Border Collie is probably one of the most intelligent dogs you can come across. This medium-sized and workaholic dog is an ideal sheep herder. The Border Collie is the perfect dog companion everyone would love to have.
But how do you keep this breed in good shape? How can you groom the Border Collie? Well, like is the case with most dogs, you need to pay attention to your Border Collie. Border Collie grooming shouldn’t be misconstrued to be the same as with other dogs. It is quite easy to maintain these dogs. In this piece, therefore, we seek to make your grooming job simple. Take a look at the tips below.
Border Collie Coat Type
This bread of dogs can be found in long, short and smooth hair coats. For the long-haired breeds, there are usually high tendencies of mats and tangles forming and this requires frequent grooming. For this type, you need to invest in a wide range of grooming equipment.
The smooth-haired Border Collie, on the other hand, are the easiest to groom as their rarely get tangles on their coats. With the smooth-haired types, you simply need to invest in a brush for removing the undercoat after shedding.
In case the coat gets dirty, you can easily clean it by just wiping. The smooth-haired Border Collie are therefore the most ideal for use in the wilderness as there will be no tangles with the branches and shrubs. Regardless of the type you have, you still need to properly groom him/her. In the below sections, we are going to have a look at the best grooming tips for Border Collie.
Border Collie Grooming Tips
Nail Trimming
Long nails in dogs can be quite dangerous at times. Can you imagine playing with your best friend but in the end you get hurt? Such a painful experience. The long nails can also get caught by other stuff and cause immense pain to the dog.
It is therefore ideal to always trim the nails. Properly trimmed nail will eliminate the pains described above while at the same time protect your furniture from damage.
So, when is the ideal time to trim? Well, once you are able to hear clicking sounds on the ground as your Border Collie walks, know that the nails are due for trimming. You can trim the nails on your own without visiting a groomer.
To get the trimming done right, ensure that you entice your dog with gifts so that he/she stays still throughout the exercise. Extra caution needs to be taken not to injure the dog by cutting too close to the toes.
The best dog nail clippers will be of great help when it comes to nail trimming. After you are done trimming, reward your little friend for being cooperative otherwise you might find it quite rough the next time.
Bathing
Just as is the case with humans, dogs also need to take baths to remain clean. The Border Collie is a playful dog who’ll get dirty with time. But you need to know that most dogs don’t like the idea of taking baths.
You need to prepare yourself for some kind of struggle in the initial stages but they get used to bathing with time. To help Border Collie get used to bathing, entice him with gifts. You then should handle him with lots of care.
Make sure the water is warm so that he doesn’t feel uncomfortable when bathing. It is also recommended that you use approved and gentle shampoo so that there are no reactions with the skin. After the bath, ensure that the soap is well rinsed off and the skin dried with a towel.
Buildup of soap can lead to itchy and dry skin; that’s why a clean and thorough rinsing is very necessary. When bathing the Border Collie, make sure that water or shampoo doesn’t get into his ears and eyes.
Around ears and eyes you should use a soft cloth to wipe them dry. Don’t make the mistake of brushing your dog’s fur when he’s still wet. This way you avoid tangles, breakage and pain caused by fur wetness.
Teeth Brushing
It can be quite unfortunate if your Border Collie is well groomed but his teeth and mouth are smelly. Nothing really a turn off as bad breath. You should brush your dog’s teeth to not only get rid of the foul smell but to also prevent gum and teeth-related infections.
Proper dental health for your dog will surely extend his life as he will be able to eat with lots of ease while at the same time preventing spread of bacteria into other body parts.
Are there special toothbrushes for dogs? Yes, you can easily find toothbrush for your dog with lots of ease in the market currently. They are smaller in sizes with some having their bristles made from rubber to remove more plaque without any pain infringed on the dog.
These brushes are compatible with toothpastes specially formulated for dogs. Don’t use human toothpaste on dogs as they contain fluorides which aren’t to be consumed by dogs. Remember you can’t even command your furry friend to spit the paste. It is recommended that you train your little friend so that in the long run he doesn’t feel awkward when it’s time for brushing teeth. To help clean the dog’s teeth without necessarily brushing the teeth frequently, give him plenty of toys to gnaw as the teeth will get cleaned in the process.
Ear Cleaning
If your Border Collie is scratching the ears or he appears to shake the head a lot, know that it’s time to clean the ears. There are ear cleaning solutions from pet stores you can use to clean the ears. It is not advisable to insert objects into your dog’s ears.
To help remove wax that might have formed in the ears, you only need to squirt the cleaning solution in small bits into the ear canal. You can then use a soft cloth to clean the wax solution by turning your dog’s head sideways.
When cleaning the ears, you need to check for signs of blood, inflammation or too much wax as these could be signs of serious ear infections. In such cases your Border Collie should be taken to a vet for examination.
Cleaning the Eyes
Dog’s eyes are very sensitive and close attention should be paid when cleaning them. No foreign materials whether liquid or solid should find its way into the eyes of your friend. You should therefore only wipe the eyes with a clean cloth to remove any foreign objects that could have found their ways close to the eyes.
Dogs have a way of removing these objects especially when they sleep, yours should be limited to clearing the debris once they have been collected around the eyes. It is very much possible to render your dog blind if the wiping is done with chemically-stained cloths.
Cleaning the Paws
Your Border Collie’s paws should always be kept soft so as to eliminate chances of them cracking and drying. This can be maintained by always ensuring that the paws are free from dirt. When the paws are clean, you are also assured of your furniture’s cleanliness.
Coat Trimming
You also need to trim your dog’s hair as too much of it can make your living room too messy. Can you imagine a situation where you meet your Border Collie’s hair everywhere in the house? To avoid such, it is recommended that you keep the coat short but not too short either.
Long-haired dogs can leave lots of mess when shedding. But if the fur is kept properly maintained and short you won’t even notice any stray pieces in the house.
When trimming the hair, make sure you use the right shaving tools. The areas you need to pay attention to are the ears, ankles and feet. If hair in these areas grow too long, some discomfort might be caused to the dog when playing or working.
Conclusion
You can easily keep your Border Collie in good shape and health by practicing the simple tips outlined above. However, if by any chance you are not comfortable performing any of these grooming tips at home, then you’d rather involve a vet or groomer.
You need to know it doesn’t cost much to groom your dog. In fact, these are things you can perform when at the same time attending to other issues. Hope you found this article not only interesting but also educative.
Do you know of any other tips not mentioned here that you’d wish to share with us? Feel free to reach out to use through the comment section below.
