Australian Shepherd Grooming Guide: Taming the Beautiful, High-Energy Double Coat

By Sarah Mitchell, Certified Master Groomer (CMG), International Professional Groomers Inc.

Australian Shepherds are stunning dogs — the merle coats, the striking eyes, the athletic build. They're also one of the more challenging breeds to groom, with a thick double coat that sheds heavily and forms mats with impressive speed if you fall behind on brushing.

Here's what every Aussie owner needs to know about maintaining that coat.

The Australian Shepherd Coat

Aussies have a medium-length double coat — a weatherproof outer coat and a dense, insulating undercoat. The coat can be straight to wavy and often has feathering (longer hair) on the back of the legs, chest, and belly.

Coat colors include black, blue merle, red, and red merle — all with or without tan points and white markings.

Mini Aussies (miniature Australian Shepherds) have the same coat type and the same grooming requirements as standard Aussies, just scaled down.

Brushing Schedule

Minimum: 2–3 times per week.
During shedding season (spring and fall): Daily.

Tools you'll need:
- Slicker brush — for the outer coat and feathering
- Undercoat rake or deshedding tool — for the dense undercoat
- Metal comb — for finishing and catching any remaining tangles

Work methodically — part the coat and brush in sections, getting down to the skin. Aussies have a lot of feathering behind the ears, on the backs of the legs, and around the collar, and these areas mat first.

A quick daily run-through with a slicker brush (even just 5 minutes) prevents small tangles from turning into mats overnight.

Bathing

How often: Every 6–8 weeks.

Aussies are active dogs and may need baths more frequently if they're regularly in mud, water, or dense brush.

Always brush thoroughly before bathing — water causes existing tangles to tighten into mats. A good rule: if the comb moves freely through the coat, it's safe to bathe. If not, brush more first.

Use a dog shampoo formulated for double coats and follow with conditioner. Rinse thoroughly.

The drying step is important: use a high-velocity dryer to blow out loose undercoat before finishing with a lower-heat setting. Air-drying a wet Aussie coat is a surefire way to get mats.

Professional Grooming

How often: Every 8–10 weeks.

A professional Aussie groom typically includes:
- Deshedding treatment (high-velocity blow-out)
- Bath and blow-dry
- Full brush-out
- Trimming of paw pads, sanitary area, ears, and tidying feathering
- Nail trim and ear cleaning

Aussies are not shaved or given dramatic haircuts — their natural coat length is maintained. What a groomer does is manage the undercoat, keep the coat healthy, and tidy the areas that get unruly.

Can You Shave an Aussie?

Please don't. The double coat is a temperature regulation system, not just decoration. Shaving it removes the insulation that keeps dogs cool in summer AND warm in winter. After shaving, the coat may grow back with different texture, and the guard hairs and undercoat may not regrow in their proper ratio — a condition called "coat funk" or post-clipping alopecia.

If you're dealing with severe mats that can't be brushed out, a groomer can shave those specific areas without shaving the whole dog. Prevention — regular brushing — is the real answer.

Dealing with Mats

Aussies mat most frequently:
- Behind the ears
- In the armpits
- Around the collar
- Behind the back legs
- In the belly feathering

For small tangles: apply a detangling spray, work the edges loose with your fingers, then gently work through with a slicker brush.

For tight mats: use a mat splitter or seam ripper to divide the mat into smaller pieces before brushing out. Never rip or yank — it's painful and damages the coat.

For severe matting: see a professional. Sometimes a mat is too tight to safely remove without cutting, and a groomer can assess whether shaving a matted area is the right call.

Ear Care

Aussies have drop ears that can trap moisture and heat. Check weekly and clean with a vet-approved ear cleaner. If you see redness, odor, or your dog is shaking their head frequently, see a vet — these are signs of infection.

Finding the Right Groomer

When looking for a groomer for your Australian Shepherd, ask about their experience with double-coated herding breeds. An Aussie in full coat is a significant time investment for a groomer — make sure they have the right tools (especially a high-velocity dryer) and aren't going to rush the process.

Find integrative veterinary care for your Aussie's skin and coat health at Holistic Vet Directory.