How to Bathe Collies

Regularly bathing and grooming your Collie is essential to its health and well-being. Collies are a double-coated breed, which means they have an outer coat of one type of fur that is longer and the coat underneath is a thicker, shorter type of fur that sheds year-round and can easily become matted. Bathing a double-coated breed can be a challenge, but thoroughly brushing your Collie on a regular basis as well as immediately before bathing it will go a long way toward making bath time for you and your beloved pet a pleasant experience.

Things You'll Need

  • Pin brush
  • Firm slicker brush
  • Wide-tooth comb
  • Large sink or bathtub
  • Plastic pitcher
  • Pet shampoo
  • Pet conditioner
  • Washcloth
  • Towels
  • Blow Dryer
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Instructions

    • 1

      Spray your Collie's coat with a grooming spray to make brushing it easier and to prevent breakage. If you don't have grooming spray, a light spray of plain water will suffice. Brushing will remove loose fur and prevent matting. Start brushing from the rear, down the legs, to the belly and work your way to the head of the Collie. Use a wide-tooth comb on the head and face of your Collie.

    • 2

      Dampen cotton balls and carefully begin cleaning the inside of your Collie's ears. Do not put water inside its ears because it can potentially cause infection.

    • 3

      Put dry cotton balls in your Collie's ears before you bathe it. This will prevent any water from entering its ears. Wet a washcloth and gently wipe your Collie's face.

    • 4

      Run lukewarm water in a kitchen sink for small Collies or Collie puppies or in a bathtub if your Collie is medium-sized or larger.

    • 5

      Soak your Collie thoroughly in warm water. Use a pitcher to pour water on your Collie to ensure that its coat is well-soaked. Don't use sprayers because this may agitate your Collie, and you want to keep the bathing experience as calm and pleasant and possible.

    • 6

      Massage the shampoo into the fur and skin working your way from the head to the tail. Avoid getting shampoo in its eyes. If some shampoo does get in your Collie's eyes, immediately wipe it away with a damp washcloth.

    • 7

      Rinse your Collie thoroughly. This is the most time-consuming part of the bath and could take as long as 15 to 20 minutes due to your Collie's double coat.

    • 8

      Shampoo your Collie a second time if it is particularly dirty. Otherwise, one round of shampooing will be sufficient.

    • 9

      Apply a conditioner from head to tail and rinse your pet again. Squeeze water from its coat and towel dry your Collie from head to tail. If your Collie has a long outer coat, then gently run a comb through its coat while it's drying to prevent any tangles.

    • 10

      Blow dry your Collie using warm air while brushing it if it has a long outer coat. This will make your pet's coat appear full and fluffed. However, not all dogs -- Collies included -- enjoy being blow dried and may even bark or snap at the blow dryer, so avoid blow drying if it upsets your dog.

    • 11

      Keep your Collie indoors while it dries so that its coat won't attract more dirt. Brush your Collie after it is completely dry to remove any tangles that may remain.