For anyone new to the breed, keeping your Rough Collie neat and tidy is not an onerous task once you know how, but you will benefit from having the right tools and a bit of practice on a couple of areas that benefit from occasional trimming, ie: the paws, the hocks, and around the ears.
| Recommended professional groomers with experience with Rough Collies | Breeders and knowledgeable owners willing to offer advice with grooming in your area |
Grooming keeps your dog's coat in good condition and also helps build a close bond with your dog or puppy. Puppies will not require bathing. The only time bathing is considered is just after the first major coat loss at approximately 14 months old. Groom out all the dead and loose hair. If the weather is kind, he may be bathed outside using a specialist dog shampoo. One with an insect repellent can be useful. Once bathed, he can be allowed to shake off the surplus water and then be towel dried.
Should your puppy be unfortunate enough to acquire fleas, treatment with an appropriate product recommended by your vet may be used.
Puppies need to get used to brushing as young as possible. Short, little-and-often sessions with a soft brush will get them used to the idea and it should become a pleasant experience for both of you. Some puppies will not be ready to stand still and be brushed, but do not let them play with the brush as it is not a toy.
It can be a good idea to stand them on a sturdy, non-slip table and get someone to help ensure they do not jump off and hurt themselves. Reward and praise them throughout the grooming session and finish with a cuddle and a treat.
The Rough and Smooth Collie have different grooming needs. The Smooth Collie has a “wash and wear” coat, and a weekly brush with a rubber curry comb or wash leather, together with a slicker brush when moulting, is sufficient.
Rough Collies require a little more work, but with some practice you can keep your Collie in good condition with a weekly brush and occasional trimming of certain areas.
Your puppy's breeder will be able to offer advice. Collies are naturally clean dogs and do not need regular baths. Even if they get muddy, once the mud dries it can usually be brushed off. A bath once or twice a year when moulting is usually sufficient.
Please note that, while it may feel as though clipping would keep the dog cooler, it is likely to do the opposite. Clipping a Collie's coat prevents it from insulating against the heat and helping the dog remain cool during summer.
Everyone has their own favourite grooming equipment, but the basics include a bristle brush or Maxi Pin brush, a comb and scissors to trim the hair around the paws, underneath and between the pads, and below the hocks. Otherwise, they can soon look as though they are wearing slippers.
The weekly brushing routine should start with a brush and finish with a comb on the featherings. Work to a routine so you do not miss anywhere, paying particular attention behind the ears and behind the front legs.
Wiping the coat with a baby wipe, damp flannel or microfibre cloth, followed by a light misting of grooming spray, can help keep it fresh and clean.
If the hair around the paws is left untrimmed, the feet can look as though the dog is wearing slippers. A neatly trimmed foot will also attract less dirt, mud and snow.
Although Collies need weekly brushing, it is not necessary to trim the hair on the feet and hocks every week. The guide below may look time-consuming, but it only takes a few minutes and can become part of your regular grooming routine.
Please note that spaying and neutering can change the texture of the coat. It may become fluffier and harder to maintain, which can lead to mats forming more easily.
Tools: You only need one pair of hairdressing scissors, although you may also benefit from a pair of thinning scissors.
If you take your Collie to a groomer, please stipulate that they must not clip or shave a Collie coat. Numerous distraught owners have collected their Collies from a supposedly experienced groomer and found they have been heavily trimmed or, at worst, shaved.
| Guide to trimming the hocks and feet of a Rough Collie, with thanks to Louise Bartolo | Trimming Nails with a Dremel Tool | New Owner Guide |
ROUGH COLLIE BREED COUNCIL -
HERE
For the benefit of this guide, Rebel had not been trimmed for three months.
| The front paw | The hind leg | The ears |
| Overgrown hair on the front paw | Overgrown hair on the hind paw | Trimming excess hair from around the ears |
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| Start by brushing the hair back in the opposite direction to which it grows and trim the excess with thinning scissors. | ||
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| Trim the hair from the pads using straight scissors, cutting the hair level with the pads. | ||
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| Trim the excess hair up towards the wrist. | Hocks can also be tidied with a pair of straight scissors. | |
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| Use straight or curved scissors and cut into an arc shape. | ||
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I use herringbone blenders when trimming the hocks, as they give a more natural appearance. Razor Sharp have some excellent blending scissors. A good-quality pair will last for many years. Cheaper scissors often cannot be sharpened, making them a false economy. |
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Many thanks to
Jana - Yaless Blue kennel
for her help with this step-by-step guide.
All photographs © Juraj Pivka
www.obsidian.sk
You will also need to ensure your dog's nails are not allowed to grow too long. Regular walking on a hard surface will reduce the need to trim them frequently, but keep an eye on the dew claws, especially in older dogs, as these can grow quickly and cause discomfort.
If you are not happy trimming your dog's claws yourself, your local grooming salon or veterinary practice may be able to do it for you. You may prefer to do them at home using a Dremel.
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Trimming dogs' nails the easy way I had an unfortunate and probably painful experience for the dog concerned with traditional nail clippers many years ago. It was not until I saw an article recommending a Dremel sanding tool that I was able to trim my dogs' nails myself. 
I have the Dremel Mini Mite. This model is no longer made, but there are various alternatives available. It has two speeds. The slower speed, although it takes longer, is quieter and easier for dogs that are put off by the noise. Replacement sanding bands are available. Make sure you use sanding bands rather than grinding stones, as grinding stones can cause the nail to heat up. 
Be especially careful when trimming a Rough Collie's dew claw because the longer feathering can become caught around the tool. Some people put a sock or stocking over the leg and push the nail through it. I find it easier to use micropore tape above and below the claw to keep stray hairs safely out of the way. 
Only use the sanding tool for very short periods, approximately two or three seconds at a time. I hold both the paw and the nail I am working on to reduce vibration. I use a different method for each dog. Older dogs may allow it while lying on the floor, while others may be easier on a grooming table. When trying a Dremel for the first time, ask someone to help in case the dog is frightened by it. There are lots of videos on you tube showing how easy it is to dremel a dogs nails |
