Border Collie
A Border Collie does not need a haircut. It needs the loose hair taken out. The coat has a soft layer underneath that lets go twice a year, and that is the whole job. Book a wash and deshed every eight weeks.
- Coat type
- Long Double
- Groom every
- 8 weeks
- Brushing at home
- Brush 2 to 3 times a week, more when the coat is dropping
- Shedding
- Yes, and heavily twice a year.
- Watch for
- The back legs, the tail and behind the ears
- Time in the salon
- About 50 minutes for a Luxe Wash and Dry
Two layers, one job
A Border Collie has a weatherproof top coat and a soft layer underneath. The soft layer is the one that comes out. Dogs NSW says the coat "is not subject to matting and tangling". It then adds that this can happen during a coat drop, if the dead hair is not removed. That is the whole Border Collie grooming problem.
Why eight weeks, and why no clip
Twice a year the soft layer lets go in handfuls. If nobody takes it out, it sits under the top coat and holds damp. It then starts to pack behind the ears and down the back legs. A bath and a proper blow dry lifts most of it out in one go. That is what a deshed is. It is much quicker than trying to brush it all out at home over weeks.
We do not shave a double coat. It works both ways in the heat, and it can grow back patchy.
Home care between grooms
- Line brush two to three times a week. Hold the coat back and work a thin band at a time, always starting where the hair meets the skin.
- Do the back legs, the tail and behind the ears. The rest of the coat rarely knots. These three spots do.
- Brush more often once the coat starts dropping. You will know when it starts.
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
- Undercoat rake
Pulls out the soft layer underneath. That is the hair that ends up on your floor.
- Slicker brush
This is the brush you line brush with. Follow it with the comb.
- 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 Border Collies at WOOOF
A Border Collie books a Luxe Wash and Dry, about 50 minutes, and we add Deshedding to it. The deshed is a wash, a high pressure dry and a thorough brush that lifts the loose hair out. It is quoted at check in, because how long it takes depends on the coat. No clipping, and no shaving.
What a Border Collie groom costs
Set to a medium dog with a long double coat. That is where most Border Collies sit.
Showing the lowest prices, for a medium dog with a long 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 Border Collie need grooming?
Every eight weeks for a wash and deshed. A Border Collie does not get a haircut, so the job is taking the loose hair out rather than cutting anything off.
Should I shave my Border Collie in summer?
No. Shaving is not something we will do here. The coat shades the skin in summer, and it may come back thin. An Australian study of NSW dogs listed a double coat among the things that raise heat risk, so these dogs do need care in hot weather. Shade, water and a deshed help. Clippers do not.
Where this comes from
Dogs NSW, Border Collie. The coat is "not subject to matting and tangling", except during a coat drop when the dead hair is not removed.
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.
RSPCA South Australia, The complete guide to grooming your dog. Poodles, poodle crosses and wiry haired terriers need regular combing. Trapped hair can cause ear and eye infections.
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.