Australian shepherds have a double coat that can become matted if not maintained.Most of the time, they don't have a lot of grooming needs.Australian shepherds need a bath and brushing every now and then.If the weather is hot, you might have to trim an Australian shepherd's fur.Make sure to take care of your dog's ears, nails, and teeth as part of its grooming regimen.
Step 1: Bathe your dog.
Wet your Australian shepherd's fur with warm water.Don't wet your dog's face or ears by soaking the fur from the neck down.If you want to lather your dog's fur, use your hands to apply about 15 to 30 liters of shampoo.After 10 minutes, rinse your dog's fur with the shampoo.Some dogs don't like standing with a liquid in their hair for long, so leaving the liquid on your dog's fur will help.For as long as your dog likes it, keep it on.If the weather is warm, you can bathe your dog in the bathtub at home or at a dog wash.Humans can cause irritation to your dog's skin, so always use a shampoo made for dogs.It is possible to find one that has moisturizers in it.
Step 2: Blow dry or air dry your Australian shepherd's fur.
After washing your dog's fur, use a towel to remove excess water.Use a blow dryer to dry your dog's fur over the next few hours.If you use a blow dryer, cover your dog's fur with it.Continue until the fur is dry.If you take your dog to a dog wash to groom it, they might have box dryers that can quickly dry your fur.Follow the establishment's instructions for how to use the box dryer.
Step 3: You should brush your dog's fur.
Start by brushing the back of the Australian shepherd.You can brush the fur on your dog's body.Your dog's head, tail, and legs should be brushed.If you see a mat in your dog's fur, don't try to move it with the brush.Pull the brush away from the fur to untangle it.Depending on the size of the mat, this may take a while.Weekly brushing sessions are enough to maintain your dog's fur and prevent mats from forming.If your dog is shed, you may need to brush it more frequently.
Step 4: Every 2 to 3 days, use an undercoat brush to remove clumps of fur.
clumps of fur may become matted if you don't remove them.Use an undercoat rake to clean your dog's fur.Next, use a wire brush to remove excess fur from your dog.If you want to improve the look of your dog's fur, you should remove the mats.During the summer and fall months, check your dog for ticks.Look between its toes, behind its ears, under its tail, and on its belly.Use a tick hook to remove them if you find them.
Step 5: Before you start, make sure your dog is at a grooming table.
A grooming table is a good investment if you plan to trim your dog's fur at home.While you trim your dog's fur, secure them to the table with a short leash.If you don't have a grooming table, ask someone to help you by holding the dog's collar while you trim its fur.You can buy a dog grooming table online or in a pet supply store for between $80 and $300 (USD) depending on the table you get.Some grooming tables are very basic, while others have extras, such as electronic controls for raising and lowering them.
Step 6: The end of the Australian shepherd's tail has fur on it.
You can trim the end of your dog's tail to make it fit.This will make the tail look neat.Use a comb to smooth out the fur and then cut it with a pair of shears.Unless absolutely necessary, don't cut more than 2 in of the tail fur off.
Step 7: Excess hair can be trimmed around the foot pads.
The fur under your Australian shepherd's feet can be trimmed with clippers.Use a 8–4 in attachment on the clippers and run them over the excess fur between your dog's foot pads.Don't trim too close to your dog's feet and be careful not to cut his foot pads if you do not have clippers or shears.
Step 8: There is excess hair around your dog's ears.
Excess fur hanging from your dog's ears can be trimmed with shears.Cut the fur up and away from the ear with the shears.The fur around your dog's ears will be neater.As you trim the fur, be careful not to cut the dog's ears.
Step 9: Consider shortening your dog's fur to help it stay cool.
The Australian shepherd's fur can be trimmed with clippers from the neck down.If the weather is hot and your dog has mats in its fur, this might be necessary.If you want the fur to be even shorter, you have to cut down the length of the clipper attachment and use smaller ones.If you have to trim the fur on your dog's body, use the clippers to cut it to the same length as the rest of the body.If you start with a 2 in (5.1 cm) attachment, you can then move to a 1.5 in (3.98 cm), for select areas.This can be difficult, so you might want to leave it to the professionals.The risk of getting a sunburn increases when your Australian shepherd's coat is shaved.When trimming your dog's coat, always leave about 4–2 inch of it.
Step 10: Take your Australian shepherd's nails out.
To clip the nail from the quick, use a pair of guillotine-style dog nail clippers or a grinding tool.The quick is the living tissue inside of your dog's nail.It will be painful for your dog if you cut into it.The quick will be visible if the nails are white, but not if they are black.If your dog has black nails, trim 8 in (0.32 cm) at a time until a black dot is visible.The quick is below this point, so don't trim any more.You can use a nail grinder on your dog's nails.To get the dog used to the sound, turn on the grinder while it's lying down and try to slowly file 1 nail at a time.When you finish, praise your dog because they know they are being good.
Step 11: Your dog's ears should be wiped.
You might need to clean your Australian shepherd's ears if they have thick brown or black wax.Put enough ear cleansing solution on a cotton ball or piece of gauze to make it damp, then wipe the cotton on the inside of your dog's ear.The visible parts of your dog's ear should only be wiped.Don't put the cotton ball in its ear.You can buy ear cleaning solution from the vet.Don't use anything else to clean your dog's ears.If your dog whines or growls when you clean its ears, you should take it to the vet.Check for signs of an illness, such as redness, drainage, and a foul smell.Take your dog to the vet if you notice any of these signs.
Step 12: Your dog's teeth are brushed.
If you're comfortable sticking your finger in its mouth, use a dog toothbrush or wrap it with a piece of cloth.Put a pea-sized amount of dog toothpaste on the brush or cloth and wet it with water.Rub your dog's teeth and gums with a brush or cloth.Rub the teeth and gums with the brush or cloth to remove the excess paste.If you brush your dog's teeth regularly, it will help to prevent plaque from forming, which can protect it from other health conditions later on.Human toothpaste can be harmful to your dog.