Old English Sheepdog Grooming Guide

The OES Coat

Understanding the Old English Sheepdog Coat

The Old English Sheepdog has the most demanding coat of any herding breed — a profuse, shaggy double coat that covers the entire body including the face, and sheds heavily during seasonal coat blows. This coat requires either daily home brushing or professional grooming every 6–8 weeks (costing $150–$300+ per session) to remain mat-free. There is no low-maintenance version of owning an OES in full coat. This information should be fully understood before acquiring the breed.

Grooming Tools You'll Need

• Pin brush — primary tool for working through the long outer coat
• Undercoat rake — for removing loose undercoat
• Wide-tooth steel comb — for checking all areas to the skin and confirming mat-free status
• Dematting comb and mat splitter — for working out developing tangles before they become full mats
• Thinning shears — for thinning dense areas and facial hair management
• Dog-safe shampoo and conditioner formulated for long, double coats
• High-velocity dryer (required — this coat takes hours to air dry and must be completely dried)

Professional vs. Home Grooming

Owners who maintain the full coat at home brush daily — not weekly, not occasionally, but daily. The professional alternative is a regular clip that shortens the coat to a manageable length while preserving the double coat structure. Many OES owners combine both: professional clips every 6–8 weeks plus home brushing between appointments.

Regular Routine

Daily Brushing and Professional Grooming

Daily Home Brushing (Full Coat)

• Work through the entire coat in sections with a pin brush — this coat must be brushed to the skin, not just the surface. Surface-only brushing allows mats to form beneath a smooth exterior
• The underbelly and armpits mat fastest — brush these areas at every session
• The hindquarters, behind the ears, and where the legs meet the body are the next highest-risk areas
• Face area: the hair that falls over the eyes requires daily care — see Face Care below
• Finish each session with a steel comb through the coat to confirm skin-level clearance

Professional Grooming (Alternative or Supplement)

Professional OES grooming costs $150–$300+ per session every 6–8 weeks, depending on coat condition, dog size, and location. A dog with a maintained home brushing routine between sessions costs less than one brought in severely matted. Book appointments before the puppy arrives — experienced OES groomers are in demand and may have waitlists.

Bathing and Drying

The OES coat must be bathed and completely dried with a high-velocity dryer — air drying this coat type is not appropriate. The dense undercoat holds moisture close to the skin for many hours and causes hot spots and skin infections if not fully dried. Plan for a bathing and drying session that takes 2–4 hours total.

Coat Blow Season

Seasonal coat blows in this breed are dramatic. Daily brushing during blow season, combined with a thorough deshedding bath, is required to manage the shedding volume.

Face Care and Practical Grooming

The Face, Eyes, and Underbelly: The High-Risk Areas

The OES face coat is unique among dog breeds — the profuse shaggy hair falls directly over the eyes and mouth. This requires daily management to prevent eye irritation, skin fold infections around the muzzle, and mat formation.

Face and Eye Care

• The hair over the eyes should be brushed clear or tied back — long hair touching the cornea causes chronic irritation and can lead to eye infections
• Wipe around the eyes daily with a soft damp cloth to remove discharge and debris accumulation
• The muzzle area where food and water contact the coat requires daily cleaning — dampness here causes skin fold dermatitis if not managed
• Many OES owners choose to clip the face short for practical management, even if keeping the body coat long

Underbelly and Armpit Mat Prevention

The underbelly and the skin folds at the armpits where the front legs attach to the chest are the most aggressive mat-formation areas in the OES. These areas mat fastest because they experience the most friction, moisture, and contact. They are also the easiest to overlook during brushing because they require the dog to be positioned on its side or back. Check and brush these areas at every single session without exception.

When Mats Are Already Formed

Mats that have reached the skin should be professionally handled — home dematting of severe mats is painful for the dog and often impossible to complete properly. Prevention is far less expensive and more comfortable than remediation. A dog brought to a groomer severely matted may require a full body shave — which is also the humane choice when home dematting is not feasible.