In order to manage coat shedding for your Australian Cattle Dog, you will have to brush him on a regular basis. Most Cattle Dogs will shed their coats twice a year. However, the Cattle Dog is what is referred to as a “double-coated” breed. The undercoat is short, soft, and dense. It acts as a weatherproofing blanket.

The outer or top coat is longer and harsher and therefore more protective. To say that the breed sheds is an understatement. Their twice yearly shedding leaves clouds of hair everywhere, indoors and out. The Cattle Dog will also drop the longer guard hairs almost all year-round.

As a result, regular grooming sessions year-round are absolutely necessary to both assist the shedding process and to keep the person assigned house-cleaning chores from being driven to distraction.

Regular grooming gives you the opportunity to keep on top of your dog’s home health care needs. Such things as nail clipping, cleaning ears, and checking teeth can be taken care of during the time set aside for grooming.

Brushing the Coat

Undoubtedly, the breeder from whom you purchased your Australian Cattle Dog will have begun to accustom the puppy to grooming just as soon as there was enough hair to brush.

You must continue with grooming sessions or begin them at once if for some reason they have not been started. It is imperative that you both learn to cooperate in this endeavor in order to make it an easy and pleasant experience.

Brush with the lay of the hair and use the steel comb on the longer hair of the “pants” on the dog’s rear legs and on the tail. At shedding time there will be a tremendous amount of hair collected in your brush and comb. You can hasten this process by giving your Cattle Dog a warm bath once the shedding has begun.

This loosens the hair and, though you may think your dog will complete the process completely bald, fear not—once the dead coat has been removed, the shedding stops and new hair growth will begin.

Necessary Grooming Equipment

• grooming table
• stiff bristle or wire brush
• steel comb
• nail clippers
• scissors
• rubber mat
• spray hose
• cotton balls
• shampoo
• washcloth
• heavy towels

Investing in a grooming table that has a non-slip top and an arm and noose can make all of these activities infinitely easier. These tables are available at pet shops and it is important to choose a table with a height that allows you to stand or sit comfortably while you are working on your dog.

We use a grooming table that has an “arm” and a “noose.” The noose slips around the dog’s neck when it is standing and keeps the dog from fidgeting about or deciding it has had enough grooming.

Do not attempt to groom or attend to your dog’s health care while you and your dog are sitting on the floor. You will spend most of your time chasing the dog around the room and Australian Cattle Dogs, particularly, will simply wander off when they feel they have had enough of your attention.

Invest in a good stiff bristle or wire brush, a steel comb, and animal nail clippers. You will be using this equipment for many years so buy the best equipment that you can afford.