Australian Cattle Dog Grooming

The Cattle Dogs of today come from a long line of hard-working farm dogs and don’t care much for grooming. Being so acclimatised to working through different weather conditions, the Blue Heeler’s very short coat sheds and grows with the changing of the seasons. You don’t need to worry about taking your Cattle dog in to be professionally groomed!

That being said, when keeping a Cattle Dog as a pet, you’ll need to tend to some grooming needs, such as regular brushing, nail clipping, and bathing. In this grooming guide, we’ll detail everything you should know about keeping your Australian Cattle Dog puppy clean and tidy!

Do Australian Cattle Dogs Need A Haircut?

You don’t need to shave or trim your Cattle Dog as this could upset the dog’s natural growth and shedding cycle, and could also prove detrimental to their overall health.

Cattle Dogs have a double coat, the top coat consisting of straight hairs and featuring finer hairs on the bottom. Like most other double-coated breeds, these two layers of dog hair work together to keep a Blue Heeler’s body temperature regulated. The double coat also makes them water-resistant and protected from the sun’s UV rays.

For this reason, a Cattle Dog needs its double coat to be left alone to keep warm, avoid sunburn, and so on. This breed naturally blows its coat in the spring and autumn to prepare it for the spring and winter, so you don’t have to worry about giving an adult Australian Cattle Dog a summer haircut.

How often do Australian Cattle Dogs need a haircut?

Australian Blue Heelers don’t need haircuts at all. It would be OK to give your Cattle Dog a very light trim, especially if their hair grows uneven or if they suffer from a skin issue, but even then it’s not necessary.

You may hear of some owners significantly trimming – and, in worse cases, shaving – their Cattle Dog to help them stay cool in the summer. As a responsible dog owner, you should definitely avoid doing this!

Australian Cattle Dog haircut styles

Given that this dog breed does not require haircuts, no haircut style gets associated with them. The only ‘haircut’ you could associate with this breed is the short, straight, and dense look that they maintain naturally.

How Do You Groom An Australian Cattle Dog At Home?

Just because Blue Heelers are classed as ‘low maintenance’ dogs doesn’t mean you’re free of responsibility over their minimal grooming needs. You should still bathe your dog at least once every two months, and remember to brush your Blue Heeler weekly.

Generally, you should aim to bathe your Blue Heeler at least once every 2 months, but they can be bathed more frequently if they regularly get dirty or give off an odour. However, avoid bathing your Australian Cattle every week, as this could ruin the natural oils that keep your dog’s hair and skin healthy.

It’s best to brush its hair straight after the bath to help with the shedding process. A Cattle Dog requires weekly brushes on top of this.

Follow these steps when bathing and grooming your pup:

Step 1 – Place a rubber matt in the bath

Putting a rubber matt down makes it easier for you to place your pet in the bath. Not only does it make the experience more comfortable for them, but it also makes them less likely to slip, both of which will help control the dog’s anxiety surrounding bathing.

While getting a rubber matt, you should also make sure you have the following equipment ready: dog shampoo, a rubber spray hose, a washcloth, and cotton balls for your dog’s ears.

Step 2 – Water your dog down

Before applying water to your dog, gently place a cotton ball in both its ears, which will help prevent water from getting trapped in its ear canals.

Gently using a rubber spray hose, gently work your way over your dog’s body, starting at the ears.

Step 3 – Apply dog shampoo

Once you’ve adequately soaked your pup, pour out a small amount of dog shampoo onto a washcloth and gently massage it into the dog’s coat and work it into a lather.

Step 4 – Wash out the dog shampoo

Once you’re satisfied that you’ve cleaned your pup’s coat as best as you can, rinse out the shampoo residue. If you’ve got dog conditioner, repeat the process.

Step 5 – Dry your Australian Cattle Dog

Once you’re certain that all the shampoo and conditioner have been rinsed from your dog’s coat, gently take the pup out of the bath. Only use towels to softy dry your Cattle Dog – never use a blow dryer, as this can damage the dog’s coat and skin.

Step 6 – Brush your Australian Cattle Dog

Once you’ve dried your Australian Cattle Dog’s coat, carry out your dog’s standard weekly brush routine. The best tools for brush time include a steel comb, a slicker brush, and a de-shedding brush.

Australian Cattle Dog Additional Grooming Requirements

Besides bathing and brushing your Cattle Dog, you should also make time to tend to the following grooming needs:

Nail clipping

How to do it

You can clip your ACD’s nails using standard dog nail clippers. When clipping, it’s best to gradually shorten their nails instead of removing the excess nail in one clip. You should clip your dog’s nails until you reach the soft part.

How often does it need to be done?

You should clip your dog’s nails whenever you hear the nails making a noise as they walk along a hard-surfaced floor. If your pet spends a lot of time outside, their nails may file down naturally. On the other hand, if your Cattle Dog spends a lot of time indoors, you may have to clip their nails weekly.

Teeth brushing

How to do it

Using a dog toothbrush and dog toothpaste, brush your dog’s teeth as you would your own. Start on the front teeth and gradually make your way to the side and back.

How often does it need to be done?

Ideally, a dog’s teeth should be brushed daily. However, once per week should suffice if they’re not a fan.

FAQs

When should you first groom an Australian Cattle Dog?

You can start brushing your Australian Heeler as soon as you take them home from the breeder. As part of their settling-in phase, introduce a weekly groom to get them used to being brushed.

How often should I bathe my Australian Cattle Dog?

An adult Cattle Dog only requires a bath at least once every two months, or whenever they get dirty. You should avoid bathing a Blue Heeler weekly as this can damage their coat.

Do Cattle Dogs require professional grooming?

A Blue Heeler does not require professional grooming, as you can easily groom them at home. To groom this breed, all you need to do is go over their coat once a week with a steel comb and slicker brush to remove the dead hair from their coat.

Should I shave my Australian Cattle Dog for summer?

We wouldn’t recommend shaving your Cattle Dog for summer as this dog breed naturally sheds anyway. Keep your Cattle Dog puppy cool in summer by investing in a good quality fan, constantly topping up their water bowl, and by pouring cold water on their feet and head regularly.

Final Thoughts on grooming your Australian cattle dog

Bred to herd cattle in the harsh summer heat, Queensland Blue Heelers have very short coats to protect them from the weather. These coats are also finely tuned to the changing seasons and will shed and grow hair as necessary.

For this reason, you don’t have to worry about getting your Blue Heeler’s hair cut – but you still need to brush them weekly, bathe them regularly, and ideally brush their teeth daily!