How to Trim Your Shetland Sheepdog's Fur

Shetland sheepdogs, also called shelties, are gentle dogs who are mild-mannered and loyal to their families. In addition, shelties also have thick, beautiful coats̵2;if they are properly groomed and maintained. Shetland sheepdogs require a good amount of grooming to keep their coats mat and tangle-free. Some sheltie owners take their pooches to a groomer for maintenance, but many find it is easy enough to do at home.

Things You'll Need

  • Long pin brush
  • Slicker brush
  • Spray bottle filled with water
  • Shaving clippers
  • Fine-toothed comb
  • Trimming shears
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Instructions

    • 1

      Dampen your sheltie's hair with the spray bottle of water and then brush its hair with a long pin or slicker brush. Remove all mats and knots. Address the sheltie̵7;s undercoat by separating the hair down the sheltie̵7;s back and using a pin brush to brush the hair away from you to remove loose or dead hair, according to the animal information website TerrificPets.com.

    • 2

      Shave the groin, also called sanitary area, with a number 10 or 15 blade. This keeps the dog clean and prevents any urine from wetting the hair.

    • 3

      Trim the back end area of your Shetland sheepdog with thinning shears, suggests TerrificPets.com. The hair that rests in the back of the legs, underneath the anus, has a different texture than the rest of the hair on a sheltie̵7;s body. Dampen the hair with water, then brush the hair with a fine-toothed metal comb to remove any knots. Point the scissors to the floor, then start trimming the hair from top to bottom with your scissors facing that direction.

    • 4

      Use scissors to trim the belly and chest area of your sheltie. With the sheltie standing, trim the hair in a straight line.

    • 5

      Cut your sheltie̵7;s nails and remove any excess hair on the paws and in between the pads and toes. Flip your sheltie̵7;s paws so that the pads are facing you, and carefully use scissors to remove any hair that is growing out between the pads. With the paw pad-side down, trim any hair that hangs off of the paws.

    • 6

      Trim the ears, if the hair is long there. Brush the ears with a fine-toothed comb to remove any knots, then carefully use the scissors to trim any hair that is hanging off of the ears.