If you’re wondering if Border Collies shed, the answer is yes, they do. But most dogs do, so what you really want to know is whether Border Collies shed *a lot*, how much they shed compared to other dog breeds, and how you can keep it under control. Ready to become an expert on the topic? Let’s get started!
Do Border Collies shed a lot?
On a scale from shedding very little, to shedding a whole lot, the Border Collie is probably somewhere in the middle. There are breeds who shed less, and there are breeds who shed worse than the BC.
Border Collie shedding is also seasonal, which means that a couple of times during the year it will be really, really bad, whereas for the most part of the year the shedding is relatively easy manageable.
Take this with a grain of salt though, because it really depends on what you’re used to. If you’ve never had a dog before, it can definitely take some getting used to, and you may find that your attitude towards having a sparkling clean home might shift a little bit, or that you’ll find yourself cleaning your home a lot more than before you had a dog.
How do I stop my Border Collie from shedding?
You can’t stop your Border Collie from shedding hair, but there are a lot of things you can do to make the shedding more manageable.
Personally, I find the below three options have the biggest impact:
- A regular brushing routine
- A robot vacuum cleaner
- No fabric couches if you allow your dog on the couch
Brushing your Border Collie frequently
If you can get yourself to commit to it, it’s best to develop a daily brushing routine. This way your dog knows what to expect (which can mean your dog will be less anxious about it), and it makes it easier for you to remember to do it.
For example, you could brush your Border Collie for just a minute, every day before you feed your dog. This way the brushing is anchored to another daily task, and once you’ve done it a few times it will become part of your daily routine.
By brushing your dog frequently, there’ll be more hair going into the brush and less dog hair going to other places around your home.
Getting a robot vacuum cleaner
I’m yet to meet anyone who had regrets about treating themselves to a robot vacuum cleaner. You can find really expensive robot vacuum cleaners as well as more affordable ones. The more expensive ones are typically smarter – they will bump into objects less, and they can even clean themselves. But the cheaper ones can do a good job too, they’re just a little more annoying when they get stuck in the same spot, and you’ll have to empty them yourself frequently when they’re full.
Another thing to consider when you have Border Collies is the long hair. Some of the cheaper robot vacuum cleaners can get their brush clogged easily with the long hair, meaning that you’ll have to cut the hair out frequently, as otherwise the vacuum cleaner won’t work as well.
We’ve upgraded to an expensive robot vacuum cleaner which we’re really happy with, but we also still use our old, much cheaper vacuum robot in the downstairs area. They both work and are a tremendous help in keeping the dog hair in our house under control, the expensive one is just a lot more efficient and convenient.
No fabric couches if your dog has couch access
This was a big one for us. We replaced our fabric couch with a leather couch and from one the to the next we didn’t have to spend a few minutes every day cleaning the couch from hair. Pretty much if you can have your sofas and armchairs in any material that won’t let hair stick, it will really make a difference!
