GROOMING YOUR SHELTIE PUPPY
Your Sheltie puppy will not
need a lot of grooming, but it is important to
get him/ her used to the tools, the feel of the
brushes, and the presence of the nail clipper.
You would need to brush out the soft fur that
sprouts out behind the ears, the frills that
grow behind the front legs and the hocks, and
also the tail. As your puppy grows a bit of
coat, just gently brush with a soft brush in
order to keep it neat and to get your puppy used
to the feel of it. You may want to put your
puppy up on a grooming table for this, but it is
not essential. Brushing stimulates and
encourages new hair growth. For those that have
more coat at this stage, you can also get him/
her used to the scissors, and you can gently
trim a little behind the ears and some untidy
bits from the
hocks. Sometimes the fronts of their paws also
need a little help.
For nail cutting, you can just use a standard
human nail clipper. Remember that all of this is
new to your baby if your breeder has not started
the process, and keep your sessions very short,
and treat a lot!
You may also want to get your puppy used to
lying on his side and being gently brushed -
make it seem like a gentle massage so he can
relax and perhaps even sleep! |
GROOMING YOUR ADULT SHELTIE
Your adult Sheltie will require a lot more grooming!
By now he/ she will be used to you fiddling
around with the coat and feet, so should be able
to relax while you work. If not, some more
treating while grooming is necessary!
First of all, never work with a dry coat - it
can easily be damaged, so always have a water
spray bottle on hand that can spray a fine mist.
You can also use a groomers spritz - a coat
nourisher in a spray bottle.
It is probably best to start with legs and feet.
First, brush all the coat (frills) behind
the legs well, in the same direction as the coat
grows. The coat on the front of the legs can be
brushed in an upwards direction. A plain pin
brush can be used for this. Also brush up all
the coat on the foot, including coat that gets
stuck between the toes. Use a pair of thinning
scissors to neaten this coat.
Next, use some straight scissors to trim the
coat sticking out below and in between the pads
of the feet. Also, trim neatly the entire way
around the foot. Brush the coat on the hocks so
that it is standing 90 degrees to the hock, and
use both types of scissors to trim off all the
rough edges.
Brush the tail thoroughly from the base to the
tip. The tail needs no trimming!
The ears will be the most work for you! Lift up
the ear and trim most of the excess coat from
the inside (the coat that protrudes past the
edges of the ear). On the outside of the ear,
brush all the long coat upwards & outwards and
trim everything that is longer than the ear
edges with thinning scissors. Bend the ear in
half and trim further the coat that sticks up
(roughly). Lastly, hold the ear towards the tip
of the nose and use the stripping knife on the
ear in a downwards motion to blend the shortened
coat.
The body and neck and chest will require
line brushing if he/ she has a lot of coat.
Please see below how to go about that.
The nails can be trimmed with a standard pet
nail clipper or a dremel. |
EXCESS COAT ON YOUR SHELTIE
If you are struggling with excess coat, you will need to thin it out in some
areas.
BODY
Always use a water spray bottle before working the coat.
The no1 tool for excess undercoat is the undercoat rake. There are a few
types - single row, double row and retractable - all work very well, but brush
lightly, it is a hard brush! It also comes in a more severe type rake with
blades. The de-shedding tool can be used in the same manner, but it takes only
excess surface coat out.
EARS
The very long coat around the ears is trimmed with thinning scissors, followed
by a stripper knife for blending the shortened coat. A matt breaker can help you
with any knots behind the ears, but don't get into the habit of breaking and
cutting the fur - rather try and prevent the knots from forming - you can do
this by gentle brushing every day. If knots start, untangle them. You can use a
form of oil or dishwashing liquid to help you.
LINE BRUSHING
If your sheltie has a lot of coat, you will need to line brush to make sure that
you are getting it all.
Here is a LINK to a
simple video on how to line brush your Sheltie.
ADVICE ON SHOW GROOMING YOUR SHELTIE
ASK Nadine @ Mackland
ASK Joanie @ Wylwind
FOR A LIST OF PARTICIPATING GROOMERS, PLEASE CLICK
HERE
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