Do Border collie dogs shed? The answer is pretty straightforward for a Border collie parent. However, the same cannot be said for new parents.
This dog breed has a soft, short thick undercoat and an outer coat that is long and dense. Therefore, she needs combing and brushing to prevent Border collie shedding.
Shedding for dogs is a natural part of their lives. So, you must accept this fact and come up with ways for managing the hair loss.
We are going to shed some light on Border collie shedding by providing you with the most resourceful control methods and tools.
How Much Does a Border Collie Shed?
They may not be the most shedding dogs, but they usually shed a reasonable amount of hair that can mess your carpets and upholstery.
Border collies tend to shed a little bit of their hair every day. However, they shed the most in the spring as well as in the fall.
You should prepare yourself to do a lot of vacuuming during spring and fall. The good news is that there are ways you can control the shedding.
Why Do Border Collies Shed?
Double Coat
This dog breed has a thick double coat. The soft inner coat is dense, short, and warm. The outer coat is coarse and either wavy or straight.
The double coat comes in two varieties: rough and smooth. The rough coat is medium in length and features feathering on underside, chest, haunches, and forelegs. It is short on the feet, ears, and face.
The smooth coat is short all over, and it has a coarser texture compared to the rough one. This variety can feature a little feathering on the neck, chest, haunches, and forelegs.
Seasonal Shedding
This breed loses hair little by little, every day, all year round. However, Border collies also lose hair most observable in spring and fall, just like all shedding dogs.
The excessive seasonal hair loss is normally referred to as “blow coat”. Blowing coat usually takes place near winter and summer.
In the fall, your pooch will lose her dead hair to create room for a fuller, thicker coat for protection during short daylights and cold weather.
In the spring, your pooch will lose her winter coat. This helps to loosen the double coat for longer daylights and warmer weather.
Allergies
The excessive hair loss may be due to allergies, which is usually characterized by too much scratching, itching, and shedding.
If allergies are the cause, then you should be on the lookout for other symptoms and sign, such as watery eyes, sneezing, inflamed paws pads, and inflamed itchy ears.
Stress
Your pooch is a sensitive animal, too much anxiety or stress in her life can cause abnormal shedding. In most cases, hair loss is a physical display of stress. An anxious dog may lick a localized area for an extended duration of time, leading to hair loss.
Your Border collie may get stressed because of the following reasons: abuse, past trauma, and separation anxiety. She may display the following stress symptoms:
- Avoidance
- Lethargy
- Destructive behavior
- Aggression
- Panting and drooling
- Pacing
- Pinned back ears
- Tail between legs
Environmental Factors
If there has been a big change in your Border collie’s environment, the amount of fur she sheds can increase significantly. Some kind of environmental irritant may be responsible for the shedding.
She could have picked a bacterial or fungal infection from the neighborhood or she may be allergic to something in her new surroundings. Some environmental irritants include grass, pollen, and paint.
Parasites
Your Border collie will be spending plenty of time outdoors, where she runs the risk of picking up all kinds of hitchhikers, including internal and external parasites.
These little blood and nutrient thieves come in all sizes and shapes, from single-celled protozoa and small insects, such as fleas to long intestinal tapeworms.
In most cases, if your pooch picks up parasites, it will be from exposure to contaminated environments. Parasites can increase scratching and itching, leading to Border collie shedding.
Poor Diet
Your Border collie needs a complete & balanced diet for her to have healthy skin and strong hair roots, which generally helps to minimize shedding.
Most dog food brands are very good at promoting their products. You can ensure that the food is right for your pooch by checking out the ingredients and carefully reading the labels.
Hormonal Issues
Hormonal issues can sometimes cause Border collie shedding. If your pooch has just completed her heat cycle, she is likely to shed a lot. The same is the case for a pregnant or nursing dog.
Sterilization procedures may also cause shedding. Neutering (for males) and spaying (for females) address the risk of overpopulation, but these processes can lead to hair loss, especially for male Border collies.
Losing Puppy Hair
Border collie puppies do usually have a fluffy, thick coat that provides additional warmth in their first year of life. The coat normally sheds off when the puppy transitions to adulthood, giving room for a new coat.
Get Control of the Shedding
Those who have this breed must have a number of ways of controlling Border collie shedding. But if you are a new dog parent, you can curb the hair loss with these simple steps.
Brushing & Coat Care
The first line of defense against shedding is brushing, which comes highly recommended by most veterinarians.
For much-loved Border collies, brushing and coat care can be a pleasure. Apart from controlling shedding, brushing is a good way to bond with your dog.
The key to effective brushing is to use the best deshedding tool, including a slicker brush, pin brush, and deshedding comb.
Deshedding Bath
Your pooch’s coat can easily get tangled, stinky, and dirty with time. Bathing is a very important part of a dog’s life, even though she would rather skip bath time. It is advisable to give her a bath every six to ten weeks, but you will need to brush her daily.
Tips for Bathing Your Border Collie
- Remove all mats and loose hair by combing and brushing your pooch’s coat thoroughly.
- Wet her coat, ensuring the undercoat also becomes saturated. This may take a while, so you should not be in a hurry. Sometimes the coat may not feel completely wet until after the first application of shampoo.
- Apply the shampoo and work up a lather. Make sure you use a specially made deshedding dog shampoo.
- Let the shampoo soak for at least 5 minutes, then rinse her at least twice to make sure that there is no leftover shampoo, which can irritate your pooch’s skin.
- Then use a specially made deshedding conditioner to condition your dog’s coat. Allow the conditioner to settle for 5 minutes before you rinse.
- Towel dry her coat and then use a high-velocity dryer to get rid of any loose hair. Alternatively, you can use a deshedding brush to remove loose hair.
Food and Nutrition
One of the most effective ways of controlling excessive Border collie shedding is a complete, balanced, healthy diet.
Good food and nutrition are important elements in your pooch’s overall coat care. The healthier her coat is, the less she will shed.
Do you know that essential fatty acid are very crucial for your collie’s coat and skin? A diet that is made up of correct amounts of fatty acids is what you need to control excess shedding.
Blow Coat with High-Velocity Dryer
Most expert dog parents have high-velocity dryers. A high-velocity dryer does an amazing job of blowing coat in a short period of time.
This unique deshedding tool offers remarkable results. Basically, it helps to minimize Border collie shedding for at least two to three weeks.
Our Deshedding Tools Recommendation for Border Collies
Border collies are among the top four shedders. Therefore, you must have the ideal tools and treatment with you.
Pro Slicker Brush – Best Deshedding Slicker Brush
The Pro Slicker Brush is the easiest and quickest way to a tangle free, shiny, healthy coat for your Border collie. This brush will work wonders on your pooch’s double coat.
It is fitted with gentle bristles that will not hurt your collie’s skin. But they are firm enough to effortlessly remove mats, tangles, and dead hair.
The brush has an ergonomically made handle with grooves for maximum control and comfort. The handle is also non-slip and of great size.
Pros:
- Works great on double coat
- Gentle bristles are safe for your dog’s coat and skin
- The brush is effective for removing dead hair, mats, and tangles
- Ergonomic handle is non-slip and comfortable to use
Cons:
- Bristles are a bit flimsy
Andis Premium Grooming Pin Brush – Best Deshedding Pin Brush
Apart from a slicker brush, you can use the Andis Premium Pin Brush to lift debris and dead hair from your Border collie’s double coat. It is a suitable choice for everyday use.
The brush is equipped with pinhead bristles that will not hurt the skin of your dog. These bristles will make grooming and deshedding comfortable for your dog.
This pin brush is good for your pooch’s undercoat. You will get more dead hair out of the coat with one stroke. Also, the handle has a soft-grip for reduced hand fatigue.
Pros:
- Pinhead bristles won’t hurt your pooch’s skin
- Handle offers a soft-grip for less hand fatigue
- Suitable for removing loose hair, dirt, and tangles
- Stimulate hair follicles and skin
Cons:
- Maybe too big for a puppy
Thunderpaws Best Professional Deshedding Tool – Best Deshedding Comb
The comb of the Thunderpaws is designed from durable stainless steel and it is equipped with a protective cover for durability. The comb is also gentle and comfortable.
The tool is fitted with a non-slip rubber handle that is ergonomically made for a comfortable grip that allows for a safe deshedding experience.
The Thunderpaws will minimize shedding by up to 95% without hurting the coat or the skin of your Border collie, and it helps you and your dog bond through grooming.
Pros:
- Comb made of durable stainless steel
- Non-slip rubber handle offers a comfortable grip
- Releases loose or dead hair with ease
- Promote healthy coat and skin
Cons:
- May require gloves for extended grooming periods
Pro Pet Natural Oatmeal Dog Shampoo & Conditioner – Best Deshedding Treatment
If you are searching for the finest dog shampoo for your Border collie, you should look no further than the Pro Pet. It is made in the U.S. and it comes highly recommended by vets.
It is made of organic, natural ingredients, including almond and aloe Vera. Apart from helping with deshedding, it relieves and restores itchy, dry skin.
This product also doubles as a dog conditioner, which not only conditions but also soothes and moisturizes sensitive skin.
Pros:
- Made in the USA and it is vet recommended
- Features natural, organic ingredients
- It is detergent and soap free
- Relieves and restores itchy, dry skin
- Doubles as a dog shampoo and conditioner
Cons:
- May cause matting after bath
Shernbao High-Velocity Blower – Best Deshedding Force Dryer
The Shernbao High-Velocity Blower is the ideal deshedding force dryer for your pooch. You can give your Border collie a dry wash by blowing loose hair, dirt, and dust.
This lightweight force dryer comes with an advanced design that decreases drying and deshedding time by 70%.
It is also equipped with variable speed control that allows for a precise and easy adjustment of air flow. This helps to control noise levels.
Pros:
- Dual motor speed for strong wind and fast blowing
- Adjustable speed allows you to control noise levels
- High-heat resistance and stronger stability
- Comes with a hose, nozzles, and air filters
Cons:
- Short power and hose cords
Conclusion
You cannot avoid Border collie shedding as long as you own one. Therefore, the best thing you can do is learn how to control the excessive hair loss, especially during the shedding season.
The most reliable deshedding techniques include brushing/grooming, blowing, bathing, and a healthy diet. You can also learn more tricks from your veterinarian.
For brushing and grooming, you need deshedding tools designed to remove loose undercoat, including a slicker brush, pin brush, and a force dryer.
However, we discourage shaving of your dog’s coat. Shaving can interfere with the natural growth of your dog’s double coat, and even destroy the coat’s protective properties.