How to Groom a Sheepdog

The old English sheepdog has a long, rich coat that may be gray, grizzle, blue or blue merle with or without white markings. To preserve the appearance of the coat and prevent the matting of the hair, perform the grooming of your sheepdog regularly. The rough hair is not difficult to brush, but given the size of the dog and the rich coat, the grooming is more time-consuming than the grooming of a smaller dog. In addition to brushing, your dog also requires nail trimming and ear cleaning.

Things You'll Need

  • Detangling solution
  • Pin brush
  • Steel comb
  • Slicker brush
  • Blunt scissors
  • Sharp scissors
  • Ear powder
  • Ear cleaning solution
  • Nail clipper
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Instructions

    • 1

      Wet the dog's hair to make the brushing easier. If the hair looks tangled, spray a detangling solution over the dog's coat.

    • 2

      Start by superficially brushing the dog's coat with a pin brush going with the grain of the hair. Identify the spine. Part the coat in two unequal sides -- left and right -- following a line that is parallel to the spine, expanding from one shoulder to the corresponding hip. Brush the hair in the part with less hair going with the grain of the hair. Create another parting with your fingers, an inch above the first line, coming closer to the dog's spine. Brush the hair in the direction of the growth. Create three to five additional partings, brushing after each parting until you reach close to the dog's elbows and thighs, on the other side. Comb the dog's legs and brush the hair on its head, making sure to go over the ear area.

    • 3

      Use a comb or a slicker brush if you find any tangled fur while you brush your sheepdog.

    • 4

      Clip the hair between the paw pads with a blunt-nosed scissors. Trim the hair on the feet using a sharp pair of scissors. The hair should be short, so it won't collect dirt and debris.

    • 5

      Spread ear powder to cover the hair that grows in the dog's ears. Use your thumb and index finger to pluck out the hair. Removing the hair inside the dog's ears reduces the chances of infections.

    • 6

      Soak a cotton ball in dog ear cleaner and clean the ears of your sheepdog.

    • 7

      Trim the nails using nail clippers. Trim the white nails first and find the quick, which is a pink area. Don't cut into this quick. If your dog has any black nails, cut them to the same size as the white ones.