How to Groom an Australian Shepherd: A Professional Guide

An Australian shepherd is a double coated herding dog with a medium length coat, feathering on the legs, a ruff around the neck and a full set of "pants" on the back legs. Grooming one is mostly coat work, not a haircut: you open up the coat, get the dead undercoat out, dry it properly, and finish with a neat tidy. This guide walks through the full routine, the trim, how often to book it, and what to tell an owner who asks for a summer shave.

The Aussie Coat

Aussies have a weather resistant outer coat over a dense, soft undercoat. The outer coat is straight to wavy and medium in length, longer on the ruff, the backs of the front legs (the feathering), the pants and the tail. The undercoat is what sheds, heavily and seasonally, and it is what turns into mats when it is left in.

Coats vary a lot. Some Aussies, especially working lines, carry a lighter coat that is easy to keep. Others, often show lines, carry a thick, long coat that needs much more brushing. Miniature and toy Australian shepherds have the same coat type in a smaller package.

Do Not Shave the Coat

Owners often ask for a shave in summer. The answer is no, for the same reasons as any double coated breed: the coat insulates against heat as well as cold, the outer coat shields the skin from sun, and a shaved double coat can grow back patchy, uneven or with the soft undercoat outgrowing the guard hairs. A dog that has been properly deshed and blown out is cooler than a shaved one. Our guide on why you should never shave a double coated dog covers it in detail, and makes a good link to send owners.

The exception is a badly matted coat. When mats are tight against the skin, clipping may be kinder than hours of dematting. That is a decision for the groomer and the owner together, with the owner understanding how the coat may grow back.

Step by Step: The Aussie Groom

1. Line brush

Start with a slicker brush and work in sections, lifting the coat with one hand and brushing down to the skin underneath. Surface brushing leaves the undercoat packed against the skin. Spend extra time behind the ears, in the ruff, the armpits and the pants, where mats start.

2. Rake out the undercoat

Follow with an undercoat rake through the dense areas: ruff, pants, tail and flanks. During a seasonal shed this step removes a remarkable amount of hair. Our undercoat rake guide covers which tools reach a thick Aussie coat without scraping the skin.

3. Bathe

Bathe with a shampoo suited to the coat and work it all the way down to the skin. A dense Aussie coat holds dirt and shampoo, so rinse until the water runs clear. A conditioner or deshedding product helps the undercoat release during drying.

4. Blow dry to the skin

Use a high velocity dryer, section by section, until the undercoat is completely dry. This is where much of the remaining loose coat blows out. A damp undercoat left to air dry can stay wet near the skin for hours, which can lead to odor and irritation. Our high velocity drying guide covers technique.

5. The tidy trim

An Aussie trim is a neatening, not a haircut:

• Feet: trim the hair between the pads flush, and tidy around the foot so it looks round and neat.
• Hocks: clean up the hair on the back of the hocks so it falls neatly.
• Ears: tidy stray hair along the ear edges.
• Pants and tail: lightly shape the pants so they look full but neat, and tidy the hair under the tail. Do not shorten them dramatically.
• Sanitary: a discreet trim around the rear and belly for hygiene.

Finish with nails, trimmed or ground, and a quick ear check.

How Often to Groom an Aussie

• Professional bath, deshed and tidy: every 6 to 8 weeks for most pet Aussies.
• Extra deshed during heavy shedding, usually spring and fall.
• Brushing at home: once or twice a week, more during the seasonal shed.
• Nails: every 3 to 4 weeks.

Our grooming schedule by coat type puts the Aussie in context with other double coated breeds.

Handling Tips for Groomers

Aussies are smart, sensitive herding dogs. Many are wonderful on the table; some are worried by strangers, handling of the feet and rear, or the dryer. Herding instincts can show up as nipping at moving things. A calm, steady pace, short breaks for a young or anxious dog, and introducing the dryer gradually go a long way. Note what each dog dislikes so the next groom starts on the right foot.

For Groomers: Book the Shedding Season Before It Starts

Aussies shed hardest at the same time every year, and owners call when the house is already covered. Book the next deshed before the dog leaves, at the dog's own interval, and remind the owner before it. GroomBoard keeps each dog's interval, coat notes and handling notes on its profile, proposes the next appointment when you finish a groom, and sends reminder texts before it. Start your free 7 day trial →