How to Groom a Sheltie: 3 Vet-Verified Tips & Steps
When it comes to grooming a dog, many of us automatically think about brushing. In fact, grooming involves a variety of general care and maintenance tasks, including brushing, bathing (when necessary), coat trimming, and nail trimming.
Shelties are heavy shedders, so it’s important to keep their mass of hair under control to prevent matting, tangles, and “tumbleweeds” floating about your house. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps of grooming a Sheltie to keep their coat in tip-top condition.
Sheltie Grooming: What You’ll Need
Depending on the area of grooming you plan to work on, you may not need all of the below items for one session.
However, it’s a good idea to have all of these at home to fulfill your Sheltie’s various grooming needs whenever necessary:
The 3 Expert Tips on How to Groom a Sheltie
1. Bathing a Sheltie
Bathing your Sheltie can help loosen the undercoat during shedding seasons. Bathing can be done every 6–8 weeks if needed, but not more often unless they get very dirty, to avoid stripping the coat of its natural oils. It is a simple process but can be a little time-consuming. Here’s how to do it safely:
What You’ll Need:
- Pin brush
- Towel
- Dog shampoo
- Dog conditioner (optional)
- Detangling spray
Steps:
Our Favorite Products
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2. De-shedding & Brushing Your Sheltie
Shelties shed throughout the year, but they also blow their coats during shedding seasons. At these times, it’s wise to use a de-shedding tool on your Sheltie to remove the loose undercoat and prevent matting.
Outside of shedding seasons, you should only need to brush your Sheltie 2-3 times weekly, but you can do it more often than this. Detangling spray is very useful for grooming as a completely dry coat can be hard to handle, but on that note, you should avoid brushing your Sheltie while they’re still wet after a bath. Here’s how to fully de-shed and brush your Sheltie:
What You’ll Need:
- De-shedding tool (slicker brush, comb, or rake)
- A smaller de-shedding tool for hard-to-reach areas (optional)
- A regular dog brush
- Comb
- Trimming scissors (safety scissors with rounded ends are ideal)
Note: You can do this after your Sheltie has been bathed and dried or simply whenever they need a full brush and de-shed.
Steps:
3. Trimming Your Sheltie’s Nails
Nail trimming is important because overgrown nails can quickly become painful for dogs. It’s wise to check your Sheltie’s nails regularly to see if they would benefit from a trim. Some dogs need to have their nails trimmed every few weeks.
That said, nail trimming is one of the aspects of grooming that many dog parents find most stressful, especially if your dog is squirmy. If this is the case, it’s best to have someone on hand to hold and reassure your dog while you trim. If your dog is so squirmy that you can’t hold onto them, it might be best to let a professional do the trimming. Here’s how to do it safely:
What You’ll Need:
- Nail scissors or clippers
- Styptic powder (for accidents)
- A human assistant (optional)
Steps:
Final Thoughts
In addition to brushing your Sheltie and trimming their nails, it’s a good idea to check their ears regularly to see if any dirt and debris is building up there. It’s also a good opportunity to check for signs of infection. You might also want to get your Sheltie used to tooth brushing from an early age to help reduce plaque and tartar buildup.
If you’re finding any part of your Sheltie’s grooming routine too challenging, consider reaching out to a professional groomer for help.
See also: Best Dog Foods for St. Bernards
Sources
Featured Image Credit: Nehris, Shutterstock
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Kit Copson is a freelance writer and lifelong animal lover with a strong interest in animal welfare. She has parented many furry beings over the years and is currently a proud cat mom of two—one very chilled (unless hungry) Siamese and a skittish but adorable Domestic Shorthair—and dog mom of one—an adopted Bichon Poodle cross. When not writing about or spending time with pets, Kit can be found drawing in her sketchpad, reading, or more often than not, drinking tea.
