How to Do a Sheltie Cut

The Shetland sheepdog or Sheltie, as it is frequently called, is almost an exact miniature version of a Collie. The American Kennel Club refers to the Sheltie as "a rough-coated, working dog,...alert, intensely loyal and highly trainable and is known as a devoted, docile dog with keen sense of intelligence and understanding." The Sheltie has a long double coat that needs frequent grooming and brushing to remove excess undercoat to prevent matting. The Sheltie cut is mostly a natural look with minimal trimming of the ears, backs of legs and feet.

Things You'll Need

  • Spray bottle
  • Pin brush or rake
  • Fine tooth metal comb
  • Trimming scissors
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Instructions

    • 1

      Mist the Sheltie's coat with warm water in the spray bottle.

    • 2

      Brush the Sheltie's coat with the pin brush or rake using a line brush technique by starting just below the spine and brushing a section from the shoulders toward the hind quarters. Continue brushing this section until little to no undercoat comes out, then move downwards to a new section and repeat process. Brush out entire coat, neck, and tail in this manner.

    • 3

      Comb the hair on the ears gently with the fine tooth metal comb as needed. Trim excess hair in and around ears with the trimming scissors to give a clean look and shape.

    • 4

      Feather the hair on the backs of the legs by gently combing it up and away from the legs with the fine tooth metal comb. Trim out any mats in the leg hair using the trimming scissors. Trim excess or uneven hair on the legs.

    • 5

      Trim any hairs coming out between the toes that are sticking out farther than the dog's pads to prevent dirt and gravel from becoming caught in the Sheltie's feet.