How often should I brush a Bohemian Shepherd?

Around once a week outside of seasonal coat changes, increasing to several times a week during the spring and autumn "coat blow" when the undercoat sheds heavily. Brushing right through to the undercoat, not just the top layer, makes the biggest difference to how much loose hair ends up around the house.

Do Bohemian Shepherds need professional grooming?

Not necessarily — many owners manage this breed's coat at home with regular brushing and occasional bathing. A professional groom can help during a particularly heavy seasonal shed, but clipping the coat short is generally best avoided for this coat type.

Is a Bohemian Shepherd a good choice for someone with allergies?

No breed with a coat like this is a safe bet for pet allergies, since shedding is a normal and heavy part of how the coat works, particularly at seasonal changes. Anyone with allergies should spend time around the breed before committing, rather than assuming any particular coat type is safe.

What's the best brush for a heavy-shedding double coat?

An undercoat rake or a slicker brush built to reach through both coat layers works better than a basic bristle brush, which mostly catches the top coat and misses the undercoat doing most of the shedding.

Do Bohemian Shepherds shed?

Yes, Bohemian Shepherds shed. They have a dense double coat — a soft undercoat beneath a longer, coarser outer layer — and like most double-coated herding breeds, they shed that undercoat heavily during seasonal coat changes in spring and autumn, with lighter shedding the rest of the year.

Why the double coat sheds the way it does

A double coat exists to insulate a working dog through both cold and warm weather, and the undercoat is what does most of that work — it's also what comes out in large amounts twice a year as the season changes, a process often called "blowing coat". Outside of those periods, shedding is lighter and more of a steady background level rather than a dramatic clear-out.

This pattern is typical of herding breeds bred to work outdoors in variable weather, and it's a genuine trait of the coat type rather than something specific to how any individual dog is fed or cared for.

What that means for grooming

Regular brushing through the coat, down to the undercoat rather than just over the top layer, is the main way to manage shedding and stop loose hair building up into mats, particularly behind the ears, around the collar area and on the hindquarters where the coat is often longest. During a seasonal blow, this may mean brushing several times a week rather than the weekly session that suits the coat the rest of the year.

An undercoat rake or a slicker brush designed to reach through a double coat, rather than a basic bristle brush that only catches the top layer, makes a noticeable difference during a heavy shed. Bathing occasionally with a shampoo suited to a double coat can also help loosen dead undercoat, as long as the dog is thoroughly dried afterwards to avoid a damp undercoat next to the skin.

What won't help, and what will

Clipping or shaving a double coat short is generally discouraged for this coat type — it doesn't stop shedding and can affect how well the coat regrows and insulates afterwards. Brushing more often, not cutting the coat shorter, is the more effective and lower-risk approach to a heavy shedder.

A healthy coat generally sheds less erratically than one affected by poor nutrition, stress or an underlying skin issue, so a Bohemian Shepherd shedding dramatically more than usual, or shedding in patches rather than evenly, is worth mentioning to a vet rather than assuming it's just the season.

Kit for this breed

Things we stock that owners commonly reach for here. Nothing on this page depends on you buying one.

Microfibre Pet Drying Robe

A super-absorbent microfibre drying robe that soaks up the wet fast after baths, swims and walks.

From£10.99

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

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Common questions

How often should I brush a Bohemian Shepherd?: Around once a week outside of seasonal coat changes, increasing to several times a week during the spring and autumn "coat blow" when the undercoat sheds heavily. Brushing right through to the undercoat, not just the top layer, makes the biggest difference to how much loose hair ends up around the house.
Do Bohemian Shepherds need professional grooming?: Not necessarily — many owners manage this breed's coat at home with regular brushing and occasional bathing. A professional groom can help during a particularly heavy seasonal shed, but clipping the coat short is generally best avoided for this coat type.
Is a Bohemian Shepherd a good choice for someone with allergies?: No breed with a coat like this is a safe bet for pet allergies, since shedding is a normal and heavy part of how the coat works, particularly at seasonal changes. Anyone with allergies should spend time around the breed before committing, rather than assuming any particular coat type is safe.
What's the best brush for a heavy-shedding double coat?: An undercoat rake or a slicker brush built to reach through both coat layers works better than a basic bristle brush, which mostly catches the top coat and misses the undercoat doing most of the shedding.

Sources

Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.

Blue Cross — Pet advice

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.