Shelties just love a bath, right? Ah, how about no! Bathing a Sheltie can be like wrestling with a hairy octopus. Eventually the forlorn Sheltie submits to your watery whims and then you get the look of absolute sorrow. We're sorry, Shelties!
When I asked Sheltie Planet readers to share their cutest, funniest and oh-so-sorrowful photos of dripping wet Shelties in the tub, this is what I got back. Whether they're shrunk by half, or giving you the side eye for making them smell like coconut, this photo collection is downright ridiculous.
Now there's a look! By Jenn Meirndorf.
Butter Cup-Snyder getting lathered up. By Rebecca Nicole Granstrom.
They are half their size when wet! By Jenn Gober Storm.
Our sweet Piper. By Sheltie Planet.
My Ruby in the Bath. She really enjoys it, specially when I rub her belly. By Suzanne Mavris.
Juke is a farm dog. Every bath is totally worth it because he has so much fun getting muddy herding chickens! By Joanna Thompson.
Cocoa doesnt want to take a bath! By Aeryeong Lee.
If you want to see two sorry dogs... By Vanesse Reeves.
Baby Tako! Marybeth Johnston.
Love my Tuff man! By Jessica Frost.
I made her into a doggysaurus. By Claudia Scheepers.
Mmm... refreshing. By Sol Hanna.
This is Kovu. He gives me the side eye and long face. We both hate doing baths for him! By Theo T. Le.
This is Munch in his first bath. By Kelly-Louise Hopkins.
All washed up. By Amanda Ritchey.
Hazel bathing in the ocean. By Elizabeth Lee.
Small enough for the kitchen sink! By Anita Nerings.
Tiny Kali shrivels up. By Jenii Jro Robinson.
Georgia! By Liz Boananno.
Edward is not a fan... but he is a fan of being blow dried afterwards. By Gianna Salstead.
Puppy shampoo! By Emma McCarthy.
Six eyes. Three dogs. One look. By Jessica Jones.
Someone's loving their shower. By Michelle Thompson Cowgill.
Why is this happening? By Tammy Hanley.
Anubis! By Karen Camargo.
My sweet boy Ronny. By Nancy Vogtel.
My Ellie. By Julia Durant.
The day I brought him home from the shelter. He was underweight then, that's no longer an issue though! By Chrysti Hydeck-Nethercutt.
This is Bayler Goose! Although he is part of a fighter jet team, he couldn't fly his way out of the bathtub! By John-Ethan Seemann.
This is Jack Maverick, he had even less of a chance to escape! By John-Ethan Seemann.
During a bath... By Johannes Svanbom.
Pure tolerance. By Dave Zolo.
Kylo is always a good boy. He's less than thrilled about bathtime however. By Deb Hildebrandt Christison.
Rowan the deflatable Sheltie! By Sarah Easley.
One-year-old Arthur. By Ann Demegillo Sherwood.
Don't wash me away! By Carlson Vom Dach.
Little puppy Howard. By Sheltie Planet.
Chewy actually enjoying bath time. By Mike Schacht.
Jasmine tolerates it... By Peggi Mcgrath.
Splish splash. By Alexandra Gihbsson.
Is it over yet? By Holly Den Bleyker.
HSS Foster Rebel, getting ready for a Meet and Greet where he met his forever Mom. By Vickie Harris Machala .
Where did my Sheltie go? By Il Bay B .
The look of betrayal. By Eric Malmberg.
Foxy Fizzle in the bath! By Karen Massey.
Ty. By Leanne Ellard .
Poor Spanky! By Ashley Nichole Hall .
Get me outta here! By Sarah Murphy.
Missy gives me the look of the betrayal as well. She does put up with it quite well, but is SO happy when we're done with the dryer and she can be free again. By Christiana Rattay .
Our Sheltie puppy Jasper doesn't like baths at all! By Trish Simms.
Milo's first bath. By Colleen Waddy Joseph.
Revenge is a dish best served cold. And fluffy. By Heather Ann Derrickson.
Jaime won't even look at me! By Kathy Mills.
12-year-old Enzo. By Courtney James.
Zoe at 4 months. By John Granitz.
Not a bath photo, but shrunk just as much! By Lindsey Schultz.
Pippin's knee deep in the bath. By Jessica Laurel Houston-Murphy.
Toby's face is deceiving, because he actually dislikes baths. But about halfway through he always starts smiling because I think he secretly likes them. By Kim Zikmund .
He hates it but he's always a good boy. By April Moore.
My Sheltie puppy. By Johanna Åström.
Are you coming in or what? By Liz Rittenburg.
Ok, I'm done. By Ryan Aloia.
Luna loves bath time! Marion Teunissen.
Poor Moby. By Lindsay Cool .
I suppose you think this is funny. By Eugenie Lam.
Bailey's first bath... By Marie-Jose Blaesen.
Megs. By Eileen Brownstein Ostach.
Daisy, that's one remarkable tail! By Nicole Barrish.
They shrink when water hits them! By Deborah White Duffy.
One wet June. By Nelly Junet.
Happy Koolie. By Catherine Orr.
Sigh... If you must... By Hedvig Köver.
Curdie... after the first shake. by Wendy Hoadley.
Tucker! By Lynn Henneborn.
Tessie's first bath at home. By Jay Kraft.
Kayla. By Tracy Parker.
Skunker Butts in the tub! by Linda Smith Gierek.
Molly! By Martina Jakab.
Not Uno's favourite time! By Michelle Turner.
Unrecognizable. By Silva Lang.
Holly and Crystal are not big fans of the bath! By Gillian Wood.
In the sink! By Ainslee Monk.
You missed a spot. By Roger Morris.
Bear refuses to look at us while having a bath. I've never had a dog pout so hard. Once he gets the after-bath cookie he's fine though! By Jeanne Ostrom Halls.
After The Bath...
There's nothing quite like a wet Sheltie rubbing himself all over the furniture after a bath. This is all part of his bathtime revenge policy.
Of course, some of you are more sensible than us and take a few minutes to blow dry your Shelties. Whether they're wrapped up in towels or blow dried and poofy, the results are quite gorgeous!
Austin loves the blow dry! By Joi Keeling.
After a bath! By Johannes Svanbom.
I'm a dog with style. By Lori Carter Baer.
I suppose you think this is cute. By Ruth Brickzin.
The side eye after I gave her a bath just cracks me up! By Lauren Varner.
My big baby Jozie! She loves to soak in the bath tub... By Kristen Jo Kehrer.
Cute as a button. By Alex Cotton.
Let's never do that again! By Virginia Gallant.
Lizzy likes a bath, but doesn't show it. By Carolyn Burrell.
Not happy! By Julie Smarney.
My Fuji after a bath! By Christine Wong.
Where did my fluffy body go? By Marisa Oviedo.
Shake it out! By Timea Markó-Guba.
Simba's shower time ends in a wet hug. By Suds Toms.
Lady! By Lisa Ann.
Our puppy Howard wrapped up like a baby! By Sheltie Planet.
5 Tips on Bathing a Sheltie
Tip #1. Bathe Only Every 1-2 Months
Don't bathe your Sheltie too often; like many dogs they lick themselves clean. Shelties generally aren't the kind of dogs to jump into the lake and roll around in poo. Indeed, overbathing your dog (weekly or more) is problematic as soap disrupts the normal microbiome, destroying both good and bad bacteria that live on the skin. Bathing also washes away the natural oils which serve as a barrier to harmful bacteria and yeast.
However, zero bathing can also lead to problems. Dogs come into contact with all kinds of gross stuff on their walks: duck poo, stagnant water, and dead birds to name a few. Harmful bacteria and fungi can transfer to your dog, potentially leading to infection. More commonly, sand and dirt particles accummulate in the fur, preventing airflow and creating dead skin cell pile-up and microbial overgrowth. Your Sheltie can also suffer blocked pores which can form into large hard lumps under the skin.
Tip #2. Shower with Warm (Skin-Temperature) Water
Although you may enjoy the sensation of a hot shower, your Shetland Sheepdog's skin and coat are not adapted to withstand high temperatures. Dog skin is thinner and more sensitive than human skin, making it more susceptible to heat injury. Water exceeding 102°F (39°C) can cause pain and discomfort, disrupt the skin barrier, and potentially lead to burns or irritation. To bathe your Sheltie safely, use lukewarm water, ideally 75-85°F (24°C–29°C), which aligns with a dog's normal skin temperature.
Thoroughly saturating the fur requires a good few minutes, since Shelties possess a dense double coat with a water-resistant outer layer and a softer insulating undercoat. Simply running water over the top won't cut it! Instead, part the coat with your fingers in sections, allowing the water to penetrate down to the skin. Position the shower nozzle directly against the body to maximize absorption into the coat and be systematic about it to ensure full coverage. Check for skin lumps, hot spots, flea eggs, and fleas as you go, giving your Sheltie a good scratch and words of encouragement.
Tip #3. Use Dog Shampoo for Double Coats
Human shampoos are made for slightly acidic human skin (around 5.5) whereas dog's have a more neutral pH (around 6.2-7.4). As a result, using human shampoo on a dog disrupts the skin's acid mantle, strips away natural oils, and weakenes the barrier against bacteria, fungi, and allergens. This causes dryness, irritation, excessive shedding, and susceptibility to skin infections.
Choose a pH-balanced dog shampoo for double-coated breeds which penetrates the water-resistant outercoat to loosen the partially shed undercoat and gently exfoliate the skin. If your Sheltie has dry or sensitive skin, use a hypoallergenic dog shampoo for thick coats. After lathering, rinse thoroughly for several minutes, as residues can trap dirt, clog follicles, and cause itching and dermatitis. Work your fingers through the coat and check for soap bubbles to ensure complete elimination.
Tip #4. Keep Ear Canals Dry and Use Ear Wipes
Avoid directing the shower nozzle toward your Sheltie's large, open ear canals. Unlike humans, dogs have an L-shaped ear canal, which traps moisture and creates an ideal environment for bacterial and fungal overgrowth. Warm, damp conditions inside the ear provide a breeding ground for pathogens such as Malassezia yeast and Staphylococcus bacteria, both common culprits of outer ear infections.
Water entering the ear canal can also mix with natural earwax, forming a sticky residue that further encourages microbial growth. Symptoms of an ear infection include head shaking, ear scratching, redness, swelling, and a foul odor. If left untreated, chronic infections can lead to pain, hearing loss, or even a ruptured eardrum. To prevent this, keep your Sheltie's head tilted slightly downward while bathing and avoid spraying in or near the ears. If you're concerned about accidental splashes, gently insert cotton wool balls into the outer ear canal to act as a barrier. After the bath, remove the cotton and use ear wipes with drying agents to eliminate residual moisture.
Tip #5. Pat Your Sheltie Dry with an Absorbent Dog Towel
When drying your Sheltie, always avoid vigorous rubbing, as the hairs are more fragile when wet. Instead, gently pat your Sheltie dry with a quick dry towel for dogs. There are some amazing products in the world of pet care and these microfiber shammies are mega absorbent, taking up water without damaging the coat. The more water you can take off in the bathroom, the better, as your Sheltie will be less compelled to rub himself dry on the furniture, damaging both his coat and your house.
Once you set him loose from his pampering ordeal, allow your Sheltie to air-dry indoors in a warm, draft-free environment. Bear in mind that Shelties can retain moisture deep within the undercoat for hours so to speed up drying, you can use a high-velocity pet dryer, or a human blow dryer on a low-heat setting. Work methodically, parting the fur with your fingers to ensure the air reaches the skin and undercoat. However, do hold the dryer at least 6–12 inches away from the skin to prevent heat damage, and keep it moving to avoid concentrating heat in one spot. To groom like a pro, a light spritz of a leave-in conditioner helps keep the free of tangles and flyaways.
How to Groom a Sheltie
The Best Brushes for Shelties
How to Clean Your Dog's Teeth
20 Things You Need for a New Puppy
A Brief History of Shelties
Sheltie Puppy Development
10 Intelligent Dog Breeds
How to Train Your Sheltie
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