Winter coat question

[Cheerful1]

We've had Joey for four months now (he's six years old).

His fur seems more Husky-like now. Is this a winter coat?

I'm clueless as to the seasonal changes in a GSD's coat.

[Anja1Blue]

What do you mean by "husky like"? Thicker? If so, yes, it's probably his winter coat. You will have a lot of clean up in the spring when he blows it all out......
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Susan

Anja SchH3 GSD
Conor GSD
Blue BH WH T1 GSD - waiting at the Bridge

[Cheerful1]

It looks thick. We were thinking he gained weight, but it could be the coat. Will keep his diet under control in any event.

I vacuum enough now.....it's going to get worse? LOL

[Anja1Blue]

Originally Posted by Cheerful1

It looks thick. We were thinking he gained weight, but it could be the coat. Will keep his diet under control in any event.

I vacuum enough now.....it's going to get worse? LOL

MUCH worse. GSD's shed all the time (hence the term German Shedder) with 2 major blowouts per year, usually in the spring and fall. More, or less, depending on whether the dog lives inside or out.
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Susan

Anja SchH3 GSD
Conor GSD
Blue BH WSH T1 GSD - waiting at the Bridge

[Cheerful1]

So when he has this "blowout", what will his new coat look like?

Does the blowout happen all at once, or over time?

[Anja1Blue]

Originally Posted by Cheerful1

So when he has this "blowout", what will his new coat look like?

Does the blowout happen all at once, or over time?

It happens over time, and each dog is a little different as to how long it takes. Starts slow, then builds momentum as time goes by. During the blowout process dogs can look pretty ratty - using my own as an example, their top coat can look dull, and the color can seem a bit faded. Bathing can accellerate the process, though you don't want to over do it. I actually only bathe my dogs once or twice a year (we live in a dry climate, and they stay very clean), so I reserve those bath times for when they are shedding heavily. The new coat is essentially almost all undercoat - not many of the guard hairs (top) are lost. Your dog should look much better overall when it comes in - shine comes back, color returns. Just keep a good vacuum cleaner handy and some basic grooming tools. Some people like the Furminator - I don't, I use a rake, long toothed metal comb and a pin brush. A bit more work, but that's OK with me, and there is no chance of cutting the topcoat with these tools.
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Susan

Anja SchH3 GSD
Conor GSD
Blue BH WH T1 GSD - waiting at the Bridge

[VegasResident]

Originally Posted by Anja1Blue

MUCH worse. GSD's shed all the time (hence the term German Shedder) with 2 major blowouts per year, usually in the spring and fall. More, or less, depending on whether the dog lives inside or out.
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Susan

Anja SchH3 GSD
Conor GSD
Blue BH WSH T1 GSD - waiting at the Bridge

Every week I have to turn over the vacuum cleaner and cut the hair off the roller!

We also have what we call the attack of the invisi-hair...that dang GSD fur you cannot see that always attaches to your eyelashes!

[Courtney]

My boy is almost two and has never had clumps of hair coming out. I keep waiting for him to blow his coat and expect for him to shed another version of himself but it hasn't happened yet. LOL His coat does not seem anymore thicker now than it did in the summer...is that weird?

He sheds but it's nothing like I was prepared for.

[Anja1Blue]

Originally Posted by Courtney

My boy is almost two and has never had clumps of hair coming out. I keep waiting for him to blow his coat and expect for him to shed another version of himself but it hasn't happened yet. LOL His coat does not seem anymore thicker now than it did in the summer...is that weird?

He sheds but it's nothing like I was prepared for.

Enjoy your good fortune! On the other hand it may take a while - this is the first time Conor has lost so much hair - I mean it's massive. And he will be 5 in February. So perhaps some dogs are just late bloomers - er, shedders.
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Susan

Anja SchH3 GSD
Conor GSD
Blue BH WH T1 GSD - waiting at the Bridge

[jetscarbie]

Originally Posted by Cheerful1

So when he has this "blowout", what will his new coat look like?

Does the blowout happen all at once, or over time?

my poor female. Her hair comes out for about 1 week. She will walk around with these huge hair tuffs sticking out everywhere. I brush, brush, brush. Her hair is thinner looking in the summer. A little lighter than her winter hair. Right now, it's winter, and her coat is absolutely beautiful. Thick and very soft.

My oldest male never has the tuffs. His sheds all year long.

My youngest male hardly sheds at all.

I also have to cut hairs out of my vacuum cleaner at least once a week. ugh