Your Border Collie needs you to help them stay clean and healthy.
But how do you make sure you’re doing everything they need and have all the right gear? You want to start with a brush.
Of course, you don’t want just any brush. You want the best brush for Border Collie’s and that is exactly what we’re going to talk about here.
Border Collie’s Coats
If you’ve had your border collie for any length of time you know they shed. A lot. But the reason for that is because they’re meant to be hard workers and outdoors all day. In order to protect them from the heat of the sun and the cold of the winter, they have double coats.
Double coats mean there’s a thicker coat over the top, known as the outer coat, and another underneath which is referred to as the undercoat. But the truth is, that’s not the only think you need to know about their coats. That part is true of all border collie’s but you want to know what you can about your specific dog as well. That means you need to know whether they have a rough coat or a smooth coat. This is something that varies from one dog to the next.
Rough Coats – Rough coats mean that your dog has longer hair than dogs with a smooth coat. It can vary in actual length however. It also has more feathering down their chest, stomach and the underside of their legs. Some of these are very thick and some are thinner.
Smooth Coats – Smooth coats mean that your dog has shorter hair and they generally don’t have any of the feathering. This is the more dominant style, so it’s more likely to have this trait in your dog. Fortunately, this is the easier coat for you to look after as well. But while smooth coat is generally cleaner, smooth coat collies shedding is as common as in rough coat collies .
What Kind of Brush is Best for a Border Collie?
When it comes to choosing a quality brush you want to look at all of the factors. That means looking at the brush itself and also looking at your dog so you know what their needs are. What are you trying to achieve at that particular moment?
Brush for the Rough Coat Border Collie
If your dog has a rough coat then you want a brush that will get through that thick fur and keep them as smooth as possible. Because rough coats can be medium to long in length and they have all of that feathering a 2 sided brush is generally the way to go. One that offers bristle and pin options gives you the ability to groom your dog more regularly and get a good look for them.
Brush for Smooth Coat Border Collie
Smooth coats mean shorter fur and this is generally going to be more coarse but you’re not likely to see a lot of the feathering. This can actually make it easier for you to care for this type of fur. You’ll be able to use a simple slicker brush to get through the fur because you don’t have to worry about getting through so many layers.
Undercoat Rake for Border Collie
All Border Collies coat are double coats, with a coarser outer coat and soft undercoat. The undercoat of your border collie can get overwhelmed with loose fur, which can cause matting. If you use an undercoat rake it gets down into that soft undercoat and helps to remove the loose fur. This reduces matting and also removes a lot of the dirt and debris that can get stuck up under the outer coat. That makes sure your dog feels more comfortable without those particles rubbing against their body.
Brush for Shedding Border Collie
Border Collie’s shed quite a bit, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do about it. Rather, you can use a de-shedding brush to help you remove some of that excess fur. This will reduce matting and works especially ell during the normal shedding seasons. You’ll be able to help your dog look and feel better and keep all that fur off your furniture.
Sometimes a brush doesn’t really get the job done. When that’s the case you’re going to want a fine-tooth comb. These are great for getting stray hairs and they can really finish off the look of your dog’s fur. In fact, a comb is what generally gives Border Collie’s that shiny, smooth look, keeping their coat as flat as possible whether they have a rough or smooth coat.
Best Brush for Rough Coat Border Collie
BV Dog Brush and Cat Brush
This brush is actually safe for you to use for your cats or dogs, so you don’t have to worry about getting another one for different animals. It’s designed to work on different coat types and breeds as well, so you’re getting everything in one. You’ll have an ergonomic handle that’s easy to hold no matter which side you’re using and the fact that it’s double-sided means you can take care of anything at all.
The bristle side of the brush is designed for tangles and loose hair, also getting rid of dirt and debris. The pin side gets even deeper into the undercoat to make sure you’re getting rid of even more of the potential problems that could be uncomfortable or cause irritation.
Best Brush for Smooth Coat Border Collie
Pro Quality Self Cleaning Slicker Brush
Great for dogs and cats alike, this is a great brush for dogs that have a smooth coat because it really does get all the way through that coarse fur. It’s able to get rid of mats and tangles that can happen when the hair is thick and it also makes sure your dog is comfortable while you’re brushing them. The design of this brush has pins to make sure it gets in deep but it still doesn’t scratch or irritate your dogs skin while you’re doing it.
Available in different sizes and colors to work for any dog you have in your home, this brush also has an ergonomic handle that’s comfortable for you to hold as long as you need to. When you’re ready to clean the brush you can just press a button and the pins retract so it’s easy to wipe off the fur.
Best Undercoat Rake for Border Collie
RUBOLD Dematting Tool for Shedding and Removing Mats
This is the ideal brush for getting rid of the mats that can occur in the undercoat of your dog or cat. Unfortunately, those mats can get pretty engrained in their fur and if you’re not brushing through to the undercoat you can actually miss them entirely. This brush has precision teeth that are designed to get deep into the coat and make sure to pull out all of the tangles that could turn into mats and the mats themselves, but it doesn’t irritate the skin or hurt your dog in the process.
You’ll get a two sided comb that has wider spaced teeth or more narrow ones so you can get into even more stubborn clumps and mats. It’s also complete with a 100% guarantee so you can try it out and if you’re not happy with it you can return it.
Best Brush for Shedding Border Collie
FURminator Undercoat Deshedding Tool
This tool is available in different sizes and for different types of fur but for your Border Collie, a medium-long hair model is great to get deep into the coat. It may not look like it can get in far, but it’s going to work all the way through the topcoat. It doesn’t get into the skin, however and it doesn’t hurt the upper layers either. It can get rid of loose hair to make sure it’s not getting all over your house. Plus, that cuts down on the risk of matting in your dogs fur.
When you’re done brushing you can just press the button and the bristles will retract, making it easier for you to clear away the fur. The ergonomic handle makes it easy to hold and the whole thing comes with a guarantee that it’s going to work or you get your money back.
Best Comb for Border Collie
Dog Comb for Tangles and Knots
When it comes to getting rid of tangles and knots sometimes the best thing you can use is a comb. This comb has steel teeth with some closer together and some further apart. That way you can get into any of the knots your dog has. There’s also a comfortable handle that’s designed to never slip, so you can get deeper into the fur. On top of that you’ll have a lifetime guarantee that says it’s high quality and built to last for as long as you need it.
You’ll get a book along with the comb that walks you through the process of properly grooming your pet. Even more, you’ll have a tool that is gentle on your pets, both their skin and their fur. It’s designed to work for dogs and cats so it’s more versatile than other tools.
How Often Should You Brush Your Border Collie?
When it comes to grooming your Border Collie you should actually be doing it relatively frequently. You don’t necessarily have to go to a professional to get it done, but you should be brushing them at least 2 or 3 times per week to get rid of dirt, debris and loose fur. Both types of coats for your collie have a level of denseness and they are quite weather-resistant. That doesn’t mean you can just leave them alone, however.
You’ll want to groom your dog a couple times a week with a dog brush to make sure you get everything out and cut down on tangles and such. Once you get into the shedding season, which happens seasonally, you’ll want to brush them each day. This gets rid of the extra loose hair, which means less chance of matts and also less chance of all that fur winding up throughout your home.
Conclusion
If you have a Border Collie you want to make sure you’re taking care of them as well as possible. You want them to be comfortable and happy and you absolutely want to make sure they’re clean and healthy. With the right brush to fit their needs you’re going to have a much better chance at that. You’re definitely going to be able to improve the whole experience of having them in your home while you’re at it. All you need is the right brush and you’ll be doing your Border Collie the best possible favor.
Here are the best brush for Border Collie you can buy:
- Best Brush for Rough Coat Border Collie: BV Dog Brush
- Best Brush for Smooth Coat Border Collie: Pro Quality Self Cleaning Slicker Brush
- Best Undercoat Rake for Border Collie: RUBOLD Dematting Tool
- Best Brush for Shedding Border Collie: FURminator Undercoat Deshedding Tool
- Best Comb for Border Collie: SHINY PET Dog Comb
Thank you for this. I’m thinking of getting a border collie when I grow up and this really helped to tell me what brush I should get. Thanks again!