Transitioning to a Heavy Shedder

[weixiao]

This is probably a very odd question, but I am curious. Some things have changed in my life and I am potentially in a position to adopt a dog. I would prefer an adult dog. Based on what I am looking for and looking to do, I believe a GSD would suit me well.

However, I have not lived with a big long haired shedding dog since I was a kid. My parents have an AussiexPoodle, two Daschunds, some sort of white fluffy pug terrier thing, and an English Mastiff and a fluffy white cat. The white hair from the little dog and the cat are annoying, because of the white-ness (stopped by on my way to an interview once and dropped my black suit coat on the rug. Oops) but not a travesty. However, they are little. I’m not sure if it is an accurate representation of volume. When I was a kid we had a golden retriever x Rhodesian ridgeback mix (best.dog.ever) who shed like crazy. I don’t remember her shedding bothering me, but I wasn’t the one cleaning up after her. I know my mother wasn’t a fan.

I had always wanted a standard poodle or an Airedale, but for the poodle I am very picky about type and there are only a couple of breeders I would want one from. I don’t want a puppy right now though, either, nor can I afford/want to pay the $2k price tag from the breeder I really like right now. I haven’t had much luck finding an Airedale for adoption that is good with other dogs, won’t kill the barn cat, and is within a few hours of me, so I’m focusing on GSDs.

As I read about them I see a lot about how you can’t mind shedding, etc. but if you haven’t experienced it, how do you know? I like neatness and cleanliness, although I’m not a freak about it. My LT had a heavily shedding black lab at the fire station and while it was kind of an “ugh, really?” when he got into the bunk rooms at got in my bed and shed all over my sheets, it wasn’t the end of the world. Although in general, I prefer my bed off limits to dogs. He was a covers hog if you had to get up for a call, when you came back there was no room for you anymore either.

Now I’m rambling. But basically, I’m possibly over thinking this but for those of you who went from a short haired dog to a long haired one, did the extra work/dirt/shedding surprise you? Did it end up bothering you?

I don’t mind frequent grooming (can’t promise every day, but at least several days a week), and I know that it can help to have a grain free diet and get their coat blown out with a super dryer at a groomer.

I think I’ll be totally fine with it, but this will be my first dog of my own and I really want to make the right choice for myself AND for the dog.

[kasjordan]

Feed the best food you can afford, it makes an absolutely HUGE difference in the shedding amount, HUGE. I take my GSD once every three months or so for a bath and blow out, that helps a ton too!! I don’t need the furminator type brush with doing both of those, a regular grooming twice a week keeps the tumbleweeds down in the house. Mine is a stock coat, bit hairier than the short haired GSDs.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b277/kasjordan/IMG01809-20130208-1025_zpse09a98cd.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b277/kasjordan/grizzsitgrass_zps87ab4a61.jpg

You will love a Shepherd!

[Bluey]

There is no getting around, dust bunnies will rule your house if you have a GSD.
You can feed it right, brush it several times a day and you still will have rolls of down coat multiplying like rabbits all under and over everything.
It is the nature of the beast and don’t let anyone tell you differently.

Then, GSD are wonderful dogs, other than being World Champion shedders.

[bits619]

I really think it’s personal preference and hard to predict.
Personally I sooo much prefer non shedding, but I don’t mind shedding similar to how labs do. Yes lots of hair, but not that crazy downy undercoat that makes me sneeze and floats in the air. Oddly our one Aussie has a coat that isn’t as bad to brush, even though he has an undercoat it’s not anything like our late Aussie who had a very ‘fluffy’ coat. Hers and our golden/shepherd mix’s coats make/made me sneeze and I can’t/couldn’t really cuddle with them like I can the lab, other Aussie and weimaraner.

I want to avoid shedding so much that it is the only reservation I would have about getting MrB an Aussie when the time comes!

[chestnutmarebeware]

I had two corgis with the dreaded undercoat, and the amount of hair (even with great food, regular trips to the groomer, and daily combing) wafting around was unbelievable! I could fill a Hefty trash bag with the hair from a single serious grooming session.

And breeders will tell you double-coated dogs only blow their coats twice a year, but that’s not exactly the case (at least with indoor dogs)—it’s an ongoing process. What helped (not solved, but helped), was buying one of the combs designed for double-coated dogs (alternating long and short tines), and buying a vacuum that doesn’t use a rotating head (because I burned out 2 motors from the dog hair wrapping around the cylinder and keeping it from turning).

[kasjordan]

[QUOTE=chestnutmarebeware;7498356]
I had two corgis with the dreaded undercoat, and the amount of hair (even with great food, regular trips to the groomer, and daily combing) wafting around was unbelievable! I could fill a Hefty trash bag with the hair from a single serious grooming session.

And breeders will tell you double-coated dogs only blow their coats twice a year, but that’s not exactly the case (at least with indoor dogs)—it’s an ongoing process. What helped (not solved, but helped), was buying one of the combs designed for double-coated dogs (alternating long and short tines), and buying a vacuum that doesn’t use a rotating head (because I burned out 2 motors from the dog hair wrapping around the cylinder and keeping it from turning).[/QUOTE]

LOL, I plop down on the floor with my scissors and cut the hair off the vaccuum almost every week for that reason

[weixiao]

My house is predominately tile or wood flooring. I have an area rug in my bedroom, under the coffee table in the living room, and under the dining room table. So at least it is mostly sweeping and swiffering areas.

I’m more nervous about picking the right dog than I am buying horses. At least horses can be resold and I am very confident in my eye for horses. With dogs… I just don’t have the same eye confidence.

I shouldn’t really be looking yet. I have one last trip from May 12-June 9 and shouldn’t get anything until after that. My sister will be staying in my house (she is living with me for the summer) and would be happy to pet sit but I’m afraid my dog will bond with her and not me.

I’m sure the GSD I like a lot will be adopted by then, although he has already been available for a long time, but maybe he will still be available or I am sure another one will come along. (“But I like that ooonnneee” my inner 12 yr old whines).

The more people I hear say “yes they shed, but this is what you do” makes me feel better about dealing with it though and the more I think I do want a GSD, even though I do have an app with an Airedale rescue too

[kasjordan]

If your sister doesn’t live in the house all the time, I wouldn’t worry if he bonded a bit with her- once you are back all the time, his attention will go to you. If that’s the one you want, go get 'em
They are definitely worth the hair!

[threedogpack]

I had a GSD and I’ve had Corgis for years. What I’ve found pauses to slip on flame suit, is frequent bathing and a High Velocity Dryer. I use dish detergent for the bathing. Cuts through the grease and grime in the coat, rinses easily. Do not use it forward of their ears. The face/cheek area needs no more tears baby shampoo. Generally I use $1 a bottle Ajax or something similar. I bathe about once per week, when I can. That probably actually translates to every 10-15 days. The HV dryer will blow the hair right off the dog so if you do it frequently…you will have less hair.

please not I said less, not none.

[IdahoRider]

[QUOTE=Bluey;7498121]
There is no getting around, dust bunnies will rule your house if you have a GSD.
You can feed it right, brush it several times a day and you still will have rolls of down coat multiplying like rabbits all under and over everything.
It is the nature of the beast and don’t let anyone tell you differently.

Then, GSD are wonderful dogs, other than being World Champion shedders.:)[/QUOTE]
Yes. There is a reason why they are called German Shedders! There is no amount of tricks or “things to do” that will eliminate the shedding. There are things you can do to cut it down to the amount an average dog sheds. But it takes consistent effort to get to that point. I believe I would drown in shed coat from my 8 year old male if I didn’t take him in for a bath, brush out and blow dry every few months. And I brush him every other day and he is fed a high quality, gran-free kibble.

And in addition to the shedding issue, there is the question of whether your home owners insurance will allow a GSD. There is nothing like being told your coverage is being dropped because your dog is of a breed on their banned list. And renters aren’t immune either. A landlord has to maintain their coverage as well. It stinks to be told to either get rid of your dog or move by a landlord who doesn’t want to lose their insurance.

Personally, I would concentrate on the breeds that I really want. Good breeders sometimes have older puppies or adults that need to be rehomed at a greatly reduced cost. My new little Toy Poodle is being neutered today and will come home next week. He is an 8 month old male that was kept back to see how he would mature. He will finish over-sized, so she offered him to a pet home at a fraction of the cost of a puppy. After almost 50 years with the GSD, I am really looking forward to life with a non-shedding lap dog.
Sheilah

[Go_Fish]

I have Corgis who only blow their coat once a year. Mine are outside most of the time, so perhaps they don’t shed as much. However, when they blow, they REALLY blow. And, the difference between a GSD and a Corgi: big dog = LOTS hair; little dog = not as much hair.

I find that no grooming tool in the world can eliminate shedding Corgi hair - I don’t care how often you groom. I take mine out to the barn to the wash rack and bathe thoroughly. Then I use my big blue (Electogroom?) horse vacuum and blow them dry. About once a week, I use the same vacuum on them to suck the hair off. This procedure not only eliminates hair in the house (and down the drain) and keeps it in the barn, the dogs much prefer a vacuum to a bath.

If you have a breed of dog that sheds an undercoat, you’re going to drive yourself nuts if you are compulsive about pet hair in your house. Buy a dog that doesn’t shed much hair…you’ll be a lot happier. Either that, or get used to wearing dog hair wherever you go. :lol:

[vacation1]

Basically, either you’ll lose your mind or your sense of what is right and clean and decent will change. But since the latter always happens to dog owners anyway, in for a penny…

It only took 30 years, but I finally found out what you’re supposed to use with longhaired dogs - a rake and a slicker. I spent years wondering WTH put those
brutal things on their pet’s skin, and then YouTube gave me a clue. Oh, you use them on the fur and don’t dig in. It’s a good thing I’m cute. Loosens up the shedding hair, and drags it out so you don’t own a puffball with ears. Buy a huge apron to wear while doing, or - well, I think you can figure out where 90% of that hair is going to go.

[QUOTE=weixiao;7498019]
As I read about them I see a lot about how you can’t mind shedding, etc. but if you haven’t experienced it, how do you know? I like neatness and cleanliness, although I’m not a freak about it. My LT had a heavily shedding black lab at the fire station and while it was kind of an “ugh, really?” when he got into the bunk rooms at got in my bed and shed all over my sheets, it wasn’t the end of the world. Although in general, I prefer my bed off limits to dogs. He was a covers hog if you had to get up for a call, when you came back there was no room for you anymore either.[/QUOTE]

Am I the only one who got lost about who exactly came crawling into bed and shed all over?

[Renn_aissance]

My housemate has a German Shepherd. On Sunday he Furminated the dog and I spring-cleaned, which meant vacuuming and mopping- the apartment is entirely hardwood. On Monday it looked like we had carpet.

I grew up with an assortment of Golden Retrievers plus a Husky, Great Pyr, Corgi, and GSD. The hair does not end.

[weixiao]

Now I’m nervous about it again…

And lol vacation1. I didn’t realize that wasn’t clear. For the record, my LT was also female and we did not share a bunk.

[CindyB59]

Oh come on… GSD’s only shed twice a year.

January thru June and July thru December :).

There is a couple of reasons I now have poodles, and 50+ yrs of GSD hair is the main one. (I have R.A. and the brushing just got to be too much). I miss them, although my grand-GSD is living here right now, so I’m back to hair.

[Jhein12]

I groom. The GSDs that eat crappy food I notice shed a lot more and are more likely to have dandruff and when they poop in the salon, the poop is HUGE and stinky. Dogs that eat better food like Nature’s Variety Instinct have small turds and don’t shed as much. Get the dog on a good grain free food, and don’t skimp on the treats either. Espree shedless shampoo & conditioner works wonders when combined with a force drier and a furminator brush after the dog is dry.

[Mozart]

The first dog I had in own my house as an adult was a vizsla. Then a lab. Then a Golden Retriever. Now I have GSD/corgi cross. I am going in the wrong direction. I swear my next dog will be a standard poodle.

[Houndhill]

If you really would prefer a Poodle, the cost is definitely not more than that of a GSD puppy.

[csaper58]

The Oster ShedMonster grooming tool really helps control the shedding. Sorry can’t make the link work. Lots of pet places carry it, and also the old style all metal shedding tool. both are great. These are different than the Furminater tool.