How to Groom a German Shepherd Dog

Begin grooming your German shepherd at the dog's head. Use a slicker brush and work your way down the dog's body, including the tail, the chin and behind the ears. A slicker brush is a type of dog brush used to remove mats, dead hair and dead skin cells, which helps stimulate the skin and promote healthy circulation. Remember to always brush with the grain of the hair.

Go over your dog's coat with a metal comb to remove loose hair and follow with a rubber brush to massage your dog and create a shiny coat. Check your dog's hair for debris while brushing, such as bits of plants, leaves and flowers. Also check for ticks; "black dirt" or flea excrement, which indicate a flea problem; and ricelike debris around the dog's anus, which indicate a worm problem. If your dog does have a tick, flea or worm problem, take the necessary steps to eradicate each of these issues.

Use a shedding rake to brush and remove loose hair from the dog's undercoat. Shedding rakes resemble miniature garden rakes and are extremely effective in removing hair. Use one in the same manner you would use other grooming tools, following the grain of the hair and the contours of the pooch's body. You can also use the shedding rake on the dog's back and flanks if you desire. It is a very effective tool when the dog is shedding.

Look for rashes, scabs and other signs of unhealthy skin while grooming your German shepherd. Unhealthy-looking skin may simply be the result of an injury or it may be something more severe, such as a fungal infection or allergy. If you find that your pooch has a skin disorder, identify what kind of disorder it is and take the necessary steps to rectify the problem.

Groom your German shepherd thoroughly at least once a week to keep the dog's skin and coat healthy, and perform a general brushing once a day. The German shepherd sheds all year long thanks to her thick coat, and more so during season changes, so regular grooming is essential to keep the animal healthy.