Why Is My German Shorthaired Pointer Shedding So Much?


Got a shedding problem? Is your GSP shedding more than you expected and you want answers? You are in the right spot. Let’s explore all things German Shorthaired Pointer Shedding.

gsp-shedding-double-coat-explained

Generally, a German Shorthaired Pointer isn’t known for their shedding. They certainly do shed, of course, like most dogs, but they are considered to be on the lower end of moderate shedders, and as a breed, they aren’t necessarily known for shedding large amounts.

That being said, there are certain things that affect the amount a German Shorthaired Pointer sheds, and if you’ve noticed a lot of shedding lately, then it’s worth thinking about some of the points we cover below as you might find there to be a direct link. The first thing we need to understand about this breed of dog is whether or not they have a double coat.

Do German Shorthaired Pointers Have A Double Coat?

Yes, the German Shorthaired Pointer is one breed that does, in fact, have this double coat. A double coat is exactly what it sounds like, it’s a dog that has two layers of fur. The first coat is much easier for us to see, as these are the longer, slightly finer hairs that are more easily spotted. The second undercoat, however, is made up of dense short hair that isn’t as easy for us to see and it’s water resistant and will keep the dog warmer during cold winter walks.

Having a double coat directly affects the amount of shedding that a dog does. As we said earlier, this particular breed of dog is only considered to be low-to-moderate shedders compared to other breeds, but the reason for this shedding is their double coat.

Why Is my GSP Shedding So Much?

Now there are two things you need to think about with regards to their double coat and the amount of shedding they are doing lately. First, the time of year, and second, the climate where you are living it. These two things will influence how much a German Shorthaired Pointer sheds, and if you’re noticing a lot of shedding, then we can almost guarantee that the reason will be related to one of these two things.

Time Of Year

As we mentioned in the double coat section above, the denser undercoat is designed to keep a dog warm in winter. During certain times of the year, specifically spring, a German Shorthaired Pointer will try to shed more of this undercoat in order to make life a little more comfortable as it begins to warm up again. Think of their undercoat as a jacket in winter. When spring comes and the sun is shining again, we leave our jackets at home.

That’s exactly what your dog is doing right now. By shedding more in the spring, they are setting their coats up for warmth again so they don’t become too hot and uncomfortable during warmer times of the year. If you’ve noticed your dog shedding a lot lately, then think about the time of year. If we’ve just finished winter and the sun is shining more often, then that’s probably why they’re shedding so much. You should naturally see an improvement over the coming months as your dog finishes readying their coat for the summer.

Climate

If you’re sitting there thinking that it’s November and your German Shorthaired Pointer is shedding like crazy still, then there’s a reason for this too. When this breed lives in warmer climates (much warmer than their original home in Germany) then it’s possible for them to shed year round. This is because even in Winter during warmer climates, they don’t need the dense undercoat to keep them warm, because the weather is manageable as it is.

Think about a typical winter in Germany (last year average temperatures were 1.8 Celsius, or around 35 Fahrenheit), so if the climate in your area is considerably warmer than that, then your dog will not feel the need to hold on to their undercoat because temperatures are warm enough for them, anyway.

Tips To Make Shedding More Manageable

If your German Shorthaired Pointer is constantly shedding, then we understand that the mess that is created can be a little inconvenient. Thankfully, there are some things that you can do to make your life a little easier, and you’ll be happy to hear that it doesn’t involve anything as complicated as moving to a colder climate! To finish, we’ll show you the simple steps you can take to make your dog shed less.

Brushing

It’s a simple enough step, but one so many dog owners overlook. As they don’t shed particularly badly, this breed can get away with only being brushed once a week. Make sure you do it outside, or else the mess you make will probably be more than a little inconvenient. The best type of brush to use is a firm bristle brush or a metal tooth comb. This just helps remove the already loose hair that your dog has shed but hasn’t gotten rid of yet. By brushing, you’re essentially striking early so that your dog doesn’t release all their hair around your home. Brushing regularly also helps them keep a healthy, shiny coat, which will do wonders for them in the long term too.

Bathing and Grooming

So many people over bathe their dog and doing so will cause more shedding. If they are dirty after a walk, then of course give them a bath or else they’ll wreck your entire house and it won’t be good for their fur either. But dogs are especially good at keeping themselves clean, so unless they are dirty or smelling, don’t need to bathe them. Doing so drys out their skin and can cause irritation and encourage them to shed more. If you don’t bathe your dog regularly but you’re still noticing irritation, then switch to a hypoallergenic dog shampoo and you should see some improvements.

Drying

Finally, whether it’s after a bath or a wet walk, your dog needs to be dried properly. Failing to do so will again cause more shedding. Always let your dog dry themselves off with a quick shake before you go near them with a towel. It might cause a bit of a mess, but it’s actually the most effective way for them to get rid of most of the water that is clinging to their fur.

Then approach them with a dry towel and rub them down gently until they are mostly dry. You won’t be able to get them bone dry, but as dry as you can will suffice. They’ll dry off the rest naturally, which is fine, but if they’re soaked through and you haven’t helped dry them, you will probably notice more shedding.

Conclusion

Hopefully this was helpful in helping you understand why your GSP is shedding so much and explains your GSP’s double coat. Having a German Shorthair is quite the adventure and some shedding here and there is just part of the adventure. Talk soon!

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meastt09

An Owner and a huge fan of GSP's! I have owned my GSP for 7 years now and learned so many things along the way to share with you all about German Shorthaired Pointers!

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