Australian Shepherd Grooming Guide

Australian Shepherds have a gorgeous, functional double coat designed for working outdoors in varied weather. Their medium-length outer coat is straight to slightly wavy and water-resistant, while the dense undercoat provides insulation. The coat varies in length across the body — shorter on the head and front of the legs, with a noticeable mane and frill around the chest, and feathering on the back of the legs. Aussies come in four color patterns (black, blue merle, red, red merle) and their coats should be maintained in a natural outline without excessive shaping. The breed sheds moderately year-round with heavier seasonal blows. Active Aussies often pick up burrs, foxtails, and debris in their feathering, so regular checks are important for both coat and skin health.

1. Pre-bath prep and de-shedding (20-25 min) Start with an undercoat rake to remove loose undercoat from the body, chest mane, and pants. Follow with a slicker brush over the entire coat. Use a metal comb to check for mats behind the ears, in the armpits, and in the pants feathering. Check between the toes for foxtails or debris, especially if the dog is active outdoors. Trim nails and clean ears.

2. Bathing (15-20 min) Use a de-shedding or natural shampoo. The water-resistant outer coat can repel water initially, so wet the coat thoroughly with a high-pressure nozzle before applying shampoo. Work shampoo through the chest mane and pants where the coat is thickest. A light conditioner on the feathering helps with brushability. Rinse completely — trapped shampoo under the dense coat causes irritation.

3. Drying (20-25 min) High-velocity dry the coat in the direction of growth. The force dryer is excellent at blowing out additional loose undercoat. Dry the chest mane and pants area thoroughly — these are the densest areas that retain moisture. Fluff-dry the feathering with a pin brush for a polished look.

4. Brushing and de-shedding (15-20 min) Once dry, do a thorough brush-out with a slicker brush followed by a metal comb through the entire coat. The post-dry brush removes substantial additional loose coat. Line-brush the pants and chest mane to ensure you reach the skin.

5. Trimming and finishing (15-20 min) Aussies should look natural. Trim the feet neatly by cleaning up hair between the paw pads and shaping the foot outline into a round, cat-like shape. Use thinning shears to tidy the hocks and neaten the ear edges. Trim any wispy hairs around the ears. Shape the pants lightly if needed with thinning shears. Do not clip the body coat. A light finishing spray enhances the coat's natural sheen.

• Undercoat rake — removing loose undercoat from the dense double coat
• Slicker brush (medium-firm) — general brushing and de-shedding
• Pin brush — fluff-drying feathering and finishing the outer coat
• Metal greyhound comb — mat detection and final finishing
• High-velocity dryer — thorough drying and de-shedding
• Thinning shears — tidying feet, hocks, ears, and pants naturally
• Small curved shears — shaping the round foot outline
• De-shedding shampoo — loosens dead undercoat during bathing

Shaving the double coat — Like all double-coated breeds, Australian Shepherds should never be shaved. The double coat regulates temperature in both hot and cold weather and protects against sunburn. Shaved coats often grow back with a different texture.

Ignoring foxtails and burrs — Active Aussies pick up plant material that works its way into the coat and skin. Check between toes, inside ears, and in the armpits after outdoor activity. Foxtails can penetrate the skin and cause serious infections.

Over-trimming the natural outline — Aussies should have a natural, rugged look. Scissoring the coat into neat lines or removing the chest mane or pants feathering destroys the breed's working appearance.

Neglecting the undercoat — Skipping de-shedding allows the undercoat to pack down against the skin, reducing air circulation and increasing the risk of hot spots and skin issues.

Australian Shepherds blow their undercoat heavily in spring and moderately in fall. During these 2-3 week transitions, daily brushing and a professional de-shedding bath make a significant difference. Summer grooming should focus on keeping the undercoat well-raked for air circulation — never shave. Aussies who swim need thorough drying afterward to prevent skin issues. In winter, the coat reaches peak density. Reduce bathing frequency to avoid stripping natural oils and focus on regular brushing to prevent mat formation under the thicker winter coat.

• Check between the toes after every outdoor adventure for foxtails and debris
• Use a detangling spray on the pants and chest mane before brushing to reduce breakage
• Line-brushing (parting the coat in sections) is the most effective technique for the dense areas
• Merle-colored Aussies have thinner skin in lightly pigmented areas — handle gently
• Schedule an extra de-shedding appointment during peak spring coat blow