Fiona is my first sheltie. I bought a slicker brush and tried brushing her, because she had white flakes in her fur. She went crazy, jumping and acting like it hurt. I feel so bad. What is the proper grooming tools for her? She has no problems getting her nails trimmed, but just looking at the brush sends her into hiding. She's 4 months old.
brushing
- Thread starter my_fiona
- Start date
I got Cait when she was 16 weeks old and she had the same response to a slicker brush that your Fiona has. I think she thought the brush was nipping her. I got a soft brush for her and used it for short periods until she stopped jumping every time the brush was brought near. The soft brush unfortunately didn't do much to her thick fur. It also had a pin brush side and after Cait accepted the soft brush, I'd gently and briefly use the pin side on her, stopping if I could before Cait started flinching or playing. Helping with training Cait were my two older dogs (husky mixes) who love being brushed. I'd brush them with Cait watching. I'd also pet Cait after and between using the brush, telling her how I was going to make her beautiful and that she was a star. Cait is a sucker for this kind of talk.
After a few weeks of her accepting the soft brush, which she finally did happily, I reintroduced the slicker brush. I'd use it briefly, stopping whenever she showed signs of restlessness or tried to bite the brush. Soon, she accepted it longer, fortunately in time for when she started blowing her puppy coat. Now I pick up the brush and say, come and I'll make you beautiful and she comes right to me. I still have to stop, usually when I've only half a sheltie brushed but one of these days, I expect she'll be standing in line for her turn to be brushed with the other dogs.
Good luck. Some shelties, like Cait, can be awfully stubborn when they make up their mind about something and it isn't easy to get them to change their minds. But it can be done. Still, Cait did manage to find the slicker brush and chew off the end of it. Never mind. It still works.
After a few weeks of her accepting the soft brush, which she finally did happily, I reintroduced the slicker brush. I'd use it briefly, stopping whenever she showed signs of restlessness or tried to bite the brush. Soon, she accepted it longer, fortunately in time for when she started blowing her puppy coat. Now I pick up the brush and say, come and I'll make you beautiful and she comes right to me. I still have to stop, usually when I've only half a sheltie brushed but one of these days, I expect she'll be standing in line for her turn to be brushed with the other dogs.
Good luck. Some shelties, like Cait, can be awfully stubborn when they make up their mind about something and it isn't easy to get them to change their minds. But it can be done. Still, Cait did manage to find the slicker brush and chew off the end of it. Never mind. It still works.
Chris
Premium Member
I learned that some pin brushes have straight cut tips 
and some have rounded tips 
. I coughed up the bucks for a good brass pin brush with rounded tips -- made all the difference in the world. My girls hate the Doggie Man line of brushes, but they're so good for removing loose undercoat.
and some have rounded tips . I coughed up the bucks for a good brass pin brush with rounded tips -- made all the difference in the world. My girls hate the Doggie Man line of brushes, but they're so good for removing loose undercoat.sablemable
Forums Regular
I use round tip brushes, plus wide toothed and fine toothed combs. My six year old, Sparky, LOVES to be brushed and combed, but Max hasn't decided yet if he really likes it or not, LOL! Besides, his coat hasn't grown out much (he's only 1), except for that growing around his butt!
Max started out a rich red color, but now it's mellowed out with more of the brown/bronze colors near his white ruff. I think when his ruff grows out it will be beautiful. He also has gorgeous red eyelashes and deep brown eyes (I'm a sucker for brown eyes)!
I also use a bit of water from a spray bottle, mixed with a little leave-in conditioner, which makes grooming easier and they smell better, too, LOL!
Max started out a rich red color, but now it's mellowed out with more of the brown/bronze colors near his white ruff. I think when his ruff grows out it will be beautiful. He also has gorgeous red eyelashes and deep brown eyes (I'm a sucker for brown eyes)!
I also use a bit of water from a spray bottle, mixed with a little leave-in conditioner, which makes grooming easier and they smell better, too, LOL!
graydawntreader
Forums Enthusiast
I use pin brushes, and a greyhound (or regular, when I misplace the greyhound one) comb.
With the comb, Treader has a look on his face like it isn't very comfortable, but he puts up with it without any complaint. Whoever had him before I did did a pretty good job teaching him things. He came to me well-socialized, friendly, and puts up with things he doesn't most of the time. What was missing was basic obedience (which he knows now because I taught him), and manners (he pulls on the leash and jumps up on people).
With the comb, Treader has a look on his face like it isn't very comfortable, but he puts up with it without any complaint. Whoever had him before I did did a pretty good job teaching him things. He came to me well-socialized, friendly, and puts up with things he doesn't most of the time. What was missing was basic obedience (which he knows now because I taught him), and manners (he pulls on the leash and jumps up on people).
LuvMySable
Forums Regular
Hello! I tried the little wire pin brush on my now-14 month old boy Jack. He did not like it, so I got another brush with a wide head and thicker bristles tipped with soft rubber. He really likes this one! I have to brush him outside on the deck, because so much undercoat comes out. I only use the pin brush to do the backs of his ears (very susceptible to mats, unfortunately!!)
Shelties are Love!
Shelties are Love!
Chris
Premium Member
Try putting a bit of baby powder behind the ears regularly. It absorbs the oil and reduces "collie balls" as we call them.
elaine2004
Forums Enthusiast
Collie Balls ! Very interesting Chris. I think the Baby powder idea is a great tip. Thanks. I keep telling you we learn something new constantly . I also use a rounded tipped brush and an under coat rake, it has two lengths of teeth that are rounded edged, but takes care of that double coat of the Sheltie. Do any of you do the full line brushing ? I just purchased a Dog grooming book for Shelties and they recommend line brushing. Which is actually separating the coat into quarters and doing the grooming a line at a time . Sounds like it would take hours.
I think the Baby powder idea is a great tip. Thanks. I keep telling you we learn something new constantly . I also use a rounded tipped brush and an under coat rake, it has two lengths of teeth that are rounded edged, but takes care of that double coat of the Sheltie. Do any of you do the full line brushing ? I just purchased a Dog grooming book for Shelties and they recommend line brushing. Which is actually separating the coat into quarters and doing the grooming a line at a time . Sounds like it would take hours.
Calliesmom
Moderator
I have two books on sheltie grooming and didn't really know how to brush a sheltie when I got Callie. My previous dogs were short haired. I probably don't do the line brushing like professional groomers but I do part the hair and brush a little at a time. I pretty much only use the undercoat rake. I don't think that it takes forever- maybe 30-40 minutes if she cooperates. I tell her that she is so beautiful when she is done and she gets up and shakes and prances around so I know that she understood.
Ann
Moderator
My breeder taught me how to do line brushing. Of course, when SHE does it, it looks easy--not so much when I do it! 
She said it's very important to remove the very thick undercoat especially on the back near the tail or they get thatch, especially going into the warmer weather. I'm not sure I do it successfully, but I try... 
I love the rakes and use them, but also try to use a variety of pin and slicker brushes.
Thanks for the baby powder tip, Chris...can't wait to try that one!
She said it's very important to remove the very thick undercoat especially on the back near the tail or they get thatch, especially going into the warmer weather. I'm not sure I do it successfully, but I try... I love the rakes and use them, but also try to use a variety of pin and slicker brushes.Thanks for the baby powder tip, Chris...can't wait to try that one!