When you think of the German Shepherd breed, the last thing that comes to mind is the word cute or fluffy. These often intimidating dogs are known for their prim and proper medium coats. This comes in handy given their working dog roles in things like herding, guarding homes, and even hunting. However, German Shepherds can and actually do pull off the long haired look really nicely.
Long-haired German Shepherds, as the name suggests, are basically German Shepherd dogs with long hair. They are pretty much like any other German Shepherd dog especially when it comes to their general physical features, health, and personality. The main difference is in terms of grooming care and the needs introduced by this variation’s coat type.
In the sections below, you will learn everything that you need to about these beautiful dogs and what to look forward to if you are planning on getting one of your own.
How Do You Tell If A German Shepherd Puppy Is A Long Coat?
When a long-haired German Shepherd dog is older, it is quite easy to tell the long coats from the medium-coats. This is because the fur is usually longer and at an angle to the skin giving the dog’s body an adorable, fluffy aesthetic.
When they are young, it might be a bit more difficult to tell if your dog is a long coat. Here are a few clues that may come in handy.
Typical German Shepherd aesthetic
This won’t necessarily help you distinguish puppies based on potential future coat characteristics. However, it will help you identify purebred German Shepherds.
German Shepherd are usually large in build with a muscular and proportional form. The snout is long with ears large and perky. When it comes to the coat color, you can expect a variety including sable, all, white, black, liver, and many others. However, most, with the exception of black and white, also have the classic German Shepherd snout mask.
Look at the parents
You could also tell whether or not the puppies will end up fluffy, long-haired varieties as well. This is because breeding for this long haired trait in German Shepherds is done from 2 long-haired German Shepherd parents. The gene responsible for this characteristic is actually a recessive gene. Therefore, if the puppy is bred from two long-haired German Shepherds, chances are that they will grow up to look and act the same.
Fluffier than other German Shepherd variations
Long-haired German Shepherds have a thick, fluffy coat which you will start to pick up on from about 6 months until they reach maturity. This is a completely subjective clue but one that could come in handy if you are not too bothered about whether or not the assessment will be accurate.
How Much Is A Long Haired German Shepherd?
The price for a Long-haired German Shepherd depends on a number of factors. The prices start from $500 up to $1,000 with most breeders.
However, there are situations where you may have to pay up to $30,000 or more for one of these doggies. Here is a bit more on some of these factors that make the difference.
The lineage
When it comes to dog breeding, the lineage from which your puppy descended makes a huge difference. This is the case mainly if the pups are bred from champion bloodlines through highly sought after studs.
The fees for accessing these expensive parents makes the pups in the resulting litter quite expensive.
Age
Generally speaking, young and untrained long-haired German Shepherd puppies are more expensive than older and still untrained options. This is as a result of preferences by most people buying the dogs to start off with them from a young age. You may even find older long-haired German Shepherds in shelters for way less than the $500 to $1,000 price range.
Training level
Training is by far the biggest determinant of whether you will pay hundreds of dollars, thousands of dollars, or even tens of thousands. Long-haired German Shepherds that have received special training go for thousands to tens of thousands. The training could be for anything from police work to personal protection.
Local demand and availability
How much you pay for your long-haired Shepy will also depend on where you are. The variety is harder to come by than the medium-length doggies. As a result, you may have to pay more if breeders in your area don’t breed that specific variation.
How Do You Take Care Of A Long Haired German Shepherd?
Long-haired German Shepherds are relatively low maintenance.
They are strong, healthy, and independent and may only need just a little support to get by happily and healthy. Here are some important aspects of their general care so you know how best to prepare for your new doggy.
Get them on a healthy and balanced diet
Long-haired German Shepherds need a balanced diet made from high quality ingredients in order to be comfortable, happy, and healthy in your home. Anything less and you will have all sorts of problems from food intolerance to constipation.
You should definitely try out Pet Plate for real, high quality ingredients. They also customize the recipes with a nutritional balance, backed by the opinions of a pet nutritionist, designed to suit your dog’s needs including their specific breed.
Ensure they eat just enough food
These dogs are prone to developing obesity despite their very active lifestyles. This is because they often get fed way more food than they actually need. For an adult long-haired German shepherd, 3 to 4 cups of dry kibble every day should be more than enough. Puppies under one year may only need 1 cup while older ones can start taking 2 cups per day.
Set aside 2 hours or more for exercise every day
This is a very active breed that will inevitably get frustrated and destructive if cooped up indoors food very long. 1 to 2 hours of exercise or more every day is exactly what they need to keep them well-behaved. This is also a great way to help your dog stay healthy and keep off excess weight.
Are Long Haired German Shepherds Calmer? Temperaments Of Long Haired German Shepherds
Generally speaking, long-haired German Shepherds are quite similar in terms of temperament and personality to medium-haired German Shepherds. Therefore, do not let their cute, fluffy aesthetic let you forget just how bold and powerful these dogs can be. Here is a quick rundown of some of their most dominant personality traits so you know what you are in for with one of these dogs.
Affectionate
This might seem a bit unexpected especially given the cold and reserved working dog persona that most German Shepherds are associated with. However, these long-haired doggies are absolute sweethearts especially if you are fortunate enough to earn their trust. They will always be up for hugs, cuddles, and simply hanging out with their favorite human friends.
Loyal
Long-haired German Shepherds are among the most loyal dog breeds that there are. They form exceptionally strong bonds with their caretakers as well as trainers who treated them well. For people that the pooch considers family, there is nothing the dog will not do to protect you and keep you as happy as they can.
Energetic
While this is not a trait that cuts entirely across the board, it is something fun to look forward to when you unlock your doggy’s trust. They get very playful when they feel comfortable and you will have to go out of your way to keep them entertained to avoid destructiveness.
Intelligent
German Shepherd dogs are among the top most intelligent dog breeds on the planet. The same case applies to the long-haired variety that share the same big brains and obedience which makes them so easy to train and live with.
How Often Should I Wash My Long Haired German Shepherd? Grooming Tips For Long Haired German Shepherds
There is a common misconception among dog owners that long-haired dogs in general shed a lot more than short-haired ones. This couldn’t be further from the truth.
If anything, it is the other way round.
The Long-haired German Shepherd is a great example of this with the pooches shedding significantly less than the medium-length dogs in the same dog breed.
However, this does not mean that Long-haired German Shepherds do not need good grooming and meticulous attention when it comes to keeping them looking, smelling, and feeling good. Here are a few tips that should help you figure out a starting grooming plan for your Long-haired German Shepherds.
Brush to deshed every other day
Deshedding a long-haired German Shepherd involves regular brushing with a high quality grooming comb or brush. Bruising every other day or 3 times a week is just enough given their coat type and how heavily they shed. However, if you notice they have a lot of loose fur, just give the coat a quick run with the brush. It will make all the difference.
Detangle their coats weekly or every 2 weeks
In addition to the deshedding, you need to brush to detangle the coat every week or two. You can use the same brush as you do for the deshedding but it is always nice to invest in special detangling brushes to deal with these dogs’ long, thick manes.
Wash the pooch once every month
Another very important long-haired German Shepherd grooming tip is to actually give your dog a bath once every month. These dogs can get stinky especially if they have complicated skin conditions. Washing with soothing, hypoallergenic shampoos makes all the difference especially when it comes to ensuring the dog’s comfort.
Related Questions
Do German Shepherds Get Lighter Or Darker? German Shepherds get darker as they grow older. They grow darker in the sense that their coat colors and any present markings become bolder and the contrast gets sharper. This is a process that takes months to years for any visible differences. Later in life, the dog may develop lighter, grey hairs.
Are Two German Shepherds Better Than One? Two German Shepherds are not always better than one. This is because they are very territorial dogs that are prone to aggressive confrontations especially if you put two males together. However, if they grow up together from puppyhood or if it is more of a pack than a pair, then the dogs may get along after sufficient socialization training.
Are German Shepherds Good With Cats? German shepherds are not good with cats. They will instinctively chase and attack any smaller pets including tiny dogs. However, this is something you can get rid of or at the very least have under control with socialization and obedience training from an early age. It also helps to limit introduction of new pets to the dog’s puppy years.
