Is it possible to over groom a Sheltie

R

Rmueller

Forums Novice
Scottie is a 1 year old tri-color. We generally brush him with a pin brush, just about every couple of days. I noticed that he was building up a substantial blanket of under coat, so I got a shedding rake...Gently going through his hair, I pulled out a pile about the size of the dog...there is still more under there.

We live in Wisconsin, we are outside every day no matter the weather. So having a thick undercoat is probably a good thing for him.

He doesn't shed too much at this point, probably more as the weather warms up.

I don't want to do any damage to his coat, so how much should be done with the shedding rake?

Should I stop when no more hair comes out, that seems extreme but...I just don't know.


ron
 
I have never gotten too much off mine...they always have an over abundance of fur. In summer I thoroughly clipped them on their backends and puppy cut the legs and stomach. But it is because they got too hot in summer. Heat stroke is very much an issue in higher altitudes. Not sure if I will need to be as extreme where I am now.

The only evidence of overgrooming I have seen is when people have taken them to a dog grooming appt and they severely shave them. I have never gone that far. I have always left their ruff and top coat in tact.

So I don't think a coat rake will do damage.
 
As long as the shedding rake you're using isn't something like a Furminator that actually cuts the hair rather than just pulling it out naturally, you'll be fine. I would use the shedding rake once or twice a week, and the pin brush for your daily brushing. If Scottie is around a year old, he may be losing his puppy coat and starting to grow his adult coat, so that may account for the change you're seeing.

Also, just in case you don't know, never brush your boy dry. Keep a spray bottle filled with water and spritz the coat lightly before you brush. Brushing a dry coat will break the hair.

Scottie is a lucky boy to have such an attentive owner!
 
I'm not sure, but I know when my XH was brushing my dogs almost daily, their coats were flat (no undercoat at all) and although shiny from brushing, it was just blah looking. No fluff at all. They didn't look really good to me, but the shedding was under control, haha.
 
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