Any tricks or secrets about reducing shedding ?

Once a week brush the heck of it, maybe twice. It will make some bit of difference.
I've noticed the better the diet for some reason the less they shed. At least with my dog.

I would suggest you get one of the grooming rakes that Ed sells. They are brilliant. They get the undercoat out and this is the stuff you are always picking up from around your house, car, etc.
Finish off with a slicker brush and this should help.

I do my GSD twice a week this way and my home is a bit less hairy these days

Gwen

This is why I like the Dobermann so much. I'm not knocking the GSDs. That's all I've ever had, but that hair kills me.

Some people I know use "Vitapet Dog Coat Conditioner" - it is a liquid you put in with the dog's food They swear that it reduces shedding.

I don't use it myself for my GSD as I believe shedding is something that occurs naturally and I don't really want to mess with nature.

I just put up with dog hairs everywhere <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Just my opinion

Gwen

ummm Brad, the only reason you like the Dobermann is because you haven't had one. They shed like a mofo too... just the hair is shorter and doesn't really "blow" around.

My mom is the worlds worst clean freak. We are talking white carpets and floors you could eat off of. I managed to keep the carpet in my bedroom clean, but when I finally moved away with my dogs she moved my bed and darn near had a heart attack.... I guess all along that wall between my bed and the wall was BLACK hair. Not to mention Dobe hair weaves itself into stuff like little porcupine quills. Dog hair removers won't even take those buggers out...

Hodge, best thing I can tell you is to feed a good diet. There are different shampoos out there that are supposed to cut down on shedding, but I really don't think it is going to make much difference with a GSD. My dog (GSD) really isn't that bad and I don't groom him as often as I should. Buy a good vaccuum, get some of those dry swiffers(they rock), and be prepared to find hair in your food...

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Shedding!? - did someone say shedding? - I couldn't hear you very good for all the hair stuck in my ears and I will endevour to brush all the fuzz off the keyboard to type an answer....
Getting the dog wet-bathing if you are a keener or swimming if you are a lazier person will speed up a shed. Rakes are the best tools for stripping out the undercoat, especially the rakes
with two lenghts of teeth on them. Buying a big honking powerful vacuum is a real good idea if you have dogs and cultivating a tolerance for the
fuzzy, felted look that happens to your clothes,
vehicle and house is a good idea too. Doesn't seem to matter what you feed them that hair is gonna come out eventually. Seventeen huskies here and are all either shedding, just finshed shedding or thinking about shedding. Hair R Us.

Maybe we could all get a spinning wheel and start knitting GSD sweaters and woolly hats.

Be O.K. till it started raining then wouldn't we all pong



Gwen

There is no magic cure for shedding. A good diet and a strict grooming schedule is the only way.

Bang zoom.