German Shepherd
The German Shepherd drops more hair than almost any dog we wash. The coat is double and it never really stops moving. There are two types, stock coat and long coat. Both need the same thing from us every eight weeks.
- Coat type
- Long Double
- Groom every
- 8 weeks
- Brushing at home
- Line brush twice a week
- Shedding
- Constant, and very heavy twice a year
- Watch for
- Packed hair in the trousers and tail
- Time in the salon
- About 80 minutes for a Luxe Wash and Dry
Two coats, one dog
A German Shepherd has a hard top coat and a thick soft layer under it. The stock coat sits close to the body. The long coat has feathering on the ears, legs and tail. Both are double. Dogs NSW says the breed needs no clipping and only the odd bath. That is true for the hair. It says nothing about the hair that ends up on your floor and your clothes.
Why eight weeks
Eight weeks keeps the loose hair under control. We are not cutting anything. We are washing the coat, then blowing the soft layer out of it. A big shepherd can give up a bin bag of hair in one visit. Twice a year it is worse. Heat matters too. A study of NSW dogs found deaths rose on days over 32 degrees, and a double coat was one of the risks.
We do not shave a German Shepherd. We take the loose hair out instead of shaving. A shaved double coat can grow back rough.
Home care between grooms
- Line brush twice a week. Push the coat back and brush one thin band at a time, always beginning at the skin. Work along the body in sections so nothing gets missed.
- Spend most of the time on the trousers, the tail and behind the ears. That is where the soft layer holds on.
- Twice a year, brush every day for a few weeks. It will feel endless. It ends.
Line brushing, shown by iGroomHub, our partner. This is how our groomers brush, and it is the way to do it at home.
What you need at home
- Undercoat rake
Pulls out the soft layer underneath. That is the hair that ends up on your floor.
- Slicker brush
This is the brush you line brush with. Follow it with the comb.
- Shampoo and conditioner
A proper wash loosens the dead hair so the dry can lift it out. Our range is made with chemists: 100% natural, vegan and palm oil free.
What we do for German Shepherds at WOOOF
Most German Shepherds book a Luxe Wash and Dry with Deshedding. That is a bath, a long warm dry, ears and nails. It takes about 80 minutes. The dry is the work. Warm air pushes the loose soft layer out of the coat in sheets. Deshedding is what we offer instead of a shave.
What a German Shepherd groom costs
Set to an extra large dog with a long double coat. Stock coats and long coats price the same. The time goes on drying, not cutting.
Showing the lowest prices, for a xl dog with a long double coat. Pick your dog’s weight and coat to see their price.
Add to any service
- Teeth Brush$30
- Nail Trim$25
- Nail filing$15
- DemattingFrom $34quoted on arrival
- DesheddingFrom $34quoted on arrival
Specialist grooming and programmes
Grooming that is priced after a conversation, a consultation, a coat assessment or a programme rather than a standard slot.
Happy Puppy Club
Short, positive sessions that teach a puppy the salon is a good place, so their whole grooming life is easier. Start any time from their first vaccinations.
See how the club works →
Spa treatments
Hydrospa and therapeutic treatments for coat, skin and muscular health, for itchy skin, dull coats, and older dogs who feel their walks the next day.
Browse treatments →
Hand stripping
Terriers and Spaniels whose coats are better hand stripped, or stripped and clipped. Duration and price depend on the coat.
Talk to our team →
Asian freestyle groom
Soft, sculpted, toy-like styling by an award-winning stylist: rounded faces, fuller legs, even braids. For smaller dense or curly coats groomed every 4 weeks.
Talk to our team →Cancellations and late arrivals
Please give us 24 hours if plans change. Arriving more than 15 minutes late may mean we cannot finish the groom booked.
Safe handling fee
A $30 safe handling fee applies where a dog needs two groomers or extra time to stay safe and comfortable. We always call you first.
Ready when you are
You’re 2 minutes away from happiness. Our booking portal helps you select the right services for your dog and shows you live calendar availability.
Book nowService prices are a starting point. The exact price is confirmed at drop-off, based on grooming time, coat condition, size and any extra handling. Add-on prices are exact.
Common questions
How often does a German Shepherd need grooming?
Every eight weeks. A German Shepherd needs no haircut. The soft layer under the top coat has to be washed and blown out. If it is not, it ends up all over the house.
Is the long coat harder work than the stock coat?
A little. The feathering on the ears, legs and tail needs combing as well as brushing. The body coat is the same job on both types.
Where this comes from
Dogs NSW, German Shepherd Dog. "The breed requires no clipping and only occasional baths."
Tripovich and others, Feeling the heat, Australian Veterinary Journal, 2025. A study of NSW dogs from 1997 to 2017. Deaths rose about 0.6% for each degree above 25°C, and 9.5% on days over 32°C. A double coat and a body weight over 15 kg were listed among the things that raise the risk.
RSPCA Australia, Why and how should I groom my dog? Brush knots out before they turn into mats.
RSPCA South Australia, The complete guide to grooming your dog. Poodles, poodle crosses and wiry haired terriers need regular combing. Trapped hair can cause ear and eye infections.
WOOOF groomers are not vets. We tell you what we see on the table and send you to your vet. Nothing here is vet advice.