• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Our website uses cookies. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our use of cookies. To see what cookies we serve and set your own preferences, please review our Cookie Policy. Learn More.

The Dog People by Rover.com

Powered By Rover.com

Tips, stories, and reviews for people who love dogs, powered by Rover.com, the world's largest network of 5-star pet sitters and dog walkers.

  • The Dog People by Rover.com
  • Dog Breeds
    • Golden Retriever
    • Australian Shepherd
    • German Shepherd
    • Pomeranian
    • Shih Tzu
    • Border Collie
    • Labrador Retriever
    • Boxer
    • Beagle
    • Dachshund
    • Chihuahua
    • Poodle
    • Yorkshire Terrier
  • Dog Love
    • Cute
    • Funny
    • Heartwarming
    • Quizzes
    • Trending
    • True Stories
  • Dog Names
    • Best Girl Dog Names
    • Top Boy Dog Names
    • Unique Dog Names
    • Cute Dog Names
    • Best Puppy Names
    • Dog Name Generator
    • Tough Dog Names
    • Food Dog Names
    • Romantic Dog Names
    • Literary Dog Names
    • Country Dog Names
  • Dog Videos
  • Life with Dogs
    • Dog Safety
    • Dog Behavior
    • Dog Psychology
    • Dog Nutrition
    • Dog Training
    • Health and Wellness
    • Recipes
    • Can My Dog Eat…?
  • PuppyHQ
    • Dog Adoption
    • Puppy Essentials
    • Puppy Names
    • Puppy Training
  • Shopping
    • Shop Rover Goods
    • All Dog Product Guides
    • Dog Gift Guides
    • Safety and Training
    • Toys and Chews
  • Cats!
    • Cat Breeds
    • Cat Names
    • Cat Psychology
  • Grooming
  • Get Rover
    • Dog Boarding
    • Pet Sitting
    • Dog Walking
    • Doggy Day Care
    • House Sitting
    • Search Pet Sitters & Dog Walkers
    • Shop Rover Goods
    • Sitter Resources
  • Languages
    • en-CA
    • en-GB
    • fr-FR
    • es-ES
    • de-DE
    • it-IT
    • nl-NL
    • nb-NO
    • sv-SE
    • fr-CA

Australian Shepherd Grooming: The Essential Guide with Pictures of Haircut Styles

Share54Pin It206

Australian Shepherd Grooming: The Essential Guide with Pictures of Haircut Styles

For Dog People
By Heather Logue

Share54Tweet0Pin It206

The lovely Australian Shepherd has a rather complicated history—descended from long-ago herding dogs found near the Pyrenees Mountains, transported to Australia to herd sheep in the open land, and then eventually ending up in California where they were adopted into the cowboy culture of rodeo performers.

Considered super smart and lovable, this popular breed is not a great fit for a couch potato, since they adore action and will likely try to herd anything they encounter. But they do make wonderful companions, so long as they’re socialized and trained early on.

Advertisement

And there’s that beautiful mottled coat in contrasting shades of blue or red. Framing kind, lovable eyes, their dazzling coif truly sets them apart in the canine kingdom…and also comes with a few special instructions to keep them looking fluffy (but not like an unkempt furball).

To help you get there, here are some Australian shepherd grooming tips unique to this breed.

Basic Grooming Advice

Keeping your Australian shepherd looking cute is all about tending to those tresses. They don’t need endless trips to the groomers, but they do need general upkeep on your part to prevent mats and keep them looking tidy.

  • Brushing is the best thing you can do for your Aussie! This breeds sheds quite a bit, so it’s important to get those dead hairs out of there—plus it helps stimulate the skin. Many say a slicker brush paired with a long tooth undercoat rake is the best combination. Make sure you get all the way through the hair but don’t irritate your pup’s skin in the process.
  • Do NOT shave this breed, as it messes up the delicate balance of the coat, which insulates them from heat and from cold by holding a layer of temperate air close to the body. The coat may never grow back the same if this breed is shaved. Plus, shaving your dog won’t stop them from shedding—they’ll just lose shorter hairs.
  • Bathing your Australian shepherd about once a month is perfectly fine. You don’t want to go overboard with the bubbles, but a fresh-smelling pup is always a welcome treat.

Top Australian Shepherd Hairstyle

1. The Minimal Trim

Via Flickr/Ted Van Pelt

Let that natural beauty shine through! Sure, you may need to do a lot of extra brushing to keep up with those flowing locks, but it’ll be worth it when you’re on the couch, all snuggled up next to that cozy coat.

You may want to purchase a nice pair of thinning shears to keep things slightly under control (our friends at Australian Shepherd Club of America recommend 42-46 teeth), since they’ll give a more natural look than you’d get with other trimming scissors.

Willing to put the time in weekly to keep their fur free from mats? Then this wonderful style just may work for your Aussie.

 

2. Teddy Cut

Via Flickr/Anna Bronikowska

This is a sweet style that is still on the longer side, but softens the look with a slightly rounder shape. For this cut it’s recommended to use a size A snap-on comb (but it can vary based on what you want), and trim up the body, sides, belly and back of the head. You can trim the paws into a cat foot, and use curved shears to make the back of the rear legs a smooth, round shape.

Even cuter? Leave the backside a bit puffy, and clean up the hair around the face and ears to give it that trimmed, stuffed-animal inspired look.

3. Simba Style

Via Flickr/Hauke Musicaloris

When it comes to this look, it seems like the name says it all. Inspired by the glorious character from the Lion King, this hairstyle keeps the dog hair shorter around the body, leaving fur in the neck area fluffy and regal.

Though maybe not as common as some other styles, the Australian Shepherd’s incredible coat is a perfect match for these jungle-inspired locks.

However you decide to groom your Australian Shepherd, they’re going to look dignified, dapper and oh-so-sweet—and you’ll be happy once you find the right style that fits in with your family (and budget and free time).

Just remember to always pay attention to the cues that your dog is giving you, and if something is causing them stress, then it may be time to find a different approach/hairstyle/groomer/etc. We hope these hairstyle ideas and grooming tips have been useful for jazzing up your pup’s coif. Happy clipping!

More dog insight

  • 7 Things Only Australian Shepherd Owners Understand
  • These 13 Dog Hair Removal Tools will Change Your Life
  • 11 Best Dog Foods for Australian Shepherds
Share54Tweet0Pin It206

Heather Logue

Heather Logue is a retail and arts writer who goes camping whenever she can. A lifelong dog lover, she misses her epileptic dog Sammy every day.

sidebar

By Heather Logue

Share This Article

Share54Tweet0Pin It206

Popular Posts

  • How Do Dogs Choose Their Favorite Person?
  • 14 Muddiest Dogs on the Entire Internet
  • 15 Dog-Safe Plants You Can Add to Your Garden Right Now
  • TLC From B.C. Rescue Turns Fierce Feral Cats Into Calm Kitties
  • 19 Best Pug Gifts for People Who Love ‘Em
  • Most Unusual, Unique Dog Names
  • Arborist Brothers-in-Law Start Nonprofit to Rescue Cats From Trees [Video]
  • Struggling to Find a Gift for a Dog Lover? Try a Dog DNA Test This Holiday Season
  • Esther the Wonder Pig and Her Dog Brother Phil Are Besties for Life
  • 10 Therapy Animals Bringing Joy to the World
More from The Dog People
dog getting eye drops

Dog Eye Gunk: What Is It, How to Clean It, and When to Worry

Pomeranian having its coat brushed

6 Best Brushes for Pomeranians

cute french bulldog in devil halloween costume

The 3 Most Important Halloween Safety Tips for Dogs

Learn More

  • About Rover.com
  • Download the App
  • Rover Store
  • Sitter Resources
  • In The Press
  • Terms of Service
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • User Terms
  • Privacy Statement
  • Cookie Policy

Need Help?

  • Help Center
  • Join the Team
Advertisement
© 2022 Rover.com. All Rights Reserved.