How Often Should You Be Grooming Your Australian Shepherd?

Last Updated on April 21, 2022

If you want your Aussie’s coat to be as gorgeous as it can be, it needs to be groomed regularly. But what does this mean? Now, let’s dig deeper into grooming Australian Shepherd and try to find out the answer to this question.

Thankfully, it’s not that difficult! No more difficult than many other dog breeds. However, if you don’t know where to start, this guide will help you get started with grooming Australian Shepherd.

What is the Australian Shepherd’s coat like?

Australian Shepherd dogs have a double coat. That is, they have a top coat and an undercoat. This means that your Aussie dog is going to shed lots. All year round. Forever. Because of this heavy duty coat, proper grooming techniques should be observed to keep your puppy happy and healthy!

Tools you need for grooming Australian Shepherd

Because your dog technically has two coats, a top coat and an undercoat, there are special brushes for each. Get a regular coat brush as well as an undercoat brush. This will help dislodge all the hair from your dog and stimulate the skin underneath.

A pair of trimming scissors are also necessary. Trimming is another important part of grooming that many pet owners forget about. Key trimming areas include ears, tail, and between the paw pads. Trimming these areas ensures that your puppy doesn’t slip, and rogue hairs don’t irritate any delicate areas. Plus, your Aussie will look cute to boot.

Some pointers for grooming Australian Shepherd

When starting with the brush, use the regular coat brush first, following the grain of the hair. Then, follow up with the undercoat brush. Make sure not to pull or tug, or rake roughly across your dog’s skin. Start at the head and work your way down to the tail. If you encounter tangles, use the brush and work through them. This is often a difficult task, but be patient! Eventually, the knots come free, and you can continue brushing.

For trimming, make the cuts neat, removing excess fur. Do not cut down to the skin, otherwise you risk cutting your dog. Get between your Australian Shepherd’s paw pads and just trim a little, so that the pads touch the ground.

How often does your Aussie need to be brushed?

A little brushing daily, or a lot of brushing weekly, will help maintain your Aussie’s coat and keep their skin healthy. Since they’re such notorious shedders, hair buildup can cause mats and tangles in their fur, which is really uncomfortable for your dog!

Bathing and drying your Australian Shepherd

A bath once or twice a month should be more than sufficient to keep your Aussie happy and healthy. Just as with bathing other dog breeds, use a good shampoo and work it into the coat of your dog. Then rinse thoroughly with water. Some dogs are bath-adverse, so getting them used to bathing as a puppy really goes a long way!

For drying, there is the tried and true towel method, but you can also use a hair dryer. Work through the hair in patches, making sure to use a low heat and blowing the hair in the direction you want it to lay.

Get too close, and the hairs will curl, too far away and you’ll be there for several hours waiting for your dog to dry. Make sure that bathing is a fun and rewarding experience for all parties involved. You get a clean Aussie, and your Aussie gets a treat!

This is how you should be grooming Australian Shepherd

Is grooming Australian Shepherd really that easy?

Yes! grooming Australian Shepherd is really easy to care for as long as you know how, and shouldn’t put a huge dent in your routine. A good brush through both the top and under coats, and a nice little trim once in a while will do your Aussie wonders. Don’t forget to trim the nails too! All in all, a very easy to maintain breed.

Does your Australian Shepherd have a tail? Did you know some dogs don’t have tails? Find out why!