Do you wake up in the morning only to meet the coats of your German Shepherd being shed all over? Do you urge to know how to Stop a German Shepherd from Shedding?. Well, read along.

Shedding occurs as a result of a change in season. So it is impossible to stop a German Shepherd from shedding. However, it is possible to reduce the rate at which your German Shepherd sheds to the barest minimum by making sure it is well fed and has good hygiene. 

Almost all breeds of dogs shed their coat all year round, but this shedding can become excessive due to a couple of factors which we will consider.

Why is my German Shepherd shedding so much?

Not everyone likes the sight of the pile of hair that a German Shepherd leaves when you pet it or place it on your couch. For some people, they find fur of their German Shepherd everywhere in the house – the rooms, the bedsheet, their clothes, or even on their body. Shedding protects the German Shepherd from diseases and injury and also regulates its temperature. German Shepherds are known to be prolific shedders, which means they shed in abundance, and this is because they are double-coated, signifying that they have two coats of fur. This double layer of fur helps them to regulate their body temperature in cold weather.

Meanwhile, in the hot weather, they tend to shed their coat to adjust to the temperature. This is why German Shepherds are acceptable external dogs and working dogs as they can endure a wide range of climate conditions. The outer coat (regularly called a guard coat) is thick, coarse, somewhat wavy, or straight, and it ensures the dog's skin can withstand water, soil, and other outside natural components. The fact that German Shepherds are heavy shedders is the primary reason why they shed so much. It is their nature to shed. However, there are other causes of excessive shedding in German Shepherds; some include:

• Change in Season

A German Shepherd sheds its coat all year round, but the shedding becomes excessive at the change of seasons, especially in spring and autumn. The dog begins to adjust to the temperature, and you will notice sizeable lumps of fur falling from the German Shepherd's body. This shedding helps the dog to prepare for the weather condition of the coming season.

• Health Issues

When a dog is not healthy, it can increase the rate at which the dog sheds. You might need to look for symptoms of these health issues or visit a vet. Some of these health issues include;

• Malnourishment: When a dog is not fed correctly, it affects the dog's skin and increases the rate at which the dog sheds.
• Allergy: Allergy can be from food or the environment, but it makes the dog’s skin itchy, forcing the dog to scratch and ultimately shed off its fur.
• Disease: Your dog can be infected with the condition that can result in pain and also the shedding of its fur.
• Stress: The same way that people lose their hair when they are stressed, dogs also lose their fur when they are stressed.
• Growth: This occurs when a dog is changing its skin from its birth skin to adult skin. The dog first sheds its coat before changing skin.
• Parasites: Fleas and other parasites on a dog's body can make the skin itchy and result in hair loss.

How bad is German Shepherd shedding?

German Shepherds go by the alias ‘German Shedders,’ which gives even a novice an instant understanding of how much they shed. These breeds of dogs shed all year round but shed more twice a year. They lose a substantial quantity of body fur during this period. German Shepherds are double-coated; they have two coats of fur on their skin. The first coat is known as the Undercoat. The German Shepherd sheds its undercoat during summer to help the dog feel cool during the summer heat. The second coat is the Outercoat, and the German Shepherd sheds this skin during autumn in preparation for the cold days of winter.

How to get my dog to stop shedding so much?

It is important to note that it is impossible to stop your dog from shedding. Shedding is a natural phenomenon in dogs, and so trying to stop a dog from shedding is a very futile effort. Nevertheless, there are few ways to reduce shedding in your dog. Let’s consider some of these ways:

1. Proper Diet: The first way to reduce excessive shedding in your dog is to give it quality meals. Give your dogs foods that are rich in protein. You can also ask your vet for a prescription. These foods will nourish the skin and allow it to hold fur for longer. This diet might cost more, but it will help you reduce shedding and give your dog a more healthy life.
2. Proper Hygiene: It is essential to take good care of your dog. Regularly bathe for the dog and brush its hair. Brushing your dog's fur will help it remove all the hair on its body and prevent the hair from falling all over the house.
3. Proper Treatment: endeavor always to treat your dogs to protect them from fleas; this will prevent the itchiness that comes when the dog has fleas that cause the dog to shed. The fewer fleas a dog has, the less often it scratches its skin.

Final Thoughts

German Shepherds are excellent friends of man. They are fun to have, and they also serve the purpose of security very well. This breed of dogs are loyal to their owners, but the amount of hair they shed in a short while can be a burden to these owners. Giving these dogs proper food, adding multivitamins to their meals, bathing them, brushing, and de-shedding them can reduce the rate they shed. Still, it is impossible to stop them from shedding just the way it is impossible to stop humans from sweating.