Mud puddles are a Border Collies favorite place to play… so an occasional bath is certainly on the cards! As a fun loving, adventurous, energetic, intelligent breed they can get muddy very easily. The length of their hair means they can be prone to matting and will need to be brushed regularly to keep a healthy coat. And at these times, a good bath for your collie may be just what the doctor (or veterinarian) ordered!
So, are Border Collies easy to bath? Yes, most collies have an affinity to water and love a good bath. Regular bathing will help maintain their athletic appearance and keep them clean and healthy, whilst also giving them the mental stimulation they need. Just don’t over-do it! Too much bathing can deplete their natural oils and once every 1-2 month should do.
In order to keep your four-legged friend clean and healthy at all times, bathing them, as part of a grooming routine, is a good idea. We’ve put together everything we can think of to help you and your dog enjoy bath time.
Are Border Collies Easy to Bath?
Border Collies love puddles and like nothing better than running and splashing whilst out on a walk. Their pelt is water resistant, but they still need regular grooming to keep their double coat in good condition.
If you have ever seen a border collie bathing, then you know how much fun it can be for both the dog and the owner. The Border Collie is a high-energy dog breed, but it requires more mental stimulation and physical exercise than most other breeds. The dog can become destructive, hyperactive or overly playful if you do not give him enough stimuli and exercise to avoid this from happening. After a good muddy run out, a bath also helps keep them stimulated and tire your collie out.
However, it is important that you don’t bath your dog too much, as this can remove the natural oils from their coat and cause skin problems.
12 Steps for a Good Bath Routine
1. Brush your dog’s coat gently before the bath
2. Prepare the bathroom and fill the bath with lukewarm water
3. Wet down your dogs coat with lukewarm water
4. Apply a gentle dog-specific shampoo that is suitable for your dog’s coat type, remember Border Collies have two layers of coat
5. Rinse your dog’s skin and coats thoroughly a shower head can be used if your Collie is comfortable with this
6. Towel-dry your Collie hair effectively
7. Leave the drying towels on your dog’s coat for a while
8. Brush your Border Collie before drying is complete
9. Use a detangling spay or aloe hydrating spray on your dog’s coat
10. Drying Is complete when your dog’s coats are no longer humid
11. Wrap your drying pet in a warm, dry blanket
12. Let your dog rest before taking him/her outside
Bath time can be a good time for a toothbrush and mouth inspection, especially if you suspect bad breath or dental issues which may require a trip to the veterinarian. Find out more here.
How Often Should I Bath My Border Collie?
Border Collies have a double coat. This means they have two layers, with a medium-length fur on the outer coat and a shorter hair undercoat beneath it. The amount you wash your dog depends on their natural oils and how much you need to clean them. If your dog has natural oils that are very beneficial in keeping their coat healthy and shiny, like a Border Collie does, wash less frequently to avoid loosing these oils and drying out its fur.
Owners of both rough coat and smooth coat collies report that their dog’s coat is easy to care for and they can be bathed once a month or so.
You can start bathing your puppy once it is age 9 weeks or 2 months of age. The time in between these age bracket can vary depending on the dog size and type of coat. This routine serves as training to make it easier to bathe your pup going forward.
What to do Before Bathing Your Border Collie? Training and Behavior Tips!
Bath time can be both, fun for the dog and a good bonding time between you and your pet. If your Border Collie is accustomed to baths they will be well-behaved and enjoy the bathing process. As we know, collies are an intelligent and energetic breed who need plenty of exercise, structured training and mental stimulation to maintain a good temperament. This will set the ground work for your bath time routine.
When you bring a new puppy or dog into your home, the responsibility of daily training is made very clear. Whether it be housebreaking to potty train, chewing prevention, obedience training and behavior maintenance (such as learning not to jump up on people) are all daily responsibilities of those who care for dogs.
Bath obedience training is an important type of training. If you bath train your dog, he or she will be a lot easier to train in other things, for example training him not to escape from house through windows or doors. It takes a while and consistency to achieve.
When bathing your dog reward only the calm and relaxed behavior of the dog during bath. If your dog behaves well you can reward their behavior with praise. Whisper words of encouragement to your dog while you are bathing him/her to make them feel secure and further increase your bond.
What is the Best Bath Temperature for Border Collies? And Other Bathing Tips!
Every dog owner wants to make their pet look and feel adorable and owners of this active breed are no exception. Pet skin is among the most delicate parts of their body and must be treated with care through proper grooming. This skin is not only exposed to allergens that can cause discomfort but also to various kinds of skin issues like ringworm, skin allergies and skin infections.
What is the best bath temperature for Border Collies? Water a little above lukewarm at approximately 98°F (37°C) is ideal, give or take a couple of degrees on either side. Choosing the right bath temperature and amount for your Border Collie is important as too cold water will stiffen their coat, making them uncomfortable during and after the bath, whilst water that is too warm will cause skin issues such as dry skin and could harm your collie.
Before bath time, brush your pet’s hair to remove any excess hair, mats or tangles, dead hair and help bath water get absorbed into their coat. Bathing a dog with tangled fur will only cause more irritation as the bath water is trapped in the fur. It is also advisable to trim hair around eyes and ears so that bath water does not go inside the eyes and ears when bathing. Water trapped in the ear can lead to ear infections.
Bathtime Grooming Equipment and Shampoo
The best grooming tools to use during your regular grooming routine are grooming gloves, a dematting comb with fine teeth, a bristle brush which removes surface dandruff, a pin brush for deep combing, a deshedding tool to remove loose hair and a flea comb to prevent itchy skin all with non slip grip to make the pets feel comfortable whenever they are being groomed. A regular grooming routine including an occasional hair cut is a very important part of pet care as it keeps the pet’s hair healthy and shiny. This also remove loose fur, helping with shedding, and takes the dirt from their hair and maintains normal skin.
Natural a gentle dog-specific shampoo are made up of a base of distilled water, coconut oil and almond oil. These bath ingredients are mild enough not to irritate the skin or cause unnecessary itching and scratching. Be mindful of any underlying skin condition before making or purchasing any dog products.
You can buy these ingredients separately or get them all in one shampoo at the health food store. This recipe makes enough gentle shampoo for 1 or 2 baths but you can easily make another batch if you don’t use it right away.
Key factors are pH and conditioning agents. It must have an acidic ph level of 5 to 7, because acidic shampoos are best at removing debris from the canine hair whilst retaining natural skin oils. It also best at keeping the dandruff away from appearing on your pet’s hair. Anti-shed shampoos are also available.
Here is a useful guide to shampoos for dogs with itchy skin.
How to Dry a Border Collie After a Bath? In 8 Easy Steps!
Prompt drying is one of the best dog drying tips that pet owners can follow. The more efficient drying you do, the less time it takes for your dog’s coat to dry naturally and every piece of fur to return to its normal position on his/her skin. This will not only save you from unnecessary worries because of harmful damp-loving pathogens but also help their fur to maintain its natural luster.
Here are 8 simple steps to dry your Border Collie after a bath:
- Try the towel-drier-towel combination! A combination of towels first followed by gentle blow drying works well – which is then followed by a final fresh towel dry – will help your collie dry in no time!
- A blow dryer is not strictly needed, especially if it frightens your companion, but is especially useful around their ears.
- Use two of your fluffiest cotton towels, and/or use a high setting on the blow dryer (but only medium heat!).
- Towel dry their entire body or move the blow dryer slowly around their body, making sure to not miss any spots.
- Pay special attention to their ears, as they are particularly vulnerable to moisture and bacteria build-up.
- When finished drying with the blow dryer, use a fresh absorbent towel to further dry off any excess water or dampness left behind by the dryer.
- Brush your dog while they are still damp; this should help remove any remaining dirt and debris from their coat. Focus on areas that are prone to tangles and matting like behind their ears, under their paws and along their backside where fur tends to be more dense and thicker in texture.
- Take your dog outside for some fresh air and sunshine if possible; this will help them get rid of any remaining excess moisture in their fur and make them feel warm after being in the bath!
How Much Bathing Is Too Much For Border Collies?
Between baths owners can use a variety of grooming tools on a daily basis. Dry shampoo or sponge washing your Border Collie when necessary can maintain beautiful hair as frequent baths (anything more than once a month) can cause problems. Dogs are clean animals so this is enough for most breeds to remain healthy, prevent skin irritation and maintain appearance.
However, problems occur in summer since you will need to bathe your pet more frequently in order to keep them from feeling discomfort due to hot weather conditions. Regular brushing will help maintain their coat and reduce the need for baths, also removing excess fur to keep them cooler.
There are four main types of dog brush available to pet parents: slicker, bristle, wire and pin. Each has its own specific purpose, so it is a good idea to use the right brush for your dog’s fur type if possible. Remember to brush from head to tail to avoid pulling the dogs hair unnecessarily.
Nail trimming is also important to consider both for grooming and to avoid injuries for when exercising, playing ball with their doggie parent or taking part in agility activities.
Conclusions
The Border Collie is a high-energy dog breed, but it requires more mental stimulation and physical exercise than most other breeds. The dog can become destructive, hyperactive or overly playful if you do not give him enough stimuli and exercise to avoid this from happening. Regularly bathing of your dog will help maintain their athletic appearance and keep them clean and healthy, while also giving him the mental stimulation they need.
In order to keep your best friend clean and healthy at all times, bathing them, as part of a grooming routine, is a good idea. You will need a small tub, dog shampoo and towels to make the bath process thorough and easy to follow through.
