The Old English Sheepdog needs a great deal of attention to keep its profuse coat even half-decent. The coat is of good, harsh texture, not straight, but shaggy and free from curl. The undercoat is of waterproof pile. In ordinary circumstances, the coat is not scissored or clipped, but pet owners and breeders of retired show dogs frequently have the coat clipped to a more manageable length. Dogs need regular attention and should be professionally or expertly groomed every four to six weeks.

Grooming Procedure

Equipment needed: Slicker or pin brush, and a wide-toothed comb.

Breed tip: It is essential to keep on top of the grooming to prevent the coat from becoming one solid mat.

• Brush through the entire coat with a slicker or pin brush, working in sections from the back foot upward. Where excessive matting is present, use a mat splitter to break through the matted felts.
• Comb with a wide-toothed comb.
• Bathe in a suitable tea tree and lavender shampoo (or similar), being vigilant about rinsing.
• White-enhancing shampoo can be used on the coat for that extra sparkle. It can also be used on the beard where saliva stains have formed (whitening cream washes are available from pet stores and grooming outlets).
• Apply a coat-enhancing conditioner.
• Blow-dry, lifting the hair with a pin brush. This separates the sections, avoiding tangles.
• Check the dog’s nails, ears and teeth.
• Check under the feet for matted hair and remove carefully with scissors.

Pet Clip

With the pet dog, it is often required or requested that the entire coat of the adult Old English Sheepdog be cut off to about 2 inches (5 cm) in length. This can be done with scissors after bathing and drying is complete, or by clipping the dog, before bathing, with an Oster No. 40 with a 3/4-inch (2 cm) attachment.

Some owners want the body hair left on, but are keen to have the hair thinned, and the coat clipped from underneath (stomach, under the arms and inside the groin area) for hygiene reasons and to keep the dog smelling sweet.