Australian Kelpie
Does a Kelpie need a groomer? Not for a haircut. The coat is short, flat and built to turn rain. What a Kelpie does need is a proper wash, the loose hair out, and nails kept short. Every ten weeks works for most.
- Coat type
- Short Double
- Groom every
- 10 weeks
- Brushing at home
- Line brush once a week
- Shedding
- Steady all year, heavier in spring
- Watch for
- Between the toes and under the tail
- Time in the salon
- About 40 minutes for a Luxe Wash and Dry
What the coat is like
The Kelpie is a double coated working dog. Dogs NSW describes a short, dense layer underneath. Over it sits a close, hard, straight coat that lies flat and turns rain. That coat is built for long days outside. It does not need shaping and it rarely knots. What it does do is shed. Hair comes out all year and lifts in spring.
Why ten weeks
Kelpies bring the paddock home with them. Dust and grass seed work down to the skin, where the coat is thickest. A bath lifts that out and a deep dry brings the loose hair with it. We look between the toes and under the tail while we work. Nails are the other job. A dog that runs on grass wears nothing down, and long nails change how it stands. Ten weeks keeps both under control.
We take the loose hair out instead of shaving. A shaved double coat can grow back rough, and it stops shading the skin.
Home care between grooms
- Line brush once a week. Push the coat back with your hand and brush a thin line at a time, down at the skin. It takes about ten minutes.
- Check between the toes after a run in long grass. Grass seed hides there.
- Rinse the coat after a swim. Salt and dam water dry into it. A quick brush afterwards lifts what the water leaves.
Line brushing, shown by iGroomHub, our partner. This is how our groomers brush, and it is the way to do it at home.
What you need at home
- Slicker brush
This is the brush you line brush with. Follow it with the comb.
- Steel comb
Run it down to the skin. If it stops, you have found a knot.
- Shampoo and conditioner
A proper wash loosens the dead hair so the dry can lift it out. Our range is made with chemists: 100% natural, vegan and palm oil free.
What we do for Kelpies at WOOOF
Most Kelpies book a Luxe Wash and Dry. That is a bath, a deep dry, a brush out, ears and nails. It takes about 40 minutes. We add Deshedding in spring, which clears the loose soft layer without taking the coat off. Tell us if your dog has been in the water or out on a farm. We will plan for it.
What an Australian Kelpie groom costs
Set to a medium dog with a short double coat. That is where most Kelpies sit. No haircut is included, because a Kelpie does not need one.
Showing the lowest prices, for a medium dog with a short double coat. Pick your dog’s weight and coat to see their price.
Add to any service
- Teeth Brush$30
- Nail Trim$25
- Nail filing$15
- DemattingFrom $34quoted on arrival
- DesheddingFrom $34quoted on arrival
Specialist grooming and programmes
Grooming that is priced after a conversation, a consultation, a coat assessment or a programme rather than a standard slot.
Happy Puppy Club
Short, positive sessions that teach a puppy the salon is a good place, so their whole grooming life is easier. Start any time from their first vaccinations.
See how the club works →
Spa treatments
Hydrospa and therapeutic treatments for coat, skin and muscular health, for itchy skin, dull coats, and older dogs who feel their walks the next day.
Browse treatments →
Hand stripping
Terriers and Spaniels whose coats are better hand stripped, or stripped and clipped. Duration and price depend on the coat.
Talk to our team →
Asian freestyle groom
Soft, sculpted, toy-like styling by an award-winning stylist: rounded faces, fuller legs, even braids. For smaller dense or curly coats groomed every 4 weeks.
Talk to our team →Cancellations and late arrivals
Please give us 24 hours if plans change. Arriving more than 15 minutes late may mean we cannot finish the groom booked.
Safe handling fee
A $30 safe handling fee applies where a dog needs two groomers or extra time to stay safe and comfortable. We always call you first.
Ready when you are
You’re 2 minutes away from happiness. Our booking portal helps you select the right services for your dog and shows you live calendar availability.
Book nowService prices are a starting point. The exact price is confirmed at drop-off, based on grooming time, coat condition, size and any extra handling. Add-on prices are exact.
Common questions
How often does a Australian Kelpie need grooming?
Every ten weeks for a wash, a dry and nails. A Kelpie needs no haircut, only the loose hair taken out.
Do Kelpies shed?
Yes, all year, and more in spring. The soft layer underneath comes out and sits in the coat until it is brushed or washed out.
Where this comes from
Dogs NSW, Australian Kelpie. The breed standard describes "a double coat with a short dense undercoat". The page gives no grooming advice, so we cite it only for what the coat is.
Tripovich and others, Feeling the heat, Australian Veterinary Journal, 2025. A study of NSW dogs from 1997 to 2017. Deaths rose about 0.6% for each degree above 25°C, and 9.5% on days over 32°C. A double coat and a body weight over 15 kg were listed among the things that raise the risk.
RSPCA Australia, Why and how should I groom my dog? Brush knots out before they turn into mats.
PetSure, Pet Health Monitor 2026. Ear infections in adult dogs cost $473 on average to treat.
WOOOF groomers are not vets. We tell you what we see on the table and send you to your vet. Nothing here is vet advice.