Grooming?

[Laurelin]

I'm not a bc owner YET, but I was wondering how the different coat types compare as far as grooming requirements go. Logic would state that a shepherd needs a pretty wash and wear dog regardless of whether it was rough or smooth. I typically have always liked longer haired dogs (obviously as we've had three shelties in a row), but ever since getting Summer I have been amazed at how wonderful a dog that never needs a grooming job is. Her hair is an inch or so long most places and it never mats. We took three of the paps out and while we were pulling probably nearly 50 burrs out of both Rose and Beau, Summer only had two. It was so nice. I literally brush her maybe twice a month and she always just 'looks good'. I always get asked how much I groom her and no one believes me when I say very rarely.

 

Anyways, I am off on a tangent. So how does coat upkeep go on your dogs? Particularly, are the really rough coats as much upkeep as a sheltie's? Looks generally aren't at all important, but I've discovered the wonders of an easy upkeep coat. (That and the smooths are really growing on me)

[Maralynn]

BCs tend to be "wash and wear" dogs. Of course it will vary a bit by individual.

 

My rough coated dog seems to have an easy care coat. For which I am very grateful! I brush her several times a week when she's sheding, but when she's not, it may be a couple weeks in between brushings. She gets about 4 baths a year.

 

The only time her coat is a real pain is when she gets in the mud or the cockleburs.

 

My smooth coated guy seems to shed more (seriously, I think he grows twice as much hair as my rough coated dog) but other than that his coat is a breeze to care for. Burrs don't stick, baths (the few that he has) take 1/3 the time as my other dog, he dries quick and his coat doesn't hold near the dirt.

 

For ease of care, you can't beat a smooth coat, but I also love the looks of my rough coated dog and the feel of her beautiful, soft, shiny hair.

[airbear]

Most of the border collies that I know are teflon - whatever ick they get on them seems to fall off once they dry. Of course, I live with Bear, an aussie, on whom I find all matters of flora and fauna long after he is dry, so I might have lower expectations than most re: wash and wear.

 

Wick, who is very slick of coat, literally can be cleaned with a paper towel. Nothing sticks to her, and I bathe her maybe twice a year. Unless she's skunk hunting, which thankfully did not happen this year. She needs no brushing as she has doesn't seem to shed. Maybe twice a year, these odd grey-brown tufts come out around her outer thighs (I guess it's her attempt to grow an undercoat) and those can be plucked out by hand whilst watching America's Next Top Model.

 

Lou has a very moderate coat. When he lived with his previous owner he had quite a luxurious pelt, but 2 years of condo living and one bout with a Furminator seems to have removed a lot of his top coat (including his magnificent chest ruff ) and all of his undercoat. He can be groomed with a curry comb now, but he loves to be brushed, so I indulge him even though he doesn't need it. The exception is his mullet (long bicycle streamers behind his ears). These have a matting ability that rivals that of Bear's butt hair, and since I refuse to cut the mullet, I spritz a mixture of Show Sheen and water onto the afflicted area and gently work through the tangles with a wide-toothed comb.

[Barb Scott]

Maralynn seems to be right about smooth coated BCs shedding more; Zip's crate has an outline of hair around it whenever I vacuum. Also, even long haired BCs seem to require different amounts of grooming. Our BC Brandy and my old BC Skye have/had hair that seemed to mat very easily, especially on the undersides. The rest of our BCs were definitely wash and wear (with hardly any washing necessary).

Barb S

[osioda]

I have also owned smooth coat and rough coat, and my preference is rough coat, they seem to shed less than the smooth coats, and I do not know your climate but in the summer I trim the rough coats down some anyway so they don't get so hot.

 

The other thing I have noticed rather it be the ones I have owned but my borders seem to clean themselves up. And I also my own preference think the rough coats are prettier.

Steve

[in2adventure]

Both of mine seem pretty wash and wear also. Since they are both white, they look absolutley horrible until dry. Once dry, most dirt and crud falls off. Grady is better than Lucia because his hair has a smoother feels. Lucia's is very soft and fuzzy feeling and tends to hold plant life better. She doesn't tollerate things in her fur and can usually manages to pull it herself. They both get baths every 3-4 weeks just because. Diet is a big factor in hair too. The better the diet, the better the coat, the less maintenance it takes.

 

By the way. If I ever get a small dog, it will be a pap. We have a few in our agility circuit and I absolutely adore them

[Laurelin]

Oh I understand about the shorter hair shedding more. Our only shorthaired dog was a field lab and with him you'd find little black hairs interwoven in everything. At least with the shelties you start getting the tumbleweed effect.

[Root Beer]

I wouldn't call Speedy a "rough coat" because his fur, even though it's long, is very silky and smooth. I rarely brush him - just when he's been out in the woods and I want to make sure there are no burrs, and before Freestyle competitions, and then occasionally.

 

I have three smooth coats and Speedy's long coat is minimally more work than theirs only because his is long enough to matt. I've rarely found matts on him, though.

[border_collie_crazy]

Happy is a medium rough and she doesnt shed a whole lot, she is pretty wash and wear. give her brush through once or twice a month to make her look prettier and thats about it lol, she has NEVER matted in her life, and I keep her pants trimmed up a bit because sticks and burs get caught in them.

 

Misty is a smooth and other then shedding more hair then she could possably have during shedding seasons she doesnt really need anything unless she gets into something(example, a few weeks ago she dumped grease onto her back..or when she dunked her head under water in the creek and turned blue!)