Grooming

Places for grooming

Many people recommend a table to groom your collie on. This makes it easier for you, but I would really recommend not using the table too much when your puppy is young. You can get him used to it of course (this is extremely important), but don’t use it all the time. By using the grooming table, you are not giving your dog a chance to learn to love being groomed, as he is forced into it anyway. Get your dog to stand in front of you in a quiet place, and brush him while giving him treats, and praising him. You can also get him to lie down, sit, and basically anything. It will also let him know that you are the boss. You can brush him anywhere you want. You can brush in more distracting areas once he is used to being brushed. This is only if you want him to be really well trained.

Methods

Cleaning

The cleaning brush is plastic, with little balls at the end. It also tiny brushes at the bottom. This is good fro cleaning your dog. It is the alternative to giving your collie a bath. YOU SHOULD NOT GIVE YOUR COLLIE REGULAR BATHS! IT WILL DRY OUT HIS/HER SKIN!!!!! A bath twice a year is fine. Only give her a bath when she really needs one. Brush backwards with this brush. It will increase the fullness of the coat.

Grooming

Pin brush

This brush has spaced out blunt pins on it, and will make the coat shine. Brush your collie backwards. His coat will become very large.

Slicker Brush

Use this brush on the silky fur behind the ears, his forelegs and backlegs, and as a final touch.

Boarhair Brush

This brush is used as a final touch. It combs the fur at the very top of the coat.

Mat Breaker

This comb can be used to break or prevent mats.

Scissors

Use these to trim the fur around your collies feet, the fur in front of his ears, and cut out mats in the fur if necessary.

Tip: Talcum/baby powder can be rubbed into mats, and you can try to comb them out this way.

Spray Bottle

Fill a spray bottle with water, and spray some water onto your collie as a final touch. It will make his coat look very full and gorgeous!

Shampoo

Never use human shampoo! Use shampoo everytime you give your dog a bath – this shouldn’t be very often!

Conditioner

I wouldn’t really recommend conditioners for collies. One, sometimes they hate it, and two, it doesn’t always help. Sometimes it can make the fur go curly, or make it go soft, when it is suppose to be rough, hence the name rough collie (the smooth collie has a rough coat too, but it feels smoother as it is shorter).