Shepherds, as well as the Pros and Cons, to help consumers make the right grooming decisions for their precious pets.
BEST OVERALL: Furminator Undercoat Deshedding Tool
- Size: Medium
- Weight: Not Specified
- Shape: Ergonomic
The Furminator Brush comes out as the best brush for German Shepherds.
The German Shepherd is notorious for excessively shedding its double coat and the Furminator deshedding tool feels like a high-quality piece of kit that’s capable of professional grooming at an amateur price tag.
Pet owners can confidently use the Furminator to dive deep into their pet’s coat to remove loose hairs before they fall.
Your pet’s coat is shinier, healthier, and having a German Shepherd as a pet becomes more manageable.
The Furminator’s reputation has grown as the best dog brush for German Shepherds for a good reason.
This product is ideal for deep-coat loose hair removal, making life easier for everyone. The ergonomic brush handle is designed to be non-slip, which is great for large dogs where the grooming process takes a lot longer.
There’s nothing more frustrating than a slip grip when your pooch is struggling to break free!
Not only is this product cost-effective, but it is easy to use and gets results. If you want one brush for German Shepherd grooming, the Furminator is it.
If you want other brushes for daily grooming, then explore the remainder of our guide. Until then-find out why the Furminator is the clear winner in this brush comparison.
Pros
- Removes loose hairs from the delicate undercoat with each brush movement.
- Maintains the integrity of your pet’s skin without causing harm when you follow the instructions.
- Good for pets that weigh between 25 and 50 lbs.
- Ideal for long-haired dogs.
- The ergonomic brush handle makes it easy to use the brush.
- Push-button release of long hair for extra convenience.
- Money-back guarantee if you find that this brush doesn’t work as advertised.
- Easy to keep clean.
- Highly rated by thousands of customers.
Cons
- One critical review claim that this product doesn’t get down to the pet’s undercoat.
- It will only work as advertised when consumers use the brush per instructions.
- It can harm the dog’s skin if not used correctly.
RUNNER UP: Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush
- Size: Not Specified
- Weight: 0.2lbs
- Shape: Rectangular
Get a self-cleaning slicker brush where matted, tangled hair is a problem. Almost every dog will have matted, tangled hair at some stage, especially if they get out a lot.
Rolling in mud pools, romping in fields where grass seeds stick to their coats, and generally having fun are all part of a dog’s life, but you still need to keep your pet neat.
The Slicker then becomes the best brush for German Shepherd coats to get them back into shape and looking good enough to show.
Pros
- Lightweight, ergonomic, and gentle on hands and wrists when brushing.
- Good for dogs and cats to remove knots, matting and dirt.
- Safe to use on your pet without any skin injury when you use it properly.
- Gentle removal of loose hairs in the undercoat to get your pet into tip-top shape again.
- Massage action improves coat and skin tone as you stimulate blood circulation with each brushstroke.
- The handgrip is comfortable and comes with an anti-slip feature to make brushing a pleasure.
- Quick to clean with the push of a button for all loose hair removal.
Cons
- Only suitable for dogs or cats with medium-to-long coats.
- Best for animals with double coats (perfect for GSDs, though!)
- Only use for the purpose intended as this brush can harm the animals’ skin with short hair or single coats.
- Avoid aggressive brushing to eliminate the potential for harming your pet’s sensitive skin.
ALTERNATIVE: HappyDogz De-shedding Brush
- Size: Small-Medium
- Weight: Not Specified
- Shape: Ergonomic
Other than the Furminator, the best brush for German Shepherd dogs in terms of de-shedding includes this one.
This de-shedder is perfect when you have dogs and cats in the home, and you need to save money.
Professionals such as vets and groomers wouldn’t recommend per grooming tools like this if it didn’t work, so read further to find out more about the pros and cons of the de-shedding tool for cats and dogs.
Pros
- Comes with a full 10-year money-back guarantee.
- It removes around 95% of loose hair, which is an excellent indication of this product’s qualities.
- Suitable for pets with all coat types, including GSD puppies.
- Ergonomic handle that makes for easy handling and brushing.
- Super easy to keep the brush clean while supporting your pet’s coat’s condition.
Cons
- Single blade purchases are not an option, but the 10-year guarantee makes up for this.
- Some customers observe that this tool only removes their pets’ downy undercoat and not the coarse topcoat.
- One consumer comment state that this tool should be used after bathing your pet, but German Shepherds should only be bathed once or twice a year.
- Likewise, the same consumer claims that this brush cuts or pulls the hair rather than brushing it.
ALTERNATIVE: The Pet Portal Brush For Shedding
- Size: Small-Medium
- Weight: 0.35lbs
- Shape: Rectangular
The Pet Portal brush for shedding is a slicker brush. This product is a good brush for the German Shepherd as it is effective for de-matting and detangling its coat.
Pet owners may be pleased to learn that this product is good for cats and dogs and is equally good for long and short-haired pets.
Likewise, the manufacturer suggests this product for small and medium-sized pets of all breeds.
Pros
- This is a good brush for a German Shepherd as it effectively detangles, de-knots, and de-matts your pet’s coat in minutes.
- According to one customer review, a rapid release button removes brush hair in seconds and doesn’t get stuck.
- A comfortable handle hold and small brush make for a pleasant grooming experience for you and your pet.
- It is available in two brush head sizes of 4 and 7 inches for smaller and bigger hands or pets.
- One customer received a full refund after complaining that the brush teeth were too sharp for her dog.
Cons
- You need to brush the dog’s coat slowly to prevent the brush from sticking in the hair.
- Some pets avoid being brushed as the brush tines are too sharp for their skin. Most customers’ pets disagree so this criticism may be down to applying the correct brushing technique.
- This is one of the pricier products evaluated as the best brush for the German Shepherd dog, second only to the winning Furminator.
ALTERNATIVE: DakPets Pet Grooming Brush
- Size: Large
- Weight: Not Specified
- Shape: Ergonomic
In our estimation, the DakPets de-shedding tool is good but not quite as good as the Furminator brush for German Shepherds.
You can get rid of loose hair in your pet’s coat in just 10 minutes a day with this product.
There are several other benefits of purchasing this de-shedding tool but be sure to read through the cons before deciding on buying a cheaper version of the Furminator for your German Shepherd, as the latter is designed for heavy-duty de-shedding purposes.
Pros
- This is an effective de-shedding tool for dogs and cats.
- Safe stainless steel brush tines to protect your pet’s skin.
- Removes over 94% of loose coat hair.
- Appropriate to use on small and large pets.
- Easy self-cleaning brush feature that makes grooming more pleasurable.
- Durable handle with a comfortable ergonomic handhold.
- If you aren’t 100% satisfied with this tool in 60 days, you qualify for a replacement or a refund–it’s up to you.
Cons
- It is best for dry coats as it tends to pull hair too much when dog coats are wet.
- The lowest customer rating of 4.4 stars out of 5, whereas all the other products evaluated have a star rating of 4.5 to 4.7 (for the Furminator brush for German Shepherds).
That concludes our 5-product evaluation, which we hope helps make a good brush for German Shepherd buying decision.
Brush For German Shepherd FAQ
Read through these FAQs to discover why it is essential to get the best brush for German Shepherd shedding.
Learn how regularly to brush your pet, how to get rid of excess hair, whether you can brush your German Shepherd too much, and what months they shed the most.
How often should you brush a German shepherd?
Some guidelines suggest brushing your German Shepherd up to 4 times a week. German Shepherd owners, however, value brushing their German “Shedders” daily.
You bond more with your pet with daily brushing, and its coat looks like it has been to a professional groomer. It has other benefits too – brushing your GSD regularly can also improve their blood circulation.
However, if you use a Furminator brush for German Shepherds, you can definitely cut back grooming to 4 or 5 days a week.
The Furminator gets into the underlying soft coat to extract loose hairs and catches the loose hairs in the topcoat-halving grooming time.
Brush your pet for a minimum of 10 minutes at a time-15 if you discover that they are shedding excessively.
If your German Shepherd is losing more hair than seems normal and it isn’t time to blow its coat, consider giving your pet supplements to improve its coat and skin condition.
Use the best brush for German Shepherd shedding, which is the Furminator.
Always run your fingers through your pet’s coat and try to access its skin. Your touch will help determine whether any bumps, rashes, or clumps are present and need attention.
Focus on de-shedding main problem areas such as your pet’s belly, the hind legs, tail, and along the neck ridge behind the ears. These areas are prone to matting and need gentle removal of tangled hair.
If your dog is especially active and spends a lot of time outdoors, careful attention to grooming is even more essential.
Your pet may collect ticks, debris, or seeds that can burrow their way into the skin, causing potential health problems.
Besides making your pet look beautiful and checking for health issues, grooming increases bonding.
Grooming also enhances your pet’s socialization, which is one more reason that a good brush for your German Shepherd is vital.
Having a good brush means that your pet enjoys its hair brushing experience and willingly allows you to touch and groom it regularly.
Ensure that you invest sufficient time grooming your pet at least 4 times a week. Importantly, purchase the best brush for your German Shepherd puppy or adult to care for them properly, as they deserve.
How do you get rid of German Shepherd hair?
All German Shepherd lovers want to know the answer to this question.
How do you get rid of all the hair that your German Shepherds shed in the normal course of their life, and how do you get rid of hair when it blows its coat?
The answer is simple. You use different brushes for different purposes.
- Use a rake like the Furminator to rid your German Shepherd of its undercoat. The rake is an excellent choice for daily use and is the best type of brush for German Shepherds.
- Get a two-in-one brush with pins and bristles for dogs with thick coats like the long-haired German Shepherd. You can use the pin side of the brush for general grooming and the softer bristles to add luster to your pet’s coat.
- A detangling grooming spray and metal comb will help with de-matting and detailed grooming around delicate areas like the face and tail. Although the German Shepherd’s coat is not prone to matting, it can become tangled due to its generous undercoat.
Once you have basic grooming tools in place, you can get started ridding your German Shepherd of loose hair.
#1 Start with the Furminator
Drag the Furminator gently through your pet’s coat. Begin at the rear end and back legs, using gentle sweeping brush motions.
Use light, long strokes and repeat the motion several times until you feel that you have collected much of the loose hairs.
Once you have covered your pet’s rear end, start brushing the area from the head along the back. Then move to the chest and belly, repeating the long, gentle strokes with the rake.
Add some detangling spray if you see that your pet’s coat is especially messy but avoid making the fur too wet as this interferes with the brushing process.
#2 Use the two in one pin and bristle brush
Give your pet an extra once-over with the pin side of the second brush in your arsenal.
The pin brush is useful in wading through areas where the German Shepherd’s coat is particularly thick such as the neck, belly, and longer hair on the hind legs.
Always brush your pet’s coat gently to avoid scratching the skin, particularly when the bristles are made from metal. Use the soft bristles to bring a healthy shine to your pet’s coat.
Three brush types and three grooming techniques will quickly prevent excess shedding.
Just be aware that brushing doesn’t speed up shedding–but it does maintain your German Shepherd’s coat and reduce the mess of constant shedding.
#3 Bristle brushing
Bristles are among the best brushes for German Shepherd coats when you want to ensure a balanced skin oil distribution.
Bristle brushes stimulate the skin without hurting your pet and encourage the spread of its natural oils throughout the skin and coat.
#4 Fine combing
Use the fine comb to brush the fur around your pet’s head, face, and ears.
The fine-tined comb is also an excellent choice for grooming the entire coat to catch loose hairs that the other brushes may have missed.
These steps may sound like grooming will take an hour, but you can do the job in 10 to 15 minutes with a little practice.
Brush your pet 4 times a week and increase this to a daily exercise during shedding season.
Can you overbrush a German shepherd?
A few pet owners report that they have seen the consequences of overbrushing German Shepherds. Coats become damaged with excessive, aggressive brushing.
Your pet’s coat can also sustain damage when the incorrect tools are used; you shampoo the dog too much, they have a nutritional deficiency, or suffer from an allergy.
All these possible causes for coat and skin damage must first be ruled out before avoiding the task of grooming your pet.
Before blaming the tools or the dog for losing its coat, look at the reasons behind coat damage and make sure that you invest in the best type of brush for German Shepherds.
If a German Shepherd’s coat does sustain damage, it can take up to a year or two to recover. Some German Shepherds may never regrow their original beautiful coat once it has been impacted.
This gives pet owners even more reason to be aware of their pet’s reactions to grooming, brushes, shampooing, and skin allergies.
Always be cautious when grooming your pet. Err on the side of being gentle rather than engage in vigorous brushing.
Your pet’s skin is as sensitive as a person and is its coat is its largest form of protection other than its teeth. Treat both with respect for the best outcomes.
What months do German shepherds shed the most?
German Shepherds shed throughout the year, which is why they are known as ‘Shedders.’ However, when shedding increases, this breed is said to ‘blow’ its coat in preparation for cooler or warmer seasons.
You will notice that shedding increases in the spring and fall as your German Shepherd coat changes to accommodate a weather change.
This breed comes from Germany’s cooler climates, where it snows in winter, so you can expect shedding to adapt to seasonal changes.
Get out the best dog brush for German Shepherds as the spring and fall months approach as your grooming routine must change.
Daily grooming with the right de-shedders, bristles and soft brushes, fine-tooth combs, and sprays will ease the path for all concerned.
Regular brushing will remove excess loose undercoat hairs and control the topcoat hairs’ release. Do the grooming outside to avoid accumulating a mass of hair inside.
Brush your pet twice a day and keep your grooming sessions to 10 or 15 minutes at first, particularly with GSDs with short coats. Increase this time when your pet blows its coat if you feel this is necessary.
There are no best secrets about grooming, but experience tells us to use the best brush for German Shepherd shedding.
Experience also shows that good tools, gentle grooming, and lots of love will keep your pet’s coat in the best shape possible.
Conclusion
Our buying guide concludes that the Furminator is the best brush for the German Shepherd, as voted by thousands of consumers.
This is the best brush because it removes the pesky undercoat of this breed while maintaining your pet’s topcoat and skin integrity.
Engage in regular grooming of your German Shepherd and use the right tools to prevent injury to its delicate skin.
Groom your pet up to four times a week and increase this to daily brushing or raking when shedding season begins.
Avoid overbrushing your pet as this can cause harm. Be gentle during grooming and always use the best type of brush for German Shepherds for the best results.
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