Border Collies aren’t always black and white, but I bet most people imagine the breed always to look this way. From a genetic perspective, this fantastic breed can either sport a smooth or rough coat and can vary from long to short. Short-haired collies have less feathering, while long-haired collies have feathering on the chest, underside, haunches, and forelegs.
Although border collies aren’t as fluffy as a Chow Chow or a Samoyed, you can create a Teddy Bear out of their fur! Yup, these charming herders can shed a ton if you don’t do something. While you can’t stop border collies shedding, we have six tips on how to control it!
Do Border Collies Shed A Lot?
Border collies aren’t the worst breed when it comes to shedding, but they shed a moderate to a high amount, particularly the rough variety. Rough-coated collies tend to exhibit the qualities of their Nordic ancestry. These beautiful dogs have a dense, wooly undercoat with long guard hairs, which sometimes makes them difficult to groom.
When Do Border Collies Shed?
Border collie pups develop a thick, fluffy coat to keep them warm and cozy for the first six to twelve months of their journey through life. It will take a year or two until these cuties get their full coat. From there, the seasonal shedding starts.
Adult collies will shed moderately throughout the year, but they will blow their coats heavily come spring and fall. But as with any dog, it is natural for border collies to shed their coats as temperatures and daylight begin to shrink. When spring rolls by, Border Collies will lose that thick winter coat over two months.
Why Do Border Collies Lose Their Hair?
Aside from temperature fluctuations and climate changes, Border Collies can experience excessive shedding due to allergies from their food or environment. Poor nutrition and stress also affect our dogs in many ways. A Border Collie that has been recently neutered or spayed may also experience excessive shedding for a couple of months. After all, testosterone and other hormones are partly responsible for keeping the hair follicles healthy.
Do Smooth-coat Border Collies Shed?
As mentioned earlier, there are two types of Border Collie coats: rough and smooth. Regardless, both coats can lead to shedding and hair everywhere.
Despite having shorter hair, smooth-coated Border Collies can leave traveling furballs around the house because the undercoat is thick.
On the bright side, smooth-coated Border Collies are easier to groom because their silky fur doesn’t mat as quickly as their rough-coated siblings. Also, their coat dries quicker after bathing.
6 Tips on How to Stop Border Collies Shedding
Border Collies shedding can never be prevented because it is a natural biological process in dogs. Even so, there is still hope for your clothes and furniture!
Feed Your Collie a High-Quality Diet
According to Roy Cruzen (DVM) of PetMD, a poor diet leads to excessive shedding. Since your dog’s diet can influence how much it sheds, you want to make sure you provide your pooch a high-quality food. Does that mean you grab the most expensive bag in the aisle?
Be careful! Many famous brands are full of by-products, cheap fillers, and additives that are detrimental to your dog’s health. Look for a hypoallergenic recipe crafted with complex carbohydrates and high-quality meat from lamb, chicken, or fish.
An excellent example is the CANIDAE All-Life Stages Premium Dry Dog Food. This formula supplies 24% of the proteins that your active canine needs to thrive. Rich in omega fatty acids, it strengthens hair follicles to promote a healthier coat and minimize shedding.
Supplement Your Dog’s Diet
Fish oil supplements, like the Nutri-Vet Fish Oil Supplements for Dry Skin and Dog Shedding Support, are a fantastic addition to your dog’s high-protein diet. Fish oil for dogs is an excellent source of EPA and DHA, the two essential components of omega-3 fatty acids.
Omega fatty acids provide nutritional support to nourish the skin and promote shine, strength, and softness to the coat. Since dogs cannot produce essential fatty acids, the only way to obtain them is through their diet.
Bust Ticks and Fleas
Border Collies are happiest when outdoors, but fleas and ticks lie in wait for a bloody snack. When your pooch has got a case of fleas, he is susceptible to flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) that could cause alopecia and eczematous skin rash. Tick bites may also bring debilitating diseases.
Although you can’t eradicate the parasites in your environment, you can protect your dog by using safe and effective flea and tick preventatives, such as the vet-recommended Frontline Plus. This topical treatment contains 9.8% Fipronil and 8.8% (S)-Methoprene. Together, these active ingredients attack fleas and tick of all life stages and prevent the establishment of new infestations within 30 days.
But if you frown on chemical ingredients, your best option would be to bathe your pooch at least once a week using TropiClean Natural Flea & Tick Shampoos and give him a few spritzes of Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Spray after playing outdoors. You may also use the non-staining spray around your homes, such as baseboards, carpets, pet bedding, pillows, and upholstery.
Bathe Your Pooch But Not Too Much
Even the smartest canine breed can be seen rolling in the muck with glee. Border Collies, as with any dog, love to have fun under the sun. So, it should come as no surprise if your Collie comes home soiled and funky.
Now, the question is: how often should you bathe a Border Collie? Too many baths can strip off the natural oils off your dog’s skin that could otherwise protect the coat.
However, the answer remains a moot point among the dog owner community. Jennifer Coates (DVM) of PetMD says that the bathing frequency depends on the reason behind the bath. As a rule of thumb, dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors will benefit from a monthly bath to remain clean and odor-free.
When bathing your pooch, you want to make sure you are using a natural product designed for dogs. Do not use baby shampoos because they can disrupt the acid mantle of the skin, leaving your pooch vulnerable to bacteria.
Although you can bathe your dog at home, it is also worth having your beloved pet groomed professionally. Professional groomers have the right tools to get your pooch looking his best, such as a high-velocity dryer. Unlike regular hand blowers, it removes dust, allergens, and dead fur from a dog’s coat without that scorching heat. A high-velocity dryer is extremely effective at reducing shedding for two weeks.
Don’t Give Brushing the Brush-Off
Brushing your Border Collie is one of the easiest ways to keep shedding under control. After all, what ends in the brush doesn’t fly all over the house!
Brush your Collie at least three times a week during the off-season using a good-quality slicker brush. While there are multiple options to choose from, I recommend the Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush for the job.
You will also need a shedding rake, which is a metal comb with curved prongs. Running the rake through the coat removes loose undercoat.
Take a Trip to the Vet
Excessive shedding can also result from stress or a medical problem. According to PetMD, intestinal parasites, fungal infections, trauma-related illnesses, adrenal diseases, and cancer can cause hair loss. If the shedding cycle of your Border Collie has suddenly changed, you should see your vet immediately and have your dog examined.
Conclusion
Border Collies make the best companions, but it is not all sunshine and rainbows even for the smartest dog in the world. This double-coated pooch sheds all year through, especially during the shedding season. Hence, you need to be as diligent as your pooch when it comes to grooming. Besides, your Collie will love being brushed and he will relish the time that he spends with you. Your Collie also needs a high-quality diet to stay bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. A healthy pooch will shine from the inside out!