How to Groom a Long Haired Shepherd at Home

Long-haired shepherd breeds, such as Australian shepherds and some German shepherds, need to be groomed frequently. When these dogs shed, or molt, owners must brush them daily. An owner should trim a dog's fur if the dog participates in shows, is uncomfortable on hot days or looks unkempt. Long-haired shepherds have two layers of fur. The guard hair, or primary hair, covers the undercoat. Groomed dogs may have healthier skin, because owners have the opportunity to observe fleas and skin problems while grooming.

Things You'll Need

  • Collar
  • Leash
  • Assistant
  • Bowl
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon conditioner
  • Spoon
  • Undercoat rake
  • Slicker brush
  • Thinning shears
  • Paper towel
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Instructions

    • 1

      Fasten the collar around your dog's neck and clip on the leash. Give the leash to your assistant and have her keep the dog still while you groom it. Pour the water and conditioner into the bowl and mix them with a spoon. Pour the liquid evenly over your dog's fur.

    • 2

      Brush your dog's fur with the undercoat rake. Brush the fur in the direction in which it grows. Smooth out any tangles and remove foreign particles like sticks or burrs. Look for any patches of dry skin or scabs that may indicate a skin problem.

    • 3

      Groom your dog's ears. Brush the hair around your dog's ears with the slicker brush. Pull your dog's ears down gently and trim long hairs on the outside of the ears with the thinning shears. Raise the dog's ears and trim the hair on the inside of the ear.

    • 4

      Groom your dog's feet. Lift the hair between your dog's toes gently with your fingers, and sweep the hair upward with the slicker brush. Grip one of your dog's paws with your hand and trim the hair along the top of the paw with thinning shears. Cut off any long hair on the back of the paw. Trim the other paws.

    • 5

      Brush your dog with the undercoat rake again. Remove any trimmed bits of hair from your dog's fur. Wipe the bottom of your dog's paws with the paper towel to clean off any trimmed hair.