Grooming a Sheltie & Trimming Its Paws

Shetland sheep dogs, often referred to as shelties for short, sport a double layer coat of long hair. Like many other long-haired dogs, the sheltie breed requires weekly brushing and special attention to detail if you plan to groom it yourself.

  1. Brushing

    • Grooming your sheltie starts with a good brushing. Since your dog has two layers of coat, two separate brushing tools would work best. To remove dead hair, a brushing rake or undercoat rake will work best on the dog's first layer of hair next to the skin. Follow up with a regular slicker or wire brush to make sure all the dead coat is removed. Brush your sheltie at least once a week to avoid any matting.

    Bath Time

    • Next you will want to bathe your sheltie, using a shampoo formulated just for dogs. Since the breed has a waterproof top coat, get the water and shampoo next to the scalp as you wash. If you notice any sign of fleas or sores on your sheltie's skin, address this separately with products designed for this purpose. Most shelties only need to be bathed every four to eight weeks to avoid drying out the skin.

    Paws And Nails

    • Regularly trimming the hair growth on your sheltie's paws will keep it from picking up debris outdoors and will make it easier for it to walk on bare floors. Use an electric razor to trim the underside of the paw, then finish with blunt end scissors, clipping the hair in between your dog's pads and nails. Brush the hair on the outer foot towards the top of the leg and trim hair standing with scissors or thinning shears. Clipping the nails with nail trimmers just for dogs will also help to prevent your sheltie from becoming arthritic in the foot area. Take off only the tip at first to avoid getting into the quick or blood area of the nail bed.

    Dentistry

    • Another part of grooming your sheltie is the mouth and tooth area. Regular brushing with a paste formulated for dogs will help to keep tartar from your dog's mouth and gum area. If you still notice a brown or yellow film in between the tooth and gums after brushing a few times, use a special scaler found in pet stores to remove the tartar buildup. Tartar can not only cause tooth decay, but other health problems in your sheltie, such as stomach and intestinal problems.