How to Groom a Scottish Terrier (15 Tips)
By Misty Layne
Updated on
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Scottish Terriers are spirited canines known for their distinctive silhouettes. This breed can make an excellent pet for the right person as they are gentle, affectionate, and playful (though they are also independent!). But grooming a Scottish Terrier can be quite a task, even if you are not keeping yours groomed for show dog purposes.
Is grooming a Scottish Terrier something you can do yourself? Absolutely! Learning how to groom your Scottish Terrier will take time, patience, and possibly a bit of trial and error, but this is a job you can complete at home. And we’re here with 15 tips to help you do just that!
Before You Begin
You’ll need to gather a few items before you begin grooming your Scottish Terrier.
- A location for grooming
- A pin brush
- A wide-toothed comb
- Thinning shears
- Clippers with a #10 blade
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Towels
- Hair dryer
How to Groom a Scottish Terrier
Below you’ll find tips on how to bathe your Scottish Terrier, brush their coat out, then clip it to a desired hairstyle.
Bathing a Scottish Terrier: 7 Tips
- Before you bathe your Scottish Terrier, it is important you know that you shouldn’t bathe Scottish Terriers often. Bathing them too much can dry out their skin and cause problems, so only bathe your dog when necessary.
- Before starting your Scottie’s bath, you must carefully brush their hair to remove any tangles.
- Once that’s done, the bath can begin! Place your dog in the sink or bathtub you’re using (a sink may be less scary for your pup if you have one large enough). Get your pet’s hair wet using either a sprayer or a cup filled with water. Ensure the water is warm but not too hot!
- Shampoo your dog, then rinse every bit of shampoo off them. Leaving shampoo on your Scottish Terrier could make their skin itchy.
- Check your pet for signs of parasites, skin conditions, or infections.
- Next, use a conditioner, then be sure to rinse all of it off, too.
- It’s time to dry your pet! Blot your Scottie gently with a towel before switching to a hair dryer to finish drying them. They may be scared of the hair dryer at first, so introduce your pet to the hair dryer before any bathing occurs. You can do this by letting your dog stay with you when you dry your hair.
High-quality wet wipes can help you keep your dog clean from head to tail. Our Hepper Wash Wipes are infused with natural, moisturizing ingredients that will soothe your dog's skin while effectively removing dirt and grime. These soft, hypoallergenic wipes are made in the USA and safe for dogs and puppies of all breeds.
Clipping a Scottish Terrier: 8 Tips
If you simply want to clip your Scottish Terrier, you can use the tips below (note that if your Scottish Terrier isn’t a show dog, they don’t need to be hand-stripped; if your dog is a show dog, using a professional groomer is advised).
- Start giving your dog haircuts at a young age so it’s easier for them to become acclimated to the process.
- The sound of the clippers can be scary for some canines, so get your pet used to that before you attempt cutting their hair. Just turning on the clippers a few times near your dog before giving a haircut should help, but start with the clippers on the opposite side of the room your dog is in, then gradually move closer. Once your pet is fine with the clippers being on right next to them, you can start giving them haircuts.
- Once you’re ready to clip your Scottie, you will need to brush them out first. Start with a pin brush to remove any loose hair, then follow that with a comb to work out any knots or tangles.
- Now you can start cutting your dog’s hair! You’ll want to start on the head—use the clippers to go from between your pet’s eyebrows right in front of their ears. Then, you’ll need to cut from your Scottie’s chin to their chest.
- Next up is clipping the rest of the body! This is fairly easy as you will simply clip the body and legs in the direction the hair grows.
- Clipping near the genital and anal area can be a challenge as these parts are very sensitive, so you might want to use thinning shears here rather than clippers.
- Thinning shears should also be used to trim the hair on your dog’s tail, eyebrows, and outer edges of the ear.
- Congratulations; you have successfully clipped your Scottish Terrier!
Final Thoughts
Grooming a Scottish Terrier takes some patience and time, but once you get the hang of it, you should have no problems. You’ll need to get your pet acclimated to the process of grooming, so begin giving your pet baths and clipping them when they are a puppy. Don’t bathe your Scottie too often, though, as their skin is quite sensitive, and overbathing can cause skin issues!
Grooming your dog provides an excellent bonding opportunity, so go spend some time making your pet look and feel their best!
Featured Image Credit: Ihar Halavach, Shutterstock
