Owning a Border Collie can be great as they are bright and clever dogs. The active breed is ideal for those that love to get out and about, and their loyal, affectionate nature ensures a strong bond is built with their family.
One aspect of owning a Border Collie that can often be overlooked is their grooming needs. Thankfully, our handy order Collie grooming guide will cover everything you need to know.
When grooming a Border Collie, you will be delighted to hear that their needs are relatively basic, and their hair typically won’t need to be trimmed. Owners might trim the hair around the back of the legs and feet of show dogs to keep them tidy.
While most Border Collies won’t need to get their hair trimmed, if you do choose to, you will only need to do this every 6 to 12 weeks.
Border Collies typically do not require haircuts, and shaving the dog’s hair can cause issues with how it grows back. The Border Collie will naturally shed around springtime, so its coat will be ready for the summer.
Trimming around the back of the legs and feet is usually done on show dogs to give them a neater appearance, so even this will be a straightforward trim for a professional.
Because grooming Border Collies is so straightforward, it can be done at home if you don’t want the expense of a professional groomer.
Your dog won’t need an extensive trim because Border Collies shed in preparation for summer. Border Collie grooming in the home should include lots of positive reinforcement for the dog, including treats.
If you are unsure or your dog has aggressive tendencies, this should not be attempted, and you should consult a professional groomer. Professional groomers must be aware of any aggressive tendencies a dog might have.
Follow these simple steps if you plan to trim a Border Collie coat.
Get the dog’s coat ready by brushing it from head to tail. This will help to remove dead hair and light tangles.
If your dog’s hair has thick matting that can’t be brushed loose, this can be cut loose using an electric trimmer. Take your time to study the mat so you can do this without irritating the dog’s skin.
The main area you will need to trim on a Border Collie will be around the feet. Excess hair around the feet, growing over the toes, and between the dog’s pads should be trimmed carefully.
You can use scissors or an electric trimmer, but you should take extra care as your dog might be sensitive about having its feet touched.
The hair around a dog’s ears might need to be trimmed, but this should be left to a professional. You will be able to tidy up loose hairs and check for any matting.
The hair on your Border Collie’s tail can also need attention because it grows quickly and can get dirty or matted quickly. The tail should not be trimmed excessively and should be tidied up.
Border Collies do not need regular bathing, and brushing the coat frequently will help remove dirt and dead hair. Bathing once every two to three months should be enough to ensure the dog is kept clean, but its natural skin oils are not removed by over-washing.
Your dog should be brushed before a bath to remove tangles or dirt. You should put your dog in the bath and use dog shampoo on the coat.
Thoroughly rinse the shampoo out of the coat, then apply a conditioner. After allowing the conditioner to soak in, the coat should be rinsed again, ensuring no shampoo or conditioner is left in the coat.
Use a towel to dry off the dog, try and be quick or your dog will shake and soak the whole bathroom. Comb any tangles in the fur and brush the coat once more when it is wet.
As well as bathing and trimming the dog’s hair, other things that should be included in your grooming regime include cleaning the ears and eyes of the dog, brushing its teeth, and clipping the dog’s nails.
Your dog’s ears should be checked and cleaned at least once a month to avoid a waxy buildup, dirt, or infections. The eyes should be wiped as and when it is needed, and their teeth should be cleaned at least a minimum of three times per week.
Clipping your dog’s nails will be determined by how quickly they grow and whether the dog wears them down quickly enough when out for walks and exercise.
If your dog is uncomfortable or gets aggressive while getting its nails trimmed, speaking with or getting the help of a professional groomer may help.
Use treats as positive reinforcement, and get the dog used to the clippers you will use from an early age. This will help make the whole process less scary and reduce anxiety in your dog.
You should find a comfortable area to cut your Border Collie’s nails and ensure there aren’t any distractions. Holding smaller dogs or having someone else help hold larger dogs, so they don’t move during the process is beneficial.
You can extend the nail by firmly holding the paw between your forefinger and thumb and pushing gently. You should then clip across the tip of the dog’s nail and never clip beyond the nail’s natural curve.
Giving your dog treats during and after will help it associate the process as a positive thing.
Keeping an eye on your dogs’ nails will help determine when they need to be clipped. There are no set rules for how frequently this should be as they will be naturally worn down when the dog exercises.
Grooming a border collie puppy will help keep it in excellent condition and also help it get used to the regime as it grows.
You shouldn’t need to bathe Border Collie any more than once every two to three months unless it gets particularly dirty when out on a walk.
Grooming Border Collies is typically straightforward. Standard grooming can be carried out at home, but if you are unsure or want to get professional help, this is entirely up to you.
Investing in the right grooming tools such as dog nail clippers, a slicker brush for longer hair, a pin brush for removing tangles, and a bristle brush to improve the shine and smoothness of the dog’s outer coat.
A Border Collie has a thick double coat, and regular brushing will help remove dead or loose hair from this beautiful herding dog. Border Collie shedding will occur around springtime in preparation for the summer so shaving your dog is entirely unnecessary.
The Border Collie breed is a fun, lively, energetic breed that makes a great family pet. Their simple grooming needs are also perfect for people who want to avoid expensive grooming bills or spend hours every day looking after their dog’s coat.
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