Bichon Frise Australian Kelpie Grooming

The Bichon Frise-Australian Kelpie is a hybrid mix of two dogs with very different coats: the Bichon's is medium-length and fluffy, while the Kelpie's is usually short and stiff. As such, these hybrids' coats are mostly somewhere in the middle: short to medium, wavy, and double-layered.

Below you'll find details on maintaining the Bichon-Kelpie coat, including lots of info on brushing and bathing.

In addition to its coat, this hybrid mix will need regular maintenance in other areas. Brush the dog's teeth 2-3 times per week; clean the ears monthly; and trim the nails every 2-3 months.

Get answers to your questions about Bichon Frise-Australian Kelpie grooming below!

Overall Bichon Frise-Australian Kelpie grooming will take moderate work, most of which will involve the maintenance of these hybrids' double coats. Shedding will probably be pretty light (and may or may not be heavier during the spring and fall shedding seasons), but consistent brushing will be necessary to avoid tangles.

Use either a pin or a slicker brush on your Bichon-Kelpie 2-3 times per week. First wet the coat with water mist from a spray bottle, then go through the coat section by section with the brush, moving in the direction of hair growth. Work out any tangles with either your fingers or the end teeth of a greyhound comb (or both).

Bichon-Kelpie bathing will need to happen every couple of months or so, unless of course the dog gets especially dirty or stinky and an "emergency bath" is in order. When bathing a Bichon Frise-Australian Kelpie, be sure to use shampoo made for dogs, as the human kind has a different pH and can irritate the dog's skin.

And no Bichon Frise-Australian Kelpie haircuts are required--though some owners do have the longer coats clipped short to make them lower-maintenance.

While owners can learn to perform all aspects of Bichon-Kelpie grooming themselves, it's good to take the dog to a professional groomer at least once. The groomer can give the dog a nice makeover, and provide tips on how to groom a Bichon Frise-Australian Kelpie at home.