Many people choose dog breeds based on size, temperament, or appearance. Another important factor that potential dog owners should consider is the kind of coat they have and whether they shed.
People who suffer from allergies will be most affected by how a dog sheds, but it is also important for people who don’t want their clothes and home covered in dog hair.
The Border Collie breed is a friendly, energetic, and affectionate dog that can come with a rough or smooth coat. You can expect the Border Collie shed throughout the year and, like most other double-coated breeds, has a shedding season that sees Border Collies shed excessively.
Border Collie’s shedding seasons are in spring when the dog sheds its thick winter coat in preparation for the summer, and in autumn, when the lighter summer coat is shed so they can regrow their thick winter coats.
Border Collie puppies have a fluffy, thick coat for the first six to twelve months before it sheds and their adult coat starts to come in. Because of this, they are less likely to shed as much as adults.
Traditionally Border Collie coats are black and white and have either medium or long, rough outer coats or a short, smooth coat.
The outer coat of these double-coated dogs tends to be more coarse than the softer undercoat.
Rough-coated Border Collie’s hair is slightly longer than the smoother variety and will feather on the legs, chest, and belly. The undercoat tends to be softer, dense, and woolly, which can be difficult to groom and is liable to become matted.
The short, smooth-haired style will typically have little or no feathering and short, coarse hair all over. Smooth-coated Border Collies can have less dense undercoats, and this combination makes them popular working dogs due to their low-maintenance coats compared to those with rough coats.
It is also possible to find a mix with shorter hair over its body and longer hair around the tail and head.
You can’t stop a Border Collie from shedding, but there are ways to minimise it. Here are our top tips for managing shedding.
A Border Collie should only be bathed every two to three months to ensure its natural oils aren’t washed away. When you bathe your dog, using high-quality shampoo can make a difference to the overall health of the coat and minimise shedding.
Anti-shed shampoos and conditioners contain vitamins that help keep your dog looking and smelling great and reduce the amount of hair they moult.
A good grooming regime is essential to your dog’s well-being and coat health. A grooming session should include brushing the dog to remove all loose hair, dead hair, tangles, and dirt. A Border Collie should be brushed at least three times a week to keep this under control.
If you also need to trim your dog’s nails or cut its hair, you might want to visit a professional groomer if you are inexperienced. They will be able to provide great tips for maintaining the coat.
Ensuring your dog is getting all the nutrients it needs from its diet will go a long way to guaranteeing a healthy coat and your dog’s health.
Parasites like fleas and ticks can cause scratching, which increases the amount your dog will shed. Regular checks and applying treatments when necessary should help to keep your dog safe from this risk and protect your pet’s skin.
Border Collies are not hypoallergenic dogs, and this is because they shed all year round and have two seasons where excessive shedding is common.
Technically, no dog is entirely hypoallergenic, and it is just that some breeds have minimal shedding, so their hair and dander do not impact the owner as much.
Border Collie owners will soon come to understand that their dog’s coat sheds throughout the year. Most dogs will shed to some degree, but the thick double coat of the Collie makes it prone to shedding considerably during autumn and spring.
How much your Border Collie sheds can be managed to some degree. Still, the Border Collie’s coat will shed in preparation for its summer and winter coat to control its body temperature naturally.
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