Brushing a Border Collie

Border collies are famous for being an intelligent and hard-working breed of dog. They were traditionally bred as sheep-herding dogs in England and Scotland. Border collies generally range between 1 1/2 and 2 feet tall and can have rough or smooth coats in various colors, such as black and white -- also known as bi-color -- tri-color and sable. Because they are an active dog, border collies spend a lot of time outside. As a result, they should be brushed at least once per week.

Things You'll Need

  • Slicker brush
  • Detangling comb
  • Mat rake (optional)
  • Scissors (optional)
  • Wide-tooth comb
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Instructions

    • 1

      Use a slicker brush, which is designed to remove small mats or clumps of fur from your border collie's coat. Start at the base of the head and brush backward to the rear of the dog. Brush the dog's coat on the sides in the same manner, brushing in the direction of growth.

    • 2

      Brush downward on the border collie's front and rear legs, also in the direction of growth. Reach underneath -- or turn your dog over on its back -- and brush the hair on its chest in the same direction. Brush the tail from the base to the tip.

    • 3

      Use a detangling comb to remove any mats that the slicker brush was not able to remove. Do not tug hard if you come across a mat that cannot be removed with the comb, as you may injure your border collie.

    • 4

      Use a mat rake, which has thin blades on the tines and a protective coating where the rake touches the dog's skin, to cut through thick mats of fur. Alternatively, hold the matted fur between the teeth of the detangling comb and use scissors to cut the mat from the fur. Place the scissors against the underside of the comb, making sure that there is space between the scissors and your dog's skin.

    • 5

      Use a wide-tooth comb or the slicker brush to go over your border collie's coat one final time. Use the comb to groom sensitive areas, such as the base of the tail and around the dog's face.