Border Collie grooming includes everything needed to keep your dog looking his best. Generally, this includes bathing, hair or coat trimming, nail clipping, and tooth brushing. While you can groom your Border Collie yourself, some owners have the dogs professionally groomed every 4 to 6 weeks. When choosing a professional groomer, look for someone with a clean work area who works quickly but carefully. The groomer should work with the dog to keep her calm and relaxed. Your Border Collie should not seem overly traumatized by a visit to the dog groomer. Dog groomers may belong to groups such as the International Association of Canine Professionals, and the National Dog Groomers Association of America.
Weekly brushing is important for Border Collies. Some Border Collies have sleek coats that are around 1" in length. Other Border Collies have longer, coarse coats. Weekly brushing removes tangles and helps distribute the oils from the dog's skin and hair, and keeps the dog's skin in top condition. For sleek coats, slicker brushes are an effective tool. Natural bristle brushes are usually better for coarse coats.
The feathers on your Border Collie's front legs and tail can be trimmed with regular scissors or with clippers. Many dogs are frightened by clippers at first, so be sure to introduce them to the dog slowly and gradually. 
Let the dog sniff them and get used to the clippers being used near her body before you ever turn them on. Keep your dog on a slip-free surface and hold him while he is being trimmed, to ease his anxiety.
Working Border Collies who spend a lot of time in the field may need to be bathed frequently. Border Collies who live indoors as pets can likely go a month or two between baths.
When trimming your dog's nails, only use nail clippers designed specifically for use on dogs. As with other grooming supplies, allow Border Collie time to sniff the clippers and become accustomed to them. Most dogs respond better to having their paws lifted up and toward their backs for nail clipping, rather than pulling the paws forward. If you are inexperienced at handling canine nail clippers or your Border Collie is very anxious and likely to pull away, you may want to have a styptic pencil on hand. This can be used to stop the bleeding if you inadvertently cut too close to the "quick" of the nail. Border Collie grooming can be a positive experience for both you and your pet with the right tools and preparation.
