How to brush my sheltie!!

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emilykins123

Forums Novice
So, my sheltie Sebastian just turned one year old on December 23rd, and I have yet to successfully brush him. He has so much fur that just needs to come out, and looks like it will start matting, especially on his back. I am not sure if this is puppy fur, or just the annual shedding, but either way, he will not let me brush him! If he even sees the brush, he runs away. I try distracting him with toys and treats and he still runs away as fast as possible. Even when I try to hold him down (which I feel bad about), he manages to wiggle away. The other day I held him down long enough to get the brush through him a couple times and SO MUCH fur came out in huge chunks. I have tried 2 different brushes, and always go as gentle as possible so that I'm not hurting his skin at all.... I am just totally lost on what to do. Nothing seems to work. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know!
 
It's going to be a process of starting slow and rewarding small steps. Start with just taking the brush out and leaving it in view. Reward him for any attempts to approach/sniff the brush. Then progress to treating him for coming to you when you hold the brush, then touching him without stroking, then one stroke and slowly increase. It will take time but it will eventually be worth it. I started my sheltie when I got him at 4 months and by a year he was falling asleep during grooming.

In the meantime I would suggest taking him to a groomer to get all that fluff out without you being the bad guy. Some breeders also do grooming so if there are local sheltie breeders I would start by calling them and asking if they do grooming and, if not, who they recommend. It's going to be a big job and may require shaving if the dog has gone a year without grooming. Either way, a professional groom will give you a good starting point. Ideally you want to give a sheltie a good comb out at least once a week and more often when they blow coat.
 
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I would suggest getting a rake and starting with that. Start with very short sessions.

I have this rake, I think some other people on here have it as well. All my pets took right to it, and they hated being brushed before I got it...so it must be pretty mild. I absolutely love it, it's one of the best tools I have:

Conair Pro Undercoat Rake

Just do it gently, with lots of treats. DO NOT let the dog up while it's struggling, always end grooming sessions when the dog is being still and calm. :)
 
PonyForever said:
I would suggest getting a rake and starting with that. Start with very short sessions.

I have this rake, I think some other people on here have it as well. All my pets took right to it, and they hated being brushed before I got it...so it must be pretty mild. I absolutely love it, it's one of the best tools I have:

Conair Pro Undercoat Rake

Just do it gently, with lots of treats. DO NOT let the dog up while it's struggling, always end grooming sessions when the dog is being still and calm. :)
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I wish my experience with the conair rake was as positive. Perhaps they improved the design? I have two that I got in 2012 and never use (I bought one and was given one). I used to wonder why people were always recomending rakes because I can get more out with a comb or any brush than with my Conair rakes. Several people here recommended getting an inexpensive anti-static rake instead and it made a world of difference! Got a handful of undercoat with the Conair and 2 grocery bags full with the anti-static rake. We live in a semi-arid region too so perhaps that makes a difference. I just know that the cheaper teflon coated ones work way better for me.
 
First things first... you need a grooming table. You can get one for less than $70. If you're cringing at the expense, consider all the time and trouble you saved by not brushing your dog for the first year of his life.

There is no brush, comb, electric rake, or gadget that is going to help until you are able to keep the dog in one spot. With a table, you don't need to hold him down. He can't just walk away. He's on a table; yes, he might try to jump, but you can hold him with one hand and brush with the other. Better yet, have a friend hold his head while you work.

Once you have him on the grooming table, go slowly. Again, think of all the time you saved by never brushing him - you have plenty of time in the bank. Start by just running a pin-brush over him and pulling out as much dead coat as you can. As you've observed, there is so much there that it will be easier going for a while. Brush the surface and pull that dead stuff out. Cookies and praise.

Next, get yourself a copy of this book: The Illustrated Guide to Sheltie Grooming. I know, I know - but Tofu Pup, I'm already out the cash for the table! I hear you. But it's a great book, and it walks you through the necessary tasks of correct coat/skin care. You can even learn how to trim your Sheltie like a pro, once you're ready for that.

Eventually, you will get to where you can line-brush him with water. It is imperative that Shelties be brushed/combed to the skin on a regular basis. That means that if you part the hair, you can see the skin - and if you can't see it yet, you brush and comb and pick until all of the dead undercoat is out. The skin needs to breathe; it needs fresh air and stimulation to stay healthy.

It is a shame that your dog did not receive an early education about grooming. It may be that, as a result, he never really takes to it. But with patience and kindness (and by limiting his options with a table), I think you can get him to where he will accept it. But you need to get serious about caring for his coat.
 
Rakes are very helpful. I would also recommend going to a groomer a few times. I know of some dogs that behave perfect for groomers even if they're complete jerks about being brushed by the owner. At the very least it seems to make my dog more accepting of being brushed whenever I take her in. Petsmart around me offers discounts if you can bring them in on off hours.

One thing I do with Honey is bring a brush in my car with me, and have my husband drive around a bit. She likes being on my lap and is distracted by sniffing at the window.
 
SKNerissa said:
I wish my experience with the conair rake was as positive. Perhaps they improved the design? I have two that I got in 2012 and never use (I bought one and was given one). I used to wonder why people were always recomending rakes because I can get more out with a comb or any brush than with my Conair rakes. Several people here recommended getting an inexpensive anti-static rake instead and it made a world of difference! Got a handful of undercoat with the Conair and 2 grocery bags full with the anti-static rake. We live in a semi-arid region too so perhaps that makes a difference. I just know that the cheaper teflon coated ones work way better for me.
Click to expand...

Hm, I don't know. Perhaps they did improve the design? My dog is only 6 months old. I got the rake just before I got him. I get a ton of hair out with it (we have 2 Shiba Inu and 2 cats, in addition to the Sheltie, btw). I wonder if the region makes a difference, or maybe the type of coat? Who knows, haha! It works well for me. But I guess any rake would do well, as long as he DOES NOT get a Furminator or something else that would damage the fur! :yes:
 
Even with my bad English, I have to write this:

I think I would try a Groomer- immediately - so your little Sebastian can get combed the fur down to the skin, and removed all the dead undercoat, what with his paws ?? they need presumably to a care.

Then you have time slowly to turn your baby to be cared for and an opportunity to continue to care about the coat.
When I think of the huge mound of undercoat I have combed from Minnie the first year :gaahand she's definitely not a thick coat - then I feel sorry for you and your baby and as Tufu write, the skin needs to breathe - if not there can actually go mites in the skin of the dog.

Should the Groomer not be able to comb the hair to the skin, then I would let the dogs cut on the body and then let it keep a Sheltie cut on the head - I would think more about my dog's well-being, than how it is possibly looks
- the hair will grow back again.

I met one day a girl with her little Sheltie, I thought it was a puppy because of the short fur on the body
- no, he was 5 years but she had neglected to comb him the last months, so now she could not comb into the skin
- the dog actually looked cute, definitely much better than an ungrounded dog :yes:
 
Hello, I' kind of new to the site. But your problem seems to me not so much a hair problem, as a behavior problem. You pooch needs some obedience training. Sit and stay, leave it. If your dog will obey your commands, get yourself a grooming table, and practice having your dog stay nice and still on the table as you pet it. Then get out the brush, the dog can't run or wiggle away. Once your dog knows it's a way of life and has no choice but to take it...the war will end and you the victor. My Chai doesn't like the table, he tries to run when He sees me setting things up. I just wait, and walk away from it...then when he least expects it...I grab him up and take him to the table to be groomed. He gives up resistance as soon as I scoop him up.

Nowadays, he doesn't really need the table... I have a bad back so I need him at waist level. He will gladly jump up on the ottoman and let me brush him. I use the table when I must trim his toes, but like you, my dog didn't like to be trimmed on his feet, and would wiggle away and not hold still. You just have to let him know who the boss is.
 
It will take a while for it to get used to it. In the meantime i would recommend a groomer just to make sure that he is in a good condition. Have you been able to train him and does he follow instructions. I found that it usually helps if you are able to calm your dog and you intend to groom at home.
 
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