7 Best Dog Grooming Tools For German Shepherds

When you have a German Shepherd, you usually have a lot of grooming work.

Like their not-so-distant wolf ancestors, the German Shepherd has a very thick coat, which is meant to protect it from the cold.

Although nature certainly did do a good job here, there is one unfortunate side effect: lots and lots of shedding.

For a large and long-haired dog like this, you can expect them to shed year-round.

As such, it is worthwhile to look at some grooming tools online.

We will concentrate on the best products so that you can get a better idea of what you want and need.

IN A HURRY? HERE’S OUR TOP PICKS…

LuckyTail Has The Best Nail Grinder & Nail Clipper On The Market

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German Shepherds’ claws can scratch up the furniture, annoy you by clacking their toenails against the floor, and accidentally scratch you when trying to get your attention.

Getting a high-quality nail clipper can make your life a lot easier.

Luckily, there’s now an easy solution to the complicated process of trimming your dog’s nails. 

LuckyTail is a brand whose main goal is to give your pet the best when it comes to pet care products.

Since we don’t always have the time and money for expensive visits to the groomer for safe nail trimming, these products offer dog owners an easy alternative.

• The LuckyTail dog nail grinder has a lightweight and sleek design compared to other products that have the same function. 
• It can be used to polish your dog’s claws, and produces professional results with much less effort.

To learn more about LuckyTail’s nail grinder, nail clipper, and other products, feel free to visit their website!

	5/5 Ceenwes Heavy Duty Dog Clippers Best Overall Product	Best Budget Product 5/5 PawsPamper Extra Wide Undercoat Rake	Runners-Up 4.5/5 SleekEZ Original Deshedding Grooming Tool
	Check price on Amazon	Check price on Amazon	Check price on Amazon
Summary	A good grooming job certainly requires a decent pair of clippers, especially when dealing with a long-haired breed like a German Shepherd.	This is a de-matting rake, which is a great tool for those days when your dog is dealing with a lot of tangles.	This is a much gentler kind of brush and one that is a lot easier to use. It consists of a simple wooden cylinder with a steel blade embedded in one side.
Pros	Cordless and rechargeable	Very durable construction	Much gentler than a rake
Cons	The grip isn’t particularly good	A little expensive	Not long enough to reach the undercoat

1. Ceenwes Heavy Duty Dog Clippers

A good grooming job certainly requires a decent pair of clippers, especially when dealing with a long-haired breed like a German Shepherd.

This is a set of cordless and rechargeable clippers that offer quite a few nice features.

First, this thing comes with so many accessories that it’s likely to save you money. Considering the relatively low price of this item, that’s a big plus.

Once fully recharged, this thing can last for up to four hours, so it should provide more than enough charge to finish trimming your dog.

If the speed of the blades is too slow or too fast, you can easily adjust that issue by using the built-in adjustment knob.

However, several users have reported that this thing would not turn off once activated.

While this doesn’t seem to be a very frequent problem, it has been reported by more than one buyer.

We would also like it if this thing weren’t so smooth, as that would make it easier to grip, but that is a minor complaint.

2. PawsPamper Extra Wide Undercoat Rake

This is a de-matting rake, which is a great tool for those days when your dog is dealing with a lot of tangles.

When you get a long-haired dog, this kind of job goes with the territory.

This rake is better than most because its teeth are rounded at the ends.

That means you don’t have to worry so much about scratching the dog’s skin when you start removing those mats and tangles.

In fact, dogs seem to enjoy being brushed with this one because it feels as if someone is petting them.

This thing is made with a simple and durable construction that does the job very effectively.

The wooden handle is rough enough to provide a good grip, and the company has a “no questions asked” refund policy.

However, we do have one or two small complaints.

First, it would be nice if the teeth on this rake were a little longer so that it could more effectively reach the undercoat.

Secondly, it’s a little expensive for such a simple item.

3. SleekEZ Original Deshedding Grooming Tool

This is a much gentler kind of brush and one that is a lot easier to use. It consists of a simple wooden cylinder with a steel blade embedded in one side.

This blade has very small teeth with wide gaps. To be honest, it looks a little bit like a hacksaw blade.

In any case, these small and irregular teeth do a great job of scraping loose hair from the overcoat of a German Shepherd.

Unlike most brushes, this one does not require you to stop every few minutes and clean the tangles out of its teeth.

Those teeth are not long enough to reach the undercoat of a German Shepherd, but they do a great job of removing the top layer.

So, although this one won’t work as a detangling brush, it’s great for those quick-brush jobs when you’re in a hurry.

4. WendyMom Dog And Cat Hair Dryer

You don’t have to be a professional groomer to use a special-purpose dog dryer.

While the larger dryers are kind of expensive, this product allows you to get good performance at a very reasonable cost.

This compact and portable little device delivers almost twice as much air as a standard hair dryer, which helps it to do its job efficiently.

This product also has automatic temperature control, which is meant to keep the air from becoming too hot.

No one wants to mess up and burn their dog, so this is quite reassuring.

It’s also good that you can control the temperature manually if something goes wrong with the auto-control.

Your German Shepherd might be a little weirded out by this thing at first since it is kind of loud and delivers a strong gust of air.

They also might be distracted by the blue LED light (which is meant to detect urine stains).

Also, they included a nozzle with a comb on one end, presumably so that you can blow-dry and comb your dog at the same time.

That’s a bad idea because you’re putting the blower far too close to their skin. Thankfully, that combing nozzle is optional.

5. Wondurdog Dog Wash Kit for Shower

This is a version of the “water wands” that are so popular with dog breeders.

Rather than using a wand, this one uses a simple one-handed apparatus to wash your dog with a gentle but firm stream of water.

The teeth around the base will also double as a comb, and all the contact points are made of soft rubber for maximum comfort.

We like the fact that this product is meant to be used with one hand.

That leaves the other hand free to control the dog, grab the shampoo, or whatever else you need to do.

This also allows for faster movement and a quicker job in general. The extra-long hose is also helpful in that department.

The installation is a little bit complex, as it must be hooked into your existing shower.

For some people, this may require the services of a plumber, especially when it comes to the diverter switch.

Some people have reported issues with this, and a few others have reported durability problems. Still, most reviews for this product are quite positive.

6. Casfuy Dog Nail Grinder

This is a simple and relatively cheap nail grinder, and it’s really helpful for those who don’t like the constant clacking of claws against the floor.

Without trimming, the nails of a German Shepherd can sometimes become long enough to look like bear claws, and you don’t want that on your carpet or furniture.

This one has a rechargeable battery, which is really nice. However, it can only run for about two hours on a full charge.

This is a slight issue, but you generally won’t need to use this thing for more than a few minutes at a time.

If done correctly, trimming nails with this tool is a quick and easy job.

We also like the fact that this trimmer comes with two different tips. One of them is intended for small dogs, while the other is meant for larger ones.

For the largest dogs, they recommend that you use no tip at all.

That isn’t bad advice, but it’s very important to be careful because you are using a power tool on an animal, and they aren’t always as cooperative as we might like them to be.

7. Safari Dog De-Matting Comb

This is a simple de-matting comb, but it’s one of the best that we have seen.

It is sold at a very low price, and yet it offers everything you need in a tool of this type.

We find a lot to like about this product, starting with the handle.

It’s very soft and ergonomic, with raised portions that act as grippers.

Better still, it’s got thumb-rests on either side, which makes the whole thing very comfortable in the hand.

More importantly, this good grip gives you better control over the motion of the brush.

The teeth on this comb are very long, and that’s a good thing.

They can reach all the way to the undercoat and down to the skin, making them a great tool for the removal of deep tangles.

While some brushes only get the surface, this one goes as far as is needed.

The only thing is that you can scratch your dog a little bit with these long steel teeth if you aren’t careful.

We would recommend using a firm but well-controlled stroke without going too fast.

We find this brush to be very effective, but there is one little warning on the package.

For some reason that isn’t properly explained, you aren’t supposed to use this on a wet dog.

Thus, it’s no good for a post-bath combing, but it should be good for anything else.

Buyer’s Guide

If you’ve ever taken your German Shepherd to a professional groomer, you may have noticed that they had a lot of different tools at their disposal.

Some of these tools are not practical for normal people to own, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t take up dog grooming as a hobby.

If nothing else, everyone should learn how to groom their dog so that they won’t have to waste all that money on minor services that could be done without any help.

Which Tools Do I Need?

That is largely a matter of your personal preference, combined with the needs of your dog and the restrictions of your budget.

For instance, you might want to get a professional-quality grooming table, but you need to ask yourself whether you can afford it or not, and you should ask yourself if it’s even necessary for your dog.

So, let’s go over a few of the more common tools used by dog groomers.

Grooming Table

If you’ve been to a groomer lately, you probably noticed that they have a special table on which the dog sits.

This table will normally have a rubber surface to avoid slipping, and will normally include a fixed overhead arm.

This arm is fitted with a hook so that a dog can be leashed in place during the grooming process.

This leaves the groomer with both hands-frees to take care of washing the animal.

Grooming tables are not cheap, and that is (partly) because they have to withstand a lot of weight.

Some dogs can weigh a hundred pounds or more, so a cheaply-built metal table isn’t going to work for very long.

But then, that brings us to another point: Unless you have a very large dog, you won’t even need this thing.

Grooming tables are meant for those who spend hours and hours each day grooming dogs.

As such, it is an excessive choice for the home groomer.

Water Wand

Also called pet wands and shower wands, these devices hook to the end of a water hose, much like an attachment at the end of a garden hose.

They work in a manner quite similar to a showerhead, but their flow is a lot more gentle.

We don’t have to tell you that dogs often hate to take a bath, so it’s good to give them a gentle wash to avoid stressing them any further.

This is a tool that can definitely be acquired and used by the home breeder. Its cost is not prohibitively high, and it seems like a pretty useful thing.

That being said, we cannot classify this one as essential.

You can simply turn your shower to a lower setting instead of buying a separate tool.

This one would only be essential if you have a dog that is scared of fast-running water.

Pet Dryer

At first glance, these machines often look like small vacuum cleaners. However, they are quite the opposite.

A pet dryer blows hot air over your dog’s coat, driving out moisture and producing a pleasant sensation of warmth.

Dogs will often appreciate that, especially in the winter.

Groomers really need this tool because they can’t always wait for the dog to dry.

A device like this allows them to finish the job and move on to the next one ASAP.

The home groomer doesn’t really need one of these, but it’s not a bad option.

You can dry your dog in a number of other ways, from using a towel to just letting them go outside and shake.

A hairdryer on a low setting can serve the same purpose, but we would advise you to be careful that you hold it far away from your dog’s skin.

Grooming Clippers

A visit to the groomer will often involve a trim. For a German Shepherd, this kind of thing is highly essential.

With such a thick and multi-layered coat, proper trimming is essential for the dog’s comfort.

In the summertime, a German Shepherd is like a fish out of water, so don’t do that to your furry friend.

This one is definitely an essential tool for the home groomer. Unless you plan to let your dog’s hair grow indefinitely, an occasional hair trim will be needed.

If you happen to live in a hot climate, a good shave is very important in terms of your dog’s comfort.

A good set of hair clippers can be bought for $20-$30, and the home groomer won’t need the kind of heavy-duty tools that the professionals use.

Even if these dogs have very thick hair, we are still only talking about one or a few German Shepherds here.

Nail Grinder

In many cases, vets and groomers will use a specialized grinding tool to trim your dog’s nails. This usually takes the form of a rotary trimmer with a slotted tip.

The nail is inserted into the tip and prevents you from going too far.

Proper nail trimming is very important because those huge claws have a way of tearing up furniture and scratching people, often without any intent on the dog’s part.

If you are going to do all your grooming at home, you should probably invest in one of these tools.

They are extremely handy and represent the most efficient way to trim a dog’s nails.

Because these tools are basically just rotary grinders, some people choose to use a Dremel or other non-medical tool.

However, we would not advise that for most people.

It is possible to cause your dog great pain if you grind too deep, so be very careful with tools like these.

De-Shedding Brushes

There are a number of brushes and tools out there that are designed to stop dogs from shedding or to control the problem, at the very least.

One of the most popular tools is a slicker brush.

These are meant to be used quickly on the top layer of the dog’s coat.

For one thing, it pulls out many of those loose hairs which would normally end up on your furniture.

For another, it scrapes your dog’s skin free of dead flakes and helps promote healthier hair that doesn’t fall out so easily.

For your home grooming operations, you will surely need one of these.

They really are one of the best ways to take tangles out of your dog’s hair, and that shows when you use them.

To be honest, anyone who owns a long-haired dog should own some kind of shedding brush.

Final Thoughts: Best Dog Grooming Tools For German Shepherds

We hope that you have enjoyed reading this article as much as we enjoyed writing it for you.

While this is not a complete overview of all the tools that can be used for canine grooming, it should give you a better idea of how things work.

With the right tools, you can groom your dog without any issues. Good luck!

FAQ

What are the must-have grooming tools for German Shepherds?

The essential grooming tools for German Shepherds include a slicker brush, deshedding tool, grooming rake, grooming glove, pin brush, and a pair of nail clippers.

How often should I groom my German Shepherd?

It’s recommended to groom your German Shepherd at least once a week to keep their coat healthy and minimize shedding.

What is the best brush for German Shepherds?

The best brush for German Shepherds is a high-quality slicker brush that can effectively remove loose hair and prevent matting in their double coat.

How can I minimize shedding in my German Shepherd?

Regular grooming sessions using a deshedding tool and a grooming rake can help minimize shedding in your German Shepherd by removing loose undercoat hair.

What are the best grooming products for German Shepherds?

The best grooming products for German Shepherds include a quality dog shampoo, conditioner, and a detangling spray to keep their coat clean and healthy.

What should I consider when choosing grooming tools for my German Shepherd?

When choosing grooming tools for your German Shepherd, consider the length and type of their coat, as well as any specific grooming needs such as reducing shedding or maintaining their double coat.

How can I groom my German Shepherd at home?

Grooming your German Shepherd at home involves regular brushing, bathing, nail trimming, and ear cleaning using the right grooming tools and techniques.

What are the signs that indicate the need for a grooming session for my German Shepherd?

Signs that indicate the need for a grooming session for your German Shepherd include excessive shedding, matting, a dull coat, or a strong doggy odor.

Recommended reading:

• 10 Best Nail Clippers For A German Shepherd
• 7 Best Shampoo For German Shepherd
• 5 Best Dog Brushes For German Shepherds