GSD owners - or other black/light colored dogs

• 09-23-2007 11:26 PM

  sierra2002 Joined on 09-10-2007 Western Canada Posts 602 Points 0

  GSD owners - or other black/light colored dogs Reply Contact  I'm taking care of a friend's GSD X. His coloring is all GSD, and he has a pure black saddle with the rest of his body being mostly light brown. This frustrates me to no end: Since he's been with me, I've pulled off about 2 grocery bags of hair. I've also given him a bath (to help control shedding). But no matter how much I try to groom him, his "saddle" is always littered with light colored hairs. How on earth do I get rid of these? Will it come if I groom him enough? I just spent 1/2 an hour brushing him, and they're still there. If I even pick the little blond-ish hairs off, they seem to be back quite quickly. So how do you guys do it? Do these hairs ever go away? I just thought he'd look so handsome if he was groomed - but these little things stick out against the black fur and it would look nice if they weren't there.   Not that big of a deal, really - he's not my dog. But I'd like him to look handsome while he's here, and when I send him back home

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• 09-23-2007 11:48 PM

  In reply to sierra2002

  glenmar Joined on 09-10-2007 Northwestern Michigan Posts 11,511 Points 405

  Re: GSD owners - or other black/light colored dogs Reply Contact I use a rake, a slicker and a zoom groom, and when they are blowing coat you can brush for HOURS and still have a ton of hair combing out.  Sounds like this one is blowing, and I swear, they always look like heck.  Normally, I can brush my guys and they stay great looking for a week or more, but when they are blowing, yuck. A house without fur is not a home. Glenda

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• 09-24-2007 12:08 AM

  In reply to glenmar

  sierra2002 Joined on 09-10-2007 Western Canada Posts 602 Points 0

  Re: GSD owners - or other black/light colored dogs Reply Contact hmm.. you're probably right! The weather's definitely taken a downturn recently - my furnace has been running all day! I remember visiting his owners last year while he was blowing his coat - and he had huge clumps of fur popping out (haha - they think he might be mixed with husky!). It's not quite that bad yet, but I imagine it's only just begun. Nice to know other people have the same problem, lol.  And thanks for the reply

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• 09-24-2007 7:40 AM

  In reply to sierra2002

  spiritdogs Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 10,138 Points 735

  Re: GSD owners - or other black/light colored dogs Reply Contact  Bathe in Ultra Best Shot shampoo, dry with a high velocity dryer to blow out the loose coat, then use a slicker, shedding comb and zoom groom.  Some times of the year, that isn't even enough...   Regional Director for Massachusetts, International Positive Dog Training Association Director, SeniorCare Pawsitive Connections Program AKC CGC Evaluator #3669 Therapy Dogs, Inc. Tester/Observer Sioux, CGC, TDInc. Maska, CGC, TDInc. Sequoyah, CGC Fergie, Retired Lap Dog, Age 19 Dancer, CGC, TDInc. (1989-2006) #1 Heart Dog "If you talk to the animals they will talk with you and you will know each other. If you do not talk to them you will not know them and what you do not know, you will fear. What one fears, one destroys." - Chief Dan George "The fidelity of a dog is a precious gift demanding no less binding moral responsibilities than the friendship of a human being. The bond with a true dog is as lasting as the ties of this earth can ever be." ~ Konrad Lorenz

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• 09-24-2007 8:31 AM

  In reply to spiritdogs

  Liesje Joined on 03-02-2007 Grand Rapids, Michigan Posts 7,108 Points 850

  Re: GSD owners - or other black/light colored dogs Reply Contact The lighter hairs are probably undercoat.  I use fish in her food and a coat spray to keep Kenya's hair looking sleek and strong.  I know diet plays a HUGE part in coat quality and shedding.  Kenya doesn't shed that much, as I've done a lot to make sure she has the proper diet.  If I brush, the hair will come, but there's not as much of it as before.  vankelderdogs.dutchbingo.net U-CH Alta-Tollhaus-Krieger Lamb Chop RA CL1-F CL1-R TT HIC TDI CGC ("Kenya", GSD) VPC's Coca-Cola CGC ("Coke", All American) Alta-Tollhaus' Bono ("Nikon", GSD)

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• 09-24-2007 10:04 AM

  In reply to sierra2002

  Cassidys Mom Joined on 09-02-2007 SF Bay Area Posts 795 Points 100

  Re: GSD owners - or other black/light colored dogs Reply Contact Bathing will make him shed worse! After a bath I get tons of hair off my dogs. But those light colored hairs might just be normal for him. It's often referred to as a "*** stripe", sable hairs mixed in with the darker saddle hair, usually along the back. I can post pics of my dogs backs later, (getting ready for work right now), I took pictures for another board when people were asking about *** stripes. Dena v TeMar 9/12/04 Keefer (Lakota v TeMar) 8/25/05 Cassidy 6/8/00-10/4/04

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• 09-24-2007 10:39 AM

  In reply to Cassidys Mom

  Liesje Joined on 03-02-2007 Grand Rapids, Michigan Posts 7,108 Points 850

  Re: GSD owners - or other black/light colored dogs Reply Contact haha what word is being censored?  lol.  And yeah, last time I gave Kenya a bath she shed more b/c it was all loosened up and I don't have a proper dryer.  I do like to brush her out really well while she is damp. Kenya's saddle is always speckled, but she's a sable, not black and tan.  We tried to teach her how to stand here (not working), but you can see all the streaks/flecks in the saddle b/c she's sable (meaning there's black ticking on her entire body not just the saddle, though she is a very very light sable).   vankelderdogs.dutchbingo.net U-CH Alta-Tollhaus-Krieger Lamb Chop RA CL1-F CL1-R TT HIC TDI CGC ("Kenya", GSD) VPC's Coca-Cola CGC ("Coke", All American) Alta-Tollhaus' Bono ("Nikon", GSD)

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• 09-24-2007 1:56 PM

  In reply to Liesje

  sierra2002 Joined on 09-10-2007 Western Canada Posts 602 Points 0

  Re: GSD owners - or other black/light colored dogs Reply Contact I'm thinking it is his undercoat.  Biggest problem, I think, is that his owners are elderly, and I don't think they brush him as often as he should be brushed. They also don't use a slicker because they think it hurts him. He also eats Pedigree. lol He's well cared for though, happy, healthy, and spoiled.  Looking at that photo of Kenya, I think he's got a way thicker coat than her.  I haven't cared for any other GSD's though, so I'm not sure what's normal. I still think he's mixed with husky.  I'll just keep brushing him and vacuuming my house. He'll be gone by next weekend anyways, so I'm sure I can keep it up for another few days. Thanks for all the responses!

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• 09-24-2007 2:17 PM

  In reply to sierra2002

  Cassidys Mom Joined on 09-02-2007 SF Bay Area Posts 795 Points 100	Re: GSD owners - or other black/light colored dogs Reply Contact Bizarre that the word for female dog is censored on a dog site, lol! Apparently I never uploaded the pics to photobucket so I can't post them from work. Dena v TeMar 9/12/04 Keefer (Lakota v TeMar) 8/25/05 Cassidy 6/8/00-10/4/04
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• 09-24-2007 7:09 PM

  In reply to Cassidys Mom

  Cassidys Mom Joined on 09-02-2007 SF Bay Area Posts 795 Points 100

  Re: GSD owners - or other black/light colored dogs Reply Contact Okay, home now - here's Dena's b*tch stripe:   And Keefer's: His back is more black than hers, but it's been lightening up gradually, and he's a year younger, so who knows what it will end up like? It's actually the longer guard hairs that are banded, not their undercoat, but there is a huge variation in GSD coats, so your friend's dog could have a lighter undercoat.   Dena v TeMar 9/12/04 Keefer (Lakota v TeMar) 8/25/05 Cassidy 6/8/00-10/4/04

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• 10-07-2007 4:06 AM

  In reply to sierra2002

  RossHaus German Shepherds Joined on 10-07-2007 Posts 3 Points 5

  Re: GSD owners - or other black/light colored dogs Reply Contact I use a rake weekly on my dogs, however, they rarely shed unless they are getting a summer or winter coat. Sometimes excessive shedding is genetic and other times it's poor nutrition. I would see if the dog is getting necessary Essential Fatty Acids in the food. Hair/fur can only be treated nutritionally. Sprays and other substances put on the outside of the hair seldom change things. Do not shampoo the dog excessively and If you do shampoo him, make sure to use a good EFA shampoo and avoid overdrying. Jerry

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