The long-haired German Shepherd is a beautiful dog
Big dogs require more care, more space, and more training. You have to be 100% sure you want a large do before getting it. Shepherds love their owners and have a hard time getting used to new families.
That’s why if you buy a shepherd, you have to be ready to keep it.
Care of A Long Haired
Taking care of any dog is complicated. Each breed requires its own approach.
Regular brushing
Long-haired German Shepherds have a single coat that requires regular brushing. Get ready for the brushing sessions at least every other day. By keeping the hairbrush, you can avoid knotting and too much loose hair. The dog sheds its coat throughout the year. Long hair can become a nuisance for homeowners since it tends to lie around and clog their vacuum cleaners. Regular brushing can diminish the amount of fur on the floor.
Not Too Much Bathing
you might feel as if long-haired dogs need to be bathed often since they collect plenty of dirt on their coats. However, frequent bathing is bad for the shepherds. They have A sensitive skin that becomes dry when comes into contact with water. It’s sufficient to bathe your dog once a month. You can wash if more often if the dog has fleas or gets too dirty. When washing the dog with shampoo, make sure it doesn’t touch the skin.
Check The Teeth
Long-haired German Shepherds often have problems with their teeth. Even if you feed the dog right, it can still develop harmful plaque. You need to clean the dog’s teeth every week with a special brush. You can purchase toothpaste, developed specifically for dogs. Make sure to brush the gums as well. You can also buy hard cookies that can clean the plaque off mechanically while the dog is chewing.
Trim the Toenails
Long toenails are any dog’s worst enemies. They can hurt you or themselves with such nails. Meanwhile, long nails tend to break. You have to check the toenails at least once a week and clip them if they are too long. The dog might not be happy with your trimming plans so some homeowners take their pets to professional groomers for toenail clipping. Be very careful when trimming. It’s better to leave them a little longer than cut too deep and cause bleeding.
Clean the Ears
Check your dog’s ears at least once a week. They tend to be covered with wax and debris. Use ear drops to clean out the dirt. A few drops and a soft cloth can do the trick. Don’t ever clean your pet’s ears with tap water. It might cause infection. Make sure you don’t start the ear cleaning until your German Shepherd is fully calm. Try to avoid loud noises and crowded areas for grooming.
Regular Checkups
All dogs are prone to certain diseases. Long-haired German Shepherds suffer from the same problems as regular German shepherds. Hip dysplasia, epilepsy, eczema, and stomach problems are very common for these dogs. You have to make sure you show your pet to the vet at least once a year to check out its health. The checkup may include x-rays, blood tests, and other diagnostics. German Shepherds live for 9 – 13 years.
Daily Exercises
Daily exercise to stay healthy. These dogs have amazing energy that needs to be spent. They are good indoor dogs but only when you allow them to run around as much as they want. You can satisfy the dog’s need for exercising by playing active outdoor games, running, or jogging. Your dog will love to join you when you are exercising so you can kill two birds with one stone.
Good Living Conditions
Even though its coat seems like good protection against weather, it isn’t. Meanwhile, strong emotional attachment to the owner makes it impossible to keep it separately. You have to create a place for the dog to stay indoors. You’ll need to buy a large enough bed for the dog to lay on as well as some toys to make the dog feel that space is it’s own. Some owners prefer buying or building a crate to fit a large dog.
Provide Human Contact
If you are a workaholic, who spends long hours away from home, this dog might not be suitable for your needs. This dog is perfect for large families, who are ready to play and exercise with it all day long. Shepherds are very good with children and can make amazing companions.