Best brush for a Shetland sheepdog
A Shetland sheepdog carries a dense double coat — a soft, insulating undercoat beneath a longer, harsher outer layer — and that structure is exactly why a single brush rarely does the whole job. Most sheltie owners end up using at least two tools: something to work through the undercoat where mats and loose fur build up, and something to finish and smooth the visible topcoat.
Why a sheltie's coat needs more than one tool
The undercoat is where the real grooming work happens. It sheds heavily, especially around seasonal coat blows, and left unmanaged it mats close to the skin, particularly behind the ears, under the legs and around the collar area, long before it becomes obvious from the topcoat alone.
A slicker brush or an undercoat rake is built to reach through the longer guard hairs and pull loose undercoat out without cutting or damaging the topcoat, which a standard bristle brush designed for a short-coated dog simply is not built to do.
What to actually look for
A good undercoat rake with rounded pin tips reaches down to the skin without scratching it, and is the tool that does most of the work during a heavy shed. A slicker brush is useful both for general maintenance between rake sessions and for finishing off the topcoat to lie smoothly once the undercoat is under control.
A wide-toothed metal comb is worth having alongside either, mainly for checking specific areas — behind the ears, the feathering on the legs and tail — for any small mats starting to form before they tighten and become harder to remove.
A routine that actually keeps on top of it
A sheltie generally needs a proper brush-through two to three times a week outside of a heavy shed, and closer to daily during one, working in sections rather than skimming quickly over the whole coat. Starting at the skin with an undercoat rake and finishing with a slicker brush covers both layers properly.
Bathing before a big grooming session, rather than after, can make heavily matted undercoat easier to work through, since a clean, slightly damp coat separates more readily than a dry, dirty one. Fully drying the coat afterwards matters too, since a damp undercoat left to dry naturally is more prone to matting than one that has been properly brushed out and dried.
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.
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
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
Round-Tipped Deshedding Rake Comb
A double-sided undercoat rake with rounded stainless-steel blades that gently cut through mats and remove loose hair. The non-slip ergonomic handle makes deshedding dogs and cats quick and comfortable.
From£8.99
Pet Deshedding Grooming Mitt
A soft mesh grooming mitt you wear on one hand to lift loose fur while stroking your pet, turning shedding control into a soothing massage. Suits dogs and cats with any coat length.
From£7.99
Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush
A skin-friendly slicker brush that gently lifts loose fur and undercoat from dogs, cats and rabbits. The angled pins glide through the coat while a one-click button releases the collected hair for easy cleaning. Soft non-slip handle.
£9.99
Double-Sided Deshedding & Flea Comb
A two-sided steel comb with coarse deshedding teeth on one side and fine flea-comb teeth on the other. Lifts loose fur and catches fleas to keep your cat or dog's coat clean and healthy.
£13.99
Steam Spray Detangling Grooming Brush
A rechargeable steam grooming brush with a fine mist that lifts loose fur and eases tangles while you brush. Gentle on the skin and cuts down flyaway hair, no bath needed. Chick design.
£12.99
Wahl Competition Series Clipper Blades
High-precision, chrome-plated clipper blades with a rust-resistant finish, available in 17 sizes for every coat type and clipping style.
From£37.99
Double-Sided Undercoat Rake
A twin-bladed rake that removes mats and tangles on one side and reduces shedding on the other. The non-slip ergonomic handle suits cats and dogs with thick or long coats.
£23.99
Silicone Pet Bath & Massage Brush
Soft silicone bristles work shampoo into a rich lather while gently massaging your pet and lifting loose hair at bath time. A handy strap keeps the brush secure across the back of your hand.
£7.99
Self-Cleaning Deshedding Slicker Brush
A deshedding grooming tool for dogs and cats that lifts loose undercoat and eases out tangles, with a self-cleaning button that releases the trapped fur in one press.
£25.99
Wooden Pet Deshedding Grooming Brush
An ergonomic wooden grooming brush with a fine-toothed edge that loosens and lifts away dead and shedding fur. The smooth contoured handle sits comfortably in the hand for quick, gentle daily de-shedding.
£14.99
Common questions
- Do shelties need a slicker brush or an undercoat rake?
- Most owners end up using both — an undercoat rake to pull loose fur from close to the skin, and a slicker brush to finish and smooth the topcoat. Relying on only one tool usually leaves part of the coat under-managed.
- How often should I brush my sheltie?
- Two to three times a week is typical outside of a heavy shed, increasing to closer to daily during a seasonal coat blow, when the amount of loose undercoat coming out is much higher than normal.
- Can I shave a sheltie's coat to make grooming easier?
- It is generally not recommended. A sheltie's double coat helps regulate their temperature in both hot and cold weather, and shaving it can affect how it grows back and remove that natural protection, so regular proper brushing is the better long-term approach.
- Why does my sheltie's coat keep matting despite regular brushing?
- Mats often form close to the skin in the undercoat, which a topcoat-only brush will not reach. Switching to an undercoat rake for the deeper layer, alongside your usual brush, usually resolves matting that persists despite frequent surface brushing.
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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.