Okay, so I was wondering about what Australian Shepherds need for their coats. What do they need done? (Besides the actual combing and bathing). How much? How often?
The only “trimming” ever done is tidying the feet & crotch!
NEVER buzz an Aussie! You’ll RUIN the coat!
Australian Shepherd need daily grooming and monthly baths. They don't require clipping.
By clipping these dogs, you can make the dog hotter.
Despite what you might think, long fur does not necessarily make a dog warmer. The fur can actually insulate the dog and keep it cooler, so trimming fur in this case is not necessary
If you just want your Aussie to look presentable as a pet, brush him/her daily with a pin brush during shedding season and use a teflon coated undercoat rake to really pull the fluff out. On a pet Aussie that has a great deal of coat trim a "poop path" so he doesn't soil the fur of his rear. Keep a pair of guillotine clippers to trim the nails (and a jar of stypic powder just in case). As long as you keep up on the brushing you probably won't have to worry about cutting out or untangling mats.
It's actually a great bonding time between you and your Australian Shepherd. Most love to be brushed and will readily flop belly up to be brushed there also! If you pair the clippers with a treat each time, you can train them to like nail trimming time. It's also a great opportunity to go over him with your hands and quickly discover if he has painful burrs, hot spots, or other lumps and bumps.
Brush the Aussie's coat weekly, perhaps more often during shedding season, to prevent matting. Before you start brushing, spritz the coat with a dog hair conditioner diluted with water to detangle.
Check out www.australianshepherdblog.com for more advice on your Autralian Shepherd.
