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any areas including the bottoms of the feet. Because of the thickness of the Sheltie's coat, you may need to use your fingers to work the shampoo into the long hairs. Rinse the shampoo thoroughly, letting the water rinse until it runs clear from the coat. If the Sheltie was heavily soiled, the dog may need two washings.

Squeeze excess water from the coat and use a heavy towel to remove as much water as possible. If you have a cage dryer, this can be used to help the coat dry off what the towel didn't. A cage dryer will get the coat damp-dry and a hand blow-dryer will be utilized to fully dry the coat. Working from the rear to the head, allow the blow-dryer to separate the hairs. Dry one area at a time and using a brush will help keep the hairs from tangles.

To make the coat stand away from the body, brush against the grain while the coat is still damp. Using the dryer and carefully brushing until the coat is fluffed and then ending by brushing the coat back down around the body. Excess hair on the feet and hocks can be trimmed with shears.

Once the coat is cleaned and dried, the Sheltie is ready for the ear cleaning. This is a simple process of using a cotton ball and water. Some groomers will use mineral oil and/or ear powder. The only concern when cleaning the ears is to be gentle, do not go into the ear canal and do not use Q-tips. If the ears are overgrown with long hairs, these can be easily trimmed away with short scissors. Hemostat scissors are the most common type utilized for this area because of their bent shape at the ends.

Nail trimming can be intimidating and should be approached with caution. Inside the toenail is a "quick" that can hurt if cut and even bleed. If you are doing this for the first time, trim a little at a time until you reach the quick without cutting into it. Today's technology has made other tools available for nail trimming that are much safer than clippers and can be purchased for the novice groomer. Nail trimming and ear cleaning can be done before bathing but I prefer to do it after the dog is clean and the coat is manageable.

The overall appearance of the Sheltie is unique because of their double coat. The outer coat should be long and straight hair while the undercoat is short and dense. The undercoat should be fluffy enough to give the outer coat a stand-off appearance. The coat on the tail should be profuse and the hair on the face, tips of the ears and feet should be smooth. Giving the Sheltie daily brushings will make the bathing and grooming process much simpler and less stressful on the dog.

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