The best brush for a Border Collie
A Border Collie's coat is a working double coat: a coarser, weatherproof top layer over a soft, dense undercoat. Most of the year a slicker brush or bristle brush keeps the top coat tidy, but during the twice-yearly moult that undercoat needs an undercoat rake or comb, or it mats against the skin.
Why one brush is never quite enough
Border Collies come in both a smooth, shorter-coated variety and the more familiar rough coat, but both carry the same two-layer structure underneath. The top coat sheds dirt and rain and rarely mats on its own; the undercoat is the one that traps loose hair, especially behind the ears, around the collar area, and along the trousers on the back legs.
A single bristle brush will keep the top coat glossy between grooms, but it barely touches the undercoat. That is why most Collie owners end up with two tools rather than one: something for the everyday polish, and something stiffer for the two moults a year when the undercoat lets go all at once.
What to use, and when
A slicker brush is the everyday tool. Used a couple of times a week it lifts loose surface hair and keeps the coat from dulling, and it is gentle enough to use on a dog who is not shedding heavily.
An undercoat rake earns its keep during the moult itself, when a Collie can lose noticeably more hair over a couple of weeks than at any other point in the year. Working through the coat in sections, following the direction of growth, brings out the loose undercoat without pulling at the healthy top coat sitting over it.
A metal comb is worth keeping alongside either brush, purely for checking behind the ears and around the collar for the early stages of a mat, which is far easier to work out with a comb tip than to discover once it has tightened into a knot.
Getting a Collie to sit still for it
Collies are working dogs bred to think, and a grooming session that feels like nothing is happening tends not to hold their attention. Short sessions, timed after a walk rather than instead of one, tend to go better than trying to do the whole coat in one sitting.
A handful of treats scattered on the floor or a lick mat nearby gives a fidgety dog something to do with their mouth while you work, which for a breed this food-motivated usually buys several extra minutes of cooperation.
What we stock for this breed
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
MPS Head Cover — Breathable Dog Head & Ear Protector
A comfortable, breathable alternative to the cone of shame — protects head and ear wounds or bandages while letting your dog move freely.
From£30.99
Leucillin Antiseptic Skincare Spray for Cats & Dogs
A versatile, alcohol-free antiseptic spray that cleans, soothes, and helps protect your pet's skin from bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
From£16.49
Absorbent Cotton Gauze Swabs for Pets – Pack of 100
Highly absorbent, low-lint cotton gauze swabs produced in clean conditions — a practical first-aid essential available in three size and ply combinations.
From£4.49
MPS Medical PetS Boot – Waterproof Paw Protector
A vet-recommended waterproof boot that keeps bandages, dressings, and casts dry during walks and wet weather.
£30.49
Suitical Recovery Sleeve for Dog Front Legs — Vet Recommended
A cotton-Lycra sleeve that protects a dog's front leg wound or skin condition without restricting movement or needing a cone.
£32.99
Microfibre Pet Drying Robe
A super-absorbent microfibre drying robe that soaks up the wet fast after baths, swims and walks.
From£10.99
PAWZ Rubber Dog Paw Protectors — Waterproof Disposable Boots
Lightweight rubber dog boots that protect paws from injury and the elements — easy to fit, water resistant, and available in seven sizes from Tiny to X Large.
From£15.99
AniWrap Cohesive Bandages for Dogs & Cats
Stretchy, self-adhesive cohesive bandages that stick to themselves — not to fur — so removal is completely pain-free.
From£4.99
Suitical Dog Recovery Suit — Vet-Approved Post-Op Bodysuit
A vet-approved organic cotton and Lycra onesie that protects wounds after surgery — a gentler, less stressful alternative to a cone collar.
£30.99
Electric Pet Grooming Clipper
A quiet, rechargeable electric clipper for trimming dogs, cats, rabbits and other pets at home. Low-noise and low-vibration with an adjustable blade for tidy, stress-free grooming around the body and paws.
From£11.99
Absorbent Microfibre Dog Drying Robe
A super-absorbent microfibre drying robe with a handy front pocket to dry your dog off fast.
From£13.99
Large Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush for Mats and Tangles
A self-cleaning slicker brush with fine, bead-tipped wire pins that gently lift loose undercoat, mats and tangles from short or long-haired pets. A one-click button releases the collected fur for fuss-free cleaning. Cat-ear shaped design.
£18.99
Common questions
- How often should I brush my Border Collie?
- A couple of times a week is enough outside the moult to keep the top coat in good condition and catch tangles early. During the spring and autumn coat change, brushing every day or two for a couple of weeks makes a real difference to how much hair ends up on your floor instead of your dog.
- Do smooth-coated Border Collies need the same grooming as rough-coated ones?
- Yes, just less of it. The smooth coat is shorter but still has the same double-layer structure underneath, so it still sheds an undercoat twice a year, even though the change is less obvious to look at than on a rough-coated dog.
- My Collie's coat is matting behind the ears — what should I do?
- Work the mat apart gently with a metal comb, starting at the outer edge and working in, rather than pulling straight through it. A small mat caught early usually combs out; a large, tight one against the skin is better left to a groomer than tugged at, since pulling can be painful.
- Does clipping a Border Collie's coat short help with shedding?
- It is best avoided. A Collie's double coat helps regulate their temperature in both directions, and clipping it can affect how it grows back, sometimes unevenly. Regular brushing manages shedding without changing the coat's structure.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.