Border Terrier grooming: brushing, bathing and shedding
A practical grooming routine for the Border Terrier: coat care, baths, nails and ears.
The wiry coat is designed to shed dirt and water, and it stays in good condition with a weekly brush using a hound glove or bristle brush. Two or three times a year the old coat loosens and is pulled out by hand, which is called stripping. Many owners learn to do it themselves in a few sessions over a week.
Clipping is quicker, but it cuts the harsh outer hairs and leaves the softer undercoat on top, so the coat becomes fluffier, fades in color and loses some of its weather resistance. Bath only when the dog is really dirty, trim nails every 3 to 4 weeks, and check ears and feet after walks through long grass.
Border Terrier grooming in numbers
This is an illustrative schedule based on our editorial grooming score, not a breed-specific care protocol. Coat condition, skin problems and professional advice may call for a different routine.
| Task | Planning example |
|---|---|
| Brushing | Once a week |
| Bathing | Every 2 to 3 months, or when dirty |
| Shedding | Light |
| Nail trim | Every 3 to 4 weeks |
| Ear check | Every 2 weeks |
| Teeth | Daily brushing; introduce gently and ask your vet if the mouth seems painful |
Coat
Harsh, wiry, close-lying top coat over a short dense undercoat, set on thick loose skin that shields the dog from bites and brambles.
Grooming needs
Shedding
Drooling