What is the best brush for a Border Collie?

There is no single best brush. Rough coats need a slicker, a rake and a comb. Smooth coats mostly need a rubber curry brush or mitt.

The AKC describes two coats in the breed. The rough coat is medium-length and feathered. The smooth coat is shorter and coarser.

Both are dense, weather-resistant double coats. That is why one brush rarely covers everything.

VetriScience puts it simply: choose based on coat, not just breed. Here is how the tools line up.

Hazelwood Border Collies, a breeder, says tine length should roughly match coat length. A short-tined brush may not reach the skin on a rough coat.

Rough coat or smooth coat: which does my dog have?

A rough coat is medium-length and feathered. A smooth coat is shorter and coarser. Both are double coats.

A short-haired Border Collie usually has the smooth coat. Many dogs sit somewhere in between. Owners in Border Collie groups describe smooth coats that range from sleek to fairly dense (owner reports, not research).

So try this check. Part the hair over the shoulders and look near the skin.

• Thick, soft fluff under the outer hair. Treat this dog like a rough coat in shedding season, with a rake and comb.
• Short, flat hair with little fluff. A rubber curry brush or mitt will likely do the job.
• Still not sure? Our free dog coat quiz helps you match tools to coat type.

What is the best brush for deshedding a Border Collie?

For a rough or dense coat, an undercoat rake. Brush with the slicker first, then rake the loose undercoat out.

Hazelwood says an undercoat rake “helps remove dead, impacted undercoat, particularly during a seasonal shed.”

The same breeder warns against bladed deshedders. It says they are “designed to card or cut the top coat, not to remove the undercoat.”

VetriScience makes a similar point for double coats. Harsh shedding blades “may damage or break the topcoat.”

A rake has limits too. VetriScience notes it “may snag & pull out healthy coat,” so use light, slow strokes.

Brushing may not slow the shed itself. VetriScience says it helps remove loose hair before it lands on your floor.

What to look for in a rake, and why

For rough and dense coats, look for a large undercoat rake with curved stainless steel teeth and a non-slip grip.

A rake suits dogs with thick, medium-to-long coats and undercoat. A rough Border Collie in a seasonal shed usually fits that.

A sleek smooth coat may not. Coat condition matters more than breed alone. If unsure, ask a qualified groomer.

A basic rake can work fine if it suits your dog’s coat.

A rake will not stop shedding. It helps you collect loose fur during gentle grooming. For more detail, read our undercoat rake guide.

How do I stop mats behind my Border Collie’s ears?

Brush and comb the feathered spots more often than the rest. Behind the ears, the legs and the tail tangle first.

Riverview Grooming, a grooming salon, names the trouble zones: behind the ears, under the legs and along the tail. Add the “pants” on the back legs.

• Ears. Hold the ear gently and work the slicker in short strokes. Then comb through. Comb here every few days, even in weeks you skip a full brush.
• Legs and armpits. Lift each leg a little and brush the feathering in small sections.
• Pants and tail. Hazelwood suggests a pin brush for the long, straight hair here.

Has your dog’s coat changed after spaying or neutering? Hazelwood says this “sometimes causes the coat to become softer and more prone to matting.” Check the feathering more often.

Small tangles come out with patience. Tight mats close to the skin are different.

VetriScience says mats can be painful and can trap heat and moisture. Never force a rake through a mat. Book a groomer instead.

How do I know I brushed down to the skin?

Do the comb test. After brushing, run a metal greyhound-style comb from the skin outward. If it glides through, you are done.

Hazelwood says you should be able to run a comb through the hair after it is brushed out. That is the whole test.

If the comb snags, you found a tangle the brush missed. Go back with the slicker on that spot, then comb again.

It is an easy step to skip. That is often why knots turn up in spots you thought you brushed.

How often should you brush a Border Collie?

Once or twice a week for most of the year, and daily during shedding season. That is the AKC’s advice for both coats.

For rough or double coats, VetriScience suggests 1 to 2 times a week, and 2 to 3 in shedding season.

What helps when a Border Collie blows coat?

Brush daily, as the AKC advises in shedding season. A bath and a high-velocity dryer can blow out loose undercoat.

Riverview Grooming says you will likely see two big sheds a year, in spring and fall. Owners call this coat blowing.

Groomers use a high-velocity or force dryer for a blowout. Hazelwood says these dryers are great for “blowing coat off during a shed.”

Start on the lowest setting so your dog gets used to the noise. Work outdoors if you can, to keep fur out of the house.

Hazelwood calls a force dryer probably not worth it unless you show or have several dogs. A brush, rake and comb still do the job.

What is the best way to groom a Border Collie?

Work in sections, from the skin outward. Slicker first, rake in shedding season, then the comb test on every feathered spot.

For a smooth coat, swap steps one and two for a rubber curry brush or mitt. Finish with a quick comb.

Dog won’t stand still? Focus on one area of the coat per day, and pair grooming with treats.

So do one ear or one leg, then reward and stop. Stop sooner if your dog moves away, flinches or shows discomfort.

What should you avoid when brushing a Border Collie?

Don’t force tools through mats, don’t scrub the skin, and don’t rely on one brush for the whole coat.

• Forcing the rake. If it catches, stop. Tight mats need a groomer.
• Pressing hard. Use light strokes. VetriScience notes a slicker may be uncomfortable for very sensitive dogs.
• Skipping the comb. A smooth-looking topcoat can hide knots underneath.