Grooming Aids
Grooming Aids
Grooming Aid Options
After all these years working with dogs, I feel like I’ve tried about every option and these are solid choices that work well for German Shepherd Dogs and hold up.
nail clip
Miller’s Forge makes a quality product that will last. Work slowly with your puppy to get them used to having their paws handled and the presence of the clipper. Start early with them, reward often.
slicker brush
Trust me, you want this. Your dog will love being brushed (I’ve seen some of them act like they’re in a dog spa, roll over on their sides just loving it) and your floors will appreciate it deeply.
UNDERCOAT RAKE
Trust me, you want this too. The slicker brush gets a lot of loose hair, but this rake gets into the undercoat and really helps a lot.
MUD BUSTER
This unusual looking device is surprisingly handy in rainy weather. It’s a dog foot washer! It comes in different sizes from puppy to adult.
One of my customer’s tried it (trying to avoid adding to the mud collecting on her floors) and said her pup was quite patient with the process and that it worked wonderfully. When she finished cleaning all four paws, the water poured out of the cup was near solid mud sludge.
You fill it with water and optionally, a dash of shampoo. Get your pup to sit, pick up a paw and shove it in… push it up and down maybe 3x and when it comes out voila! those soft spines inside the cup have pulled off a ton of dirt. A little paw drying and things are much improved.
poop bags
Think of these as grooming tools for the environment. Couldn’t decide where to categorize them.
Super important, not as easy to find environmentally friendly ones as you think. Many varieties are marked ‘earth friendly’ (or similar phrasing) but unfortunately most do not break down readily. You have to find bags that say ‘compostable’. These actually break down in a reasonable amount of time into elements that are not harmful to the environment. The company is great and focused on environmentally friendly solutions. The bags are sturdy and large, perfect for GSDs.
The only note is that the stickers that keep the rolls from unrolling in the package work a little too well. It’s easy to ruin a bag trying to take them off. The company is aware of the issue and is working on a solution. The sticker adheres to the top of the end back and the body of the one it’s lying against. If you tear the top of the end bag and leave the sticker on the body of the other one, you’re golden. No ruined bags!