Simply requires a weekly brush, although more frequent brushing will be needed when the coat start to shed. Don’t forget: brushing your Shetland Sheepdog on a regular basis will give you the opportunity to keep a close eye on your dog’s skin condition.

A sturdy little dog with a double coat, the soft undercoat and harsh outercoat make the Sheltie able to withstand the winter elements. The mane and frill are very abundant, and the forelegs well feathered. The hindlegs above the hocks are profusely covered with hair; it is smooth below the hocks and on the face.

Equipment needed: A nylon or nylon-and-bristle brush on a rubber cushion. A medium-toothed comb is needed for the front legs, behind the ears, and the hocks.

This breed likes to be on the go, so talk to your Shetland Sheepdog when you groom it to keep it occupied.

• Brush the entire coat with a pin brush, removing the dead coat without stripping out the undercoat.
• Comb the coat through with a wide-toothed comb.
• If the hair is tangled and difficult, spray it with a grooming conditioner. Thick, neglected dense undercoat can be broken with the mat splitter without ruining the coat too much, and it is better for coming out. The brushing and combing procedure of removing old coat can be arduous for dogs that do not have regular attention, and the mat-breaker may be required to strip some of this coat out.
• Bathe your Sheltie in protein pH-balanced shampoo or natural ingredient shampoo, such as tea tree and lavender oil.
• Rinse thoroughly.
• Apply conditioner. Alternatively, use a purifying shampoo and mask as a toning treatment for the skin, and also to nourish the hair, three times a year.
• Dry with a power blower after absorbing as much moisture as possible by towel-drying the coat.
• Brush the dog throughout the drying process with the pin brush.
• Comb with a wide-toothed comb.
• Check the dog’s nails, ears and teeth.
• Scissor-trim the Shetland’s hocks to a neat appearance.
• Trim under the pads, between the toes (only removing the tufts which stick up by using the scissor-points), and around the foot to neaten to an oval shape.