Grooming and coat
How do I care for a Border Collie's coat?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Border Collies come in a rough or smooth double coat, both needing brushing two to three times a week with an undercoat rake, rising to daily during a coat blow. The longer feathering on the rough variety's legs, chest, and tail needs an extra comb check to prevent the tangling a working dog's active lifestyle encourages.
Two coat types, similar core needs
Both the rough coated Border Collie, with its longer feathering, and the smooth coated variety, with a shorter, denser layer, carry a weather resistant double coat suited to outdoor work, weighing typically 14 to 20 kg (30 to 44 lb), and both shed a meaningful amount of undercoat that benefits from regular raking rather than surface brushing alone.
Why an active lifestyle adds to the workload
A Border Collie's high activity level, often running through long grass, mud, and water during work or play, means debris works into the coat more than it would on a less active breed, so a quick check and brush after vigorous outdoor sessions, on top of the regular schedule, catches burrs and tangles before they set in.
Extra care for the rough coat's feathering
The feathering on the rough variety's legs, chest, and tail tangles faster than the denser body coat, similar to other feathered breeds, so a separate comb check through these areas two to three times a week prevents the localized matting that can otherwise develop even when the body coat looks fine.
Key takeaways
- Both rough and smooth coated Border Collies need regular raking to manage their dense, weather resistant undercoat.
- An active, outdoor lifestyle means extra checks for debris after vigorous walks or work sessions.
- The rough coat's leg, chest, and tail feathering needs its own comb check to prevent localized matting.