The Old English sheepdog (OES) is a beautiful canine with a dense coat, is quite intelligent and agile, not to mention exceptionally obedient. This sheepdog enjoys performing tasks and is one such breed that possesses great strength. This is why it can be seen in the obedience, conformation, herding and agility rings and competitions with its trademark shuffling gait. You will find that this canine comes in shades of grey, blue or blue merle, both with and without markings. But all in all, we can agree that this dog is simply beautiful!
With such a luscious thick coat that protects it from the elements, this breed is ideal for a British based dog given our temperate weather conditions. However Old English Sheepdogs are without doubt considered to be high maintenance when it comes to grooming and will require your time and financial commitment to keep their coat in the best condition.
In this blog, we’ll give you a complete breakdown of how to groom your Old English sheepdog to ensure an easy grooming experience each and every time.
Contents
Guide to Grooming An Old English Sheepdog
This breed is one that is extremely athletic and as a result it’s filled with a sort of clownish energy that it needs to vent. Because of this, it is important that owners see to it that their sheepdog gets regular exercise but given the size of its form, it’s no mean feat. Old English sheepdogs are a breed that is affectionate, and they might end up trying to herd people and other objects without even realising. Considering all these traits, it can be quite the job to groom this bear of a dog. But, if the hair of this dog is of the right texture, it shouldn’t be that difficult to groom compared to other long-haired dogs.
Puppies should be introduced to grooming sessions early on so that the process of grooming becomes second nature and an enjoyable experience. You can find more on how to introduce your puppy to grooming on our blog here. As mentioned above, the Old English sheepdog has a dense, rough outer coat, with another layer of soft undercoat to help deal with extreme weather conditions. A full grooming session for this breed is recommended every 3-4 weeks and should include cleaning the ears, clipping the nails and trimming.
Whether you choose to send your dog to a groomer or DIY, grooming sessions should be held at regular intervals to keep your furry buddy’s luscious locks brushed and matt-free at all times. For a complete and thorough grooming session, follow the tips mentioned below:
Grooming Tools For An Old English Sheepdog
Proper grooming tools are essential for maintaining your Old English Sheepdog’s coat and overall health. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Pin Brush or Slicker Brush: To remove loose hair and prevent tangles and to fluff the coat ready for trimming.
- Dematting and detangling comb: For tackling matted fur and knots.
- Coat Rake: Ideal for removing dead undercoat during shedding seasons. When shedding season arrives, it won’t hurt to have an undercoat rake around to help you get rid of dead hair and prevent hotspots.
- Wide-Tooth Comb: For working through tougher tangles.
- Dog Clippers: Use professional grade A5 dog clippers with a close cutting 10F clipper blade for sanitary trimming, trimming around the paws, clipping the lower belly from groin to navel and the insides of the hind legs. Dog clippers can also be used for full body clips using longer length body blades or comb guides for an easy maintenance clip - Perfect for active pet dogs. View our clippers for Old English sheepdogs here.
- Nail Clippers: To keep nails trimmed and healthy. Non guillotine style clippers that have a safety stop will not squash the nail as they cut and will prevent the nail from slipping too far through the cutters to prevent cutting them too short and catching the quick (the blood vessel inside the nail).
- Dog grooming scissors: Thinning scissors and straight scissors are best for trimming your Old English sheepdog. Thinning scissors can be used on the rump to enhance the rounded shape and for a traditional look, slope into the rear end.
- Ear Cleaner: For maintaining ear hygiene.
- Dog Shampoo and Conditioner: Choose formulas suited to your dog’s skin and coat needs. We love these all natural ones from Wildwash for active dogs and suitable for puppies or dogs with sensitive skin.
- Paw Balm: To protect and nourish paw pads.
Steps To Groom Your Old English Sheepdog
1. Preparation For Grooming
- Gather your grooming tools, plus towels, drier and treats, and set up your grooming space in a quiet, comfortable location ready to get started.
2. Brushing The Coat
- Begin by brushing your dog’s coat thoroughly to remove loose hair, tangles, and debris. Use a slicker brush or pin brush for general brushing, and a dematting rake for stubborn mats or knots. Work in sections, starting from the head and moving towards the tail.
3. Bathing Your Old English Sheepdog
- An Old English sheepdog usually requires two baths. The first one should be a regular, general bathing session. If your pup spends a lot of time outdoors, then an extra-long bath with a good shampoo is recommended.
- In the second round of bathing your dog, it’s important that you target the specific need that its coat might have. If your dog has allergies or sensitive skin, then use a mild dog shampoo that doesn’t aggravate the condition.
- Given the dense fur that this sheepdog has, it is best to use a generous amount of conditioner on the coat too if you want to keep their long natural locks tangle free.
- If you plan to clip your dog, skip the conditioner and use a conditioning spray after the clip so that any residue left on the hair shafts doesn't coat your clipper blades and make them sticky or go dull.
- Gently placing a cotton ball in each ear will prevent water from entering the ear canal during the bathing process.
- Ensure that you rinse the hair thoroughly to avoid product residue, which could irritate the skin.
4. Drying And Second Brush through
- Squeeze as much water as possible out of the coat using your hands, then dry with a hairdryer on a cool setting.
- Brush through the entire coat with a slicker brush to prevent matting whilst drying. This also helps to speed up drying time and fluff the coat ready for trimming.
5. Clipping And Trimming
If you plan to leave your majority of your dog's coat unclipped, it's still essential to trim the hair in the sanitary areas to maintain hygiene.
- Using a No. 10F clipper blade, clip the hair on the underbelly from the groin to the navel and down the insides of the thighs.
- Also clip the hair around the anal area 1/2 inch each side, being careful not to let the clipper blade touch the skin.
- For owners that wish to fully clip their dog into a maintenance trim to facilitate grooming, select a comb guard of the desired length to attach over the top of a No. 10F or 30F clipper blade to clip the body and legs. A No. 4 skip tooth blade can otherwise be used to thin out areas of the coat wherever needed to reduce matting.
- Follow our DIY home grooming tutorial with Lauren Emily Dog Grooming here.
6. Paw Care
- Lift each foot to inspect the paws for cuts, cracks, or foreign objects.
- Carefully trim the long hair between the pads using bull nose scissors, trimmers or clippers with a close cutting 10F or toe blade to reduce this hair from matting and giving your dog better grip. Place the foot on the ground and trim around the foot with grooming scissors to create a neat rounded shape.
- Apply paw balm to keep the pads soft and prevent the skin from cracking.
7. Checking The Eyes
- Check your pooch’s eyes regularly to ensure they appear clear, alert, and bright.
- The long hair on an Old English Sheepdog’s head can obstruct their vision or collect debris, potentially causing irritation or damage. After walks or energetic runs in the fields, inspect their eyes and watch for signs of irritation or discharge. To prevent issues, you can tie back the hair around their eyes or carefully trim the strands with thinning scissors.
- During baths, use a vet-recommended eye wash to gently clean the eyes and reduce staining of the surrounding fur.
8. Checking The Ears
- Taking care of your dogs ears is an important aspect of DIY grooming. Old English Sheepdogs can be prone to ear related issues which can be seen by your dog scratching at the ear, shaking of the head, redness, swelling, foul smell, or discharge coming from the ear which is sure sign of an infection.
- Clean your OES ears monthly using specialist ear cleaner for dogs and check for any ear related issues that might warrant a trip to the vet. When cleaning the ears, it is important to clean what you can see and to not go too overboard and clean too deep, as this may end up causing harm to your pet's inner ear.
Additional Grooming Requirements
- Daily Brushing: To prevent tangles and matting, aim to brush your dog’s coat daily or at least several times a week. This also helps distribute the natural oils from the skin over the hair for a healthy shine.
- Anal Gland Checks: Ensure their anal glands are healthy. Consult your vet if you notice scooting behaviour or discomfort.
- Seasonal Shedding and Preventing Hotspots: During spring and autumn, invest extra time in grooming to remove dead undercoat to help prevent matting and hotspots. Hotspots (also known as acute moist dermatitis or pyotraumatic dermatitis) are an issue that is quite common with this breed, especially during the warmer summer months. To keep hotspots at bay, removing the dead undercoat during shedding is essential so that the skin gets sufficient exposure to the air. If this doesn’t happen, the moisture held in by the coat may lead to irritation and form hotspots.
The Perfect Tools For Grooming Your Old English Sheepdog
Caring for an Old English Sheepdog requires time and dedication. Here are some key points to remember:
Use the right grooming tools, like slicker brushes, dematting combs, and clippers, to maintain their dense coat.
Groom regularly, including trimming around the eyes, paws, and sanitary areas for hygiene and comfort.
Prevent seasonal issues like hotspots by removing dead undercoat during shedding seasons.
Take a look at our specially selected dog grooming tools for Old English Sheepdogs here or contact us for bespoke advice tailored to your furry friend!
Which clippers should I use to clip an Old English Sheepdog?
A5 professional grade dog clippers are used by dog groomers and vets for clipping a variety of dog breeds including Old English Sheepdogs. These verasitle clippers are compatible with a wide variety of clipper blades and comb attachments to suit various coat types and offer a choice of clip length. Take a look at our Masterclip Old English Sheepdog Grooming Sets for bespoke clippers or contact us for tailored advice to suit your grooming preferences.
