Best Vacuums For German Shepherd Hair | 5 Models Compared

If you’re looking for a quick recommendation, I suggest you check out the Dyson V11 Animal Cordless Vacuum Cleaner.

If you own a German Shepherd, then you already know that they can make quite a mess. Not only are they highly active dogs that like to run around and play in the dirt but they’re also heavy shedders. They shed regularly and blow their coats twice a year which often results in a whole lot of hair sticking to your furniture and fabrics like your carpet and clothes. As such, it is pretty much necessary to invest in a good vacuum cleaner for your German Shepherd’s hair if you wish to maintain cleanliness in your home.

Overview: The Best Vacuums For German Shepherd Hair

• Dyson V11 Animal Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
• Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright Vacuum Cleaner
• Shark AZ2002 Vertex Upright Vacuum Cleaner
• Shark ZS362 APEX Corded Stick Vacuum
• Hoover UH74220PC MAXLife Upright Vacuum Cleaner

Things To Consider When Buying A Vacuum Cleaner

Type Of Vacuum Cleaner

There are different types of vacuum cleaners and they all come with their set of advantages and disadvantages. These types are as follows:

Upright Vacuum Cleaner. This is the most popular type and is usually what comes to mind when you try to picture a vacuum cleaner. These vacuums have powerful suction and generally come with accessories and features that make them versatile and compatible with carpeted and bare floors alike.

Stick Vacuum Cleaner. Stick vacuums are basically thin and lightweight upright vacuums. As such, they’re easier to maneuver and convenient for quick clean-ups but do tend to be less powerful and unideal for deep cleaning.

Canister Vacuum Cleaner. As what seems like the perfect medium between upright and stick cleaners, canister vacuums provide both power and convenience. These cleaners are composed of a tank(canister) attached to a long slender wand(hose) which comes with multiple attachments that make this type of vacuum extremely versatile and excellent for cleaning furniture and different surfaces.

Handheld Vacuum Cleaner. These vacuums are lightweight, portable, and perfect for cleaning small, tight, and hard-to-reach areas. They’re extremely easy to use, and as the name implies, can be held with even just one hand. That said, these handheld vacuums are generally small and weaker in terms of suction and are thus best used for supplemental cleaning.

Robot Vacuum Cleaner. Also known as autonomous vacuums, this type of vacuum provides the most convenience as it requires little to no effort on your end. These high-tech vacuums clean small messes as it moves around your home on its own, that is, after you’ve set it up. They provide constant and easy cleaning, but also comes with a few drawbacks like price, and cleaning power.

If you consider the type alone, then you should generally opt for an upright or a canister type vacuum cleaner. But with current technology, that isn’t always the case and there are also other factors you have to consider.

Features

Aside from type, you also have to look at the features that a specific vacuum provides. For example, some vacuums may not have brush agitators necessary for cleaning fur on carpets easily. Some vacuum cleaners may have features that make it safer for those people with allergies whereas some may not be as allergy-friendly.

And so, here are some features you should look for when getting a vacuum cleaner for German Shepherd hair:

• Brush Agitator. Brush agitators help with pulling out dirt and hair stuck on carpets and are thus essential when dealing with heavy shedding. They’re pretty much standard accessories for vacuum cleaners today so you don’t actually have to worry about it. That said, it wouldn’t hurt to verify.
• HEPA Filter. If you suffer from allergies, you should highly consider getting a vacuum cleaner with a High Efficiency Particulate Air(HEPA) filter. This type of filter traps 99.97% of particulates 0.3 microns or larger. Meaning, it effectively traps allergy-inducing dander and helps provide allergy relief.

Your Home

Aside from the vacuum itself, you should also consider your home’s flooring and overall layout.

Are your floors carpeted? Do you have stairs? Asking yourself these questions will help you determine which vacuum cleaner is most compatible and best for your home.

If your floors are fully carpeted, then you should of course get a vacuum cleaner that features a brush agitator and specializes in cleaning carpeted floors. If not, choose one that’s suitable for your flooring.

If you have stairs, it would be extremely difficult to carry a heavy vacuum cleaner up and down. So in such a case, your best bet would be to get a lightweight vacuum or at least one with an extension hose.

The point is, consider your home and try to determine which features and type of vacuum cleaner would be most effective and convenient to use.

Your Budget

Vacuum cleaners come in a wide range of prices, so determine how much you intend to spend. Also, keep in mind that while it may seem ideal to get the top of the line and most expensive vacuum available, some budget options will clean up your German Shepherd’s hair with no issues.

The Best Vacuums For German Shepherd Hair

After extensive research, I chose five different vacuum cleaners for German Shepherd hair to compare and help you choose.

Best Overall: Dyson V11 Animal Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

A well engineered product, this cordless vacuum cleaner keeps up with the power of plug in models. This means that you get the suction power of upright and canister models in a convenient and easy to use stick vacuum. What more, it also comes with multiple features and accessories that make it versatile and fit for any situation.

The Dyson V11 Animal Cordless Vacuum Cleaner will allow you to clean up your German Shepherd’s hair from basically anywhere in your house. It does so by having intelligently designed features. For instance, it has a powerful cleaner head and a smart Dynamic Load Sensor(DLS) which allows for effectiveness with any type of surface. Aside from those, the vacuum also comes with different attachments like a mini-motorized tool that’s designed specifically for removing pet hair from carpets and upholstery.

Being a stick and cordless vacuum, the Dyson V11 Animal is lightweight and relatively easy to maneuver. Its lowered cleaner head and slim design makes it easy to slide under low and deep spaces. What’s even better is that you can convert it to a handheld should you need to use it for cleaning your car or sofa. It’s honestly amazing how convenient this vacuum cleaner is to use. With it you’ll have full freedom of movement and you won’t need to treat each clean as a weight lifting session.

Another good reason to love the Dyson V11 Animal is the fact that it has HEPA filters. If you suffer from allergies, then you’ll highly benefit from this vacuum. But even if you don’t, HEPA filters trap even the smallest dust particles and will allow you to breathe cleaner air.

Now for the downsides.

As a stick vacuum cleaner, you may find issues with its relatively small capacity, especially if you’re used to uprights and canisters. This means that you’ll have to empty it much more often and perhaps even a few times per trip around the house. Fortunately though, it is quite simple and hygienic to empty with its point and shoot system. But yet again, the frequent need to do it can get quite annoying.

Lastly, the Dyson V11 is quite expensive and is in fact one of the higher priced vacuum cleaners I’ve included in this list. So while I do highly recommend it, be sure to consider your budget.

Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright Vacuum Cleaner

The Dyson Ball Animal 2 is another excellent choice for managing the mess that your German Shepherd leaves. Like the V11, it features strong suction and a self-adjusting cleaner head that makes it effectively clean any surface type.

But what’s awesome about the Dyson Ball Animal 2, is that not only is it strong, but the multiple attachments included essentially make this vacuum cleaner perfect for any situation. You have rotating brush heads for removing hair from carpets and upholstery. A Reach Under Tool that extends and bends to help remove dust from tight and awkward spaces, and even a stair tool, to make cleaning stairs no hassle. All in all you get 8 well designed attachments to help you clean up every part of your house.

Like the V11, this vacuum cleaner is also allergy-friendly. It features what Dyson calls as “whole HEPA filtration” which actually just means that it uses a HEPA filter and that it’s engineered to be completely sealed. Meaning, it won’t let any unfiltered dust or allergens back out, and thus is a great choice if you suffer from allergies.

Now let’s talk convenience, as this is what I believe separates the V11 Animal from the Ball Animal 2. As an upright vacuum, the Ball Animal 2 is one heavy machine. Even with the Ball Technology that makes it easier to move the vacuum around, it can still be quite difficult to maneuver to the point that it’ll feel like a workout. It’s very likely that you’d get tired with prolonged use.

Other than that though, this vacuum is by all means an excellent choice. But with it being basically priced the same as the V11, I’d say go with that instead.

Shark AZ2002 Vertex Upright Vacuum Cleaner

As an upright vacuum, the Shark AZ2002 Vertex is packed with power and made for effective and deep cleaning for any surface. With powerful suction and features made specifically for hair pickup, this is an excellent choice for managing your German Shepherd’s shedding.

The most notable features in terms of cleaning German Shepherd hair include the DuoClean PowerFin technology that goes hand in hand with a self-cleaning brushroll. The PowerFins prove highly effective in removing hair from both carpeted and hard surfaces alike while the self-cleaning brushroll prevents hair from getting tangled on the rollers. Really, this vacuum’s effectiveness in cleaning is already impressive by itself, but the fact you don’t have to go through hours of pulling or cutting out hair from its roller brush is icing on the cake.

Now, it won’t be a great vacuum cleaner if it was difficult to use. And so, the Shark AZ2002 Vertex makes cleaning easy with features like the Powered Lift-Away which essentially turns the vacuum into a canister vacuum. With the increased reach you’ll be able to clean under furniture, overhead areas, and stairs with minimal issues.

Finally, this vacuum is also allergy-friendly with its Anti-Allergen Complete Seal and a HEPA filter. 

Now, as good as this vacuum is, it’s not by any means perfect. Even though it has features that caters for convenience, it too suffers from a typical downside of upright vacuums, and that is the fact that it can be heavy.

Also, keep in mind that this is a plug in model, and thus you won’t have full freedom of movement. In fact, you may sometimes feel limited by the cord even with the Powered Lift-Away in play.

Despite the weaknesses though, the Shark AZ2002 Vertex will get the job done. And with its price close to budget or mid-level range, it is by all means worth it.

Shark ZS362 APEX Corded Stick Vacuum

The Shark ZS362 APEX is a highly effective vacuum as you would expect from the brand. This time around though, instead of an upright like the AZ2002 Vertex, we have a stick vacuum that’s more similar to the Dyson V11 Animal. So in a sense, you kind of get the best of both worlds.

The vacuum is equipped with Sharks DuoClean technology and self-cleaning brushroll. Its dual-brushroll system allows for deep-cleaning on any surface and the self-cleaning functionality allows for easy maintenance.

As a stick vacuum cleaner, it has a slim design that allows you to slide it in and out of low and tight spaces. Couple that with its Advanced Swivel Steering, then you have a vacuum that is relatively easy to maneuver. Also, like the Dyson V11 Animal, you can quickly transform the Shark ZS362 APEX into a handheld and add the necessary attachments for more specific cleaning.

Now while its features are great, there are reasons why I don’t consider this to be the best.

First off, it has no HEPA filter. So while it does a great job of cleaning dust, it doesn’t have the benefit of a filter being able to securely trap allergens. If you suffer from allergies, you may want to pass on this model.

Next, it’s just not as easy to use as compared to the Dyson V11 Animal. Despite being a stick vacuum, the Shark ZS362 APEX isn’t actually as lightweight as it should be. It’s quite top heavy and it can get uncomfortable with prolonged use.

You also have the fact that it’s corded. Despite being long, it just doesn’t offer the same freedom of movement that the Dyson V11 does. Also, it’s not retractable so you might get it tangled at some point.

Overall, it’s a decent vacuum. While it probably doesn’t compare to the Dyson V11, it does come at half the price, so it is worth the consideration. 

Hoover UH74220PC MAXLife Upright Vacuum Cleaner

We’re back to upright vacuum cleaners with the Hoover UH74220PC MAXLife. This vacuum is designed specifically to clean up after pets, and is thus perfect for heavy shedding German Shepherds. It is packed with features and accessories that allow it to remove even the stubbornest hair from your carpet, furniture, and other hard to reach areas.

One of such features is the vacuum’s Advanced Action brush roll which allows for effective cleaning no matter the type of surface. Couple that with a long wand and specialized attachments like the pet turbo tool for removing pet hair from above floor surfaces or the crevice tool for tight spaces, and you have a complete vacuum cleaner built for any situation.

Another great thing about the Hoover UH74220PC MAXLife is the fact it is allergy-friendly as it features HEPA filters. This vacuum is a great choice if you suffer from allergies.

Now like the other vacuums, this too isn’t perfect. As an upright, it is quite heavy and in fact even heavier than the Shark AZ2002. With that, overall maneuverability can be an issue, especially if you’re not used to the vacuum’s swivel functionality.

Overall, it’s definitely far from perfect. That said, it is one of the most affordable ones in this list, and it does get the job done.

Conclusion

I hope that this information on the best vacuum cleaners for German Shepherd hair gives you a good idea of the options you have and helps you make an informed decision of your purchase.

To reiterate, I consider the Dyson V11 Animal Cordless Vacuum as the best one in the list as I find it to offer the best mix of effectiveness and convenience.

That said, the Shark AZ2002 Vertex and the Hoover UH74220PC are also great budget options that get the job done.