How to Groom an Australian Shepherd Dog

Australian Shepherds, or Aussies, are one of the most reliable breeds you may come across. Owners use these dogs for herding, finding stray animals, as seeing eye and hearing aid dogs and to help police track narcotics. Australian Shepherds are also quite attractive dogs. They have straight or wavy medium-length coats that require a full grooming every 6 to 8 weeks.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Protein coat conditioner
• Detangling solution
• Slicker brush
• Wide-tooth steel comb
• Scissors

1. Apply either a coat conditioner that is rich in protein or a detangling solution to the dog's coat. Brush through coat with a slicker brush to begin getting knots and matting out of the the coat.

2. Brush the coat with a wide tooth steel comb to help remove shed hair. Australian Shepherds are average shedders. Always brush out before bathing, as water solidifies tangles and knots in the Aussie's soft and thick undercoat.

3. Trim stray hairs around and under the feet with scissors. These dogs have lots of feathering and long hair all over. Excessive hair on the bottoms of the feet can cause dirt, burrs and other harmful objects to collect on the feet.

4. Bathe only when you need to. Australian Shepherds have a waterproof coat containing natural protective oils that frequent bathing strips away.

Tips & Warnings

• The four acceptable colors for this breed's coat are black, a mixture of black and gray called blue merle, red and a mixture of red and silver called red merle.
• Australian Shepherds make great family pets. They are eager to learn and to please. They are also highly trainable and easy to housebreak.
• Although the merle coats are exquisitely beautiful, dog's with this coloring carry a gene for blindness and deafness. If your puppy has merle coloration, have your vet check his eyes and ears immediately.
• If two Aussies with natural bobtails are bred together, the resulting puppy may have a spinal defect.
• Major health concerns for this breed include cataracts and CEA. Other, more minor issues are CHD, nasal solar dermatitis, Pelger–Huet syndrome and iris coloboma. Lumbar sacral syndrome, epilepsy, PRA, vWD, distichiasis, PDA, PPM, IMHA (Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia) and possible hip dysplasia are occasionally seen.

[desertlady]

on 3/7/2009 I have 2 Aussie (my boys). I was not sure the right way to bath them and this info has helped.

[ginnyb]

on 2/14/2009 Thanks for the information. I have an Aussie with bad hips. She doesn't act like it is arthritis or displasia. I am pretty sure it is lumbar sacral syndrome. She has all the symptoms including pain when the back hips are manipulated. I have been unable to identify the problem until your article. I had not heard of lumbar sacral syndrome before.