Australian Shepherd grooming Berlin: proper double coat care
Australian Shepherd grooming in Berlin: brushing the double coat, managing shedding, deshedding instead of clipping. Process, frequency and prices in the salon.
An Australian Shepherd has a medium-length double coat consisting of a topcoat and undercoat, and sheds all year round, more heavily in spring and autumn. At home, two to three thorough brushing sessions a week are ideal, increasing to 10 to 15 minutes daily during shedding season. In the salon, we recommend a bath and deshedding every 8 to 12 weeks to carefully remove the loose undercoat; the appointment takes 90 to 180 minutes and starts at 79 €, or 209 € for dogs weighing 18 to 25 kilograms. We only clip the coat if advised by a vet or in cases of severe matting that can't be brushed out.
- Coat type
- Medium-length double coat of topcoat and undercoat, year-round shedding
- Brushing at home
- 2 to 3 times a week, daily for 10 to 15 minutes during shedding season
- Salon frequency
- Every 8 to 12 weeks, closer to every 8 weeks during shedding season
- Duration in the salon
- 90 to 180 minutes, listed as 180 minutes for 18 to 25 kg in the booking catalogue
- Price range
- Full Groom from 79 €, 18 to 25 kg from 209 €, dematting 15 € per 15 minutes started
For an Australian Shepherd, brushing out the coat is the main focus. At home, you should brush thoroughly two to three times a week, and for 10 to 15 minutes daily during shedding season. In the salon, we recommend a bath and deshedding every 8 to 12 weeks to carefully remove the loose undercoat. This kind of appointment takes 90 to 180 minutes. The Full Groom starts at 79 €, and for dogs weighing 18 to 25 kilograms at 209 €. An Aussie is only clipped if advised by a vet or if there is matting that can no longer be gently brushed out.
How is the Australian Shepherd's coat structured?
The coat consists of two layers. On top is the longer, coarser topcoat, which repels dirt and water. Underneath lies the fine, dense undercoat, which insulates the body. The American breed registry classifies the Aussie as a herding dog with a medium-length double coat. It lists the measurements as around 46 to 58 centimetres at the shoulder and about 18 to 29 kilograms. The standard colours are black, red, blue merle and red merle; merle refers to dark patches on a lighter background of the same colour.
The hair grows particularly long in three areas: on the trousers (the longer feathering on the hind legs), on the tail and behind the ears. The undercoat gets trapped there if it isn't brushed out. For many Aussies, the back stays smooth even with little effort.
Services, duration and prices at GroomRoom
Starting prices including VAT, based on online booking. We will give you the final, binding price before the appointment after assessing the coat.
| Service | Duration | Price from |
|---|---|---|
| Full Groom with Haircut L 18 - 25 kg | 180 min | from 209 € |
| Mini Groom (Long Hair) L 20-30 kg | 180 min | from 169 € |
| Individual services: nails, eyes, paws, ears, sanitary trim | short, no bath | from 15 € |
| 4-in-1 combo package (nails, paws, eyes, sanitary trim) | short, no bath | from 45 € |
How often should an Australian Shepherd be brushed?
Two to three thorough brushing sessions a week are enough during the normal course of the year. The British animal charity Pdsa places medium-length breeds exactly in this bracket and notes heavier shedding in spring and autumn. During these weeks, a daily run-through with the comb is worth it, otherwise the old undercoat gets stuck in the topcoat.
It's important that you get right down to the skin. Brushing just the surface leaves the undercoat untouched. Work in small sections and pull the coat to the side with your free hand.
| Body area | Tools | Routine at home |
|---|---|---|
| Back and flanks | wide-toothed metal comb | 2 to 3 times a week |
| Trousers on the back legs | Comb, then slicker brush (brush with fine, bent wire pins) | every 2 to 3 days |
| Behind the ears | fine-toothed comb | 2 times a week |
| Neck under the collar | fine-toothed comb | 2 times a week |
| Tail and armpits | Comb | 1 time a week |
| Between the toes | Check at home, trim in the salon | every 4 to 6 weeks |
Bathing is needed less often than brushing. The Msd Veterinary Manual suggests about one bath per month with dog shampoo, depending on the season and how dirty they get. After a muddy walk, clear warm water on the tummy and legs is often enough.
Can you clip an Australian Shepherd?
We only clip an Aussie if advised by a vet or in cases of severe matting that can no longer be gently brushed out. The topcoat and undercoat grow back at different rates, so the coat can return unevenly after clipping. The American breed registry also lists sunburn, dry skin and ingrown hairs as potential consequences. Clipping doesn't make a dog cooler, as they release heat by panting and through their paw pads.
The Msd Veterinary Manual advises against cutting out mats with scissors, as it's easy to injure the skin. In these cases, we use clippers underneath the matting and only on the affected area. We use scissors for targeted trimming: the paw hair between the pads, the outline of the trousers, the hair whorl behind the ears and the tip of the tail.
Bald patches, severe itching, dandruff, ear odour or broken skin need to be seen by a vet before a salon appointment. We groom coats and don't treat skin conditions.
How the deshedding appointment works in the salon
A deshedding appointment with us takes 90 to 180 minutes. In the booking catalogue, 180 minutes are allocated for dogs weighing 18 to 25 kilograms, which is where the Australian Shepherd is categorised.
- Visual check and pre-combing on the trousers, ears and neck, 10 to 15 minutes.
- Bath in the Hydra tub with pH-neutral natural shampoo, usually two rounds, 15 to 20 minutes.
- Blow-drying with a strong airflow that drives the loose undercoat out of the topcoat, 30 to 45 minutes.
- Combing out section by section with a comb and slicker brush, 20 to 30 minutes.
- Detail work on paws, trouser contour and ear hair with Aesculap cutting tools, around 15 minutes.
- Nail clipping, cleaning the eye area, cleaning the ears, around 10 minutes.
We never lift large dogs. The height-adjustable grooming table goes all the way down, your dog steps on themselves, and then we raise it to working height. You can read more about this in our article on grooming for large dogs without lifting. We take breaks between steps as soon as your dog gets restless.
Which areas mat first on an Aussie?
Matting on an Australian Shepherd almost always starts in four places: behind the ears, in the armpits, on the pants, and under the collar. That's where hair rubs against hair, and the loose undercoat gets caught in the topcoat. A harness or a wet tail after a rainy walk speeds this up.
Check these four zones once a week with your fingers. A knot that can still be moved will come out with a comb and some patience. If it sits tight against the skin, stop and let us remove it at the salon. You can find out how we do this in our article what to do if your dog is matted.
Take the collar off at home when your dog doesn't need it. A tight strip of matting forms particularly quickly under the collar on a double coat.
Managing the coat change in spring and autumn
In spring and autumn, your Aussie sheds a large part of their undercoat, which the PDSA describes as seasonal shedding. The loose hairs don't fall out on their own; they get caught in the topcoat. This is exactly what causes that woolly feeling under your fingers.
- Daily combing, 10 to 15 minutes at a time, only ever one or two body zones.
- Book your salon appointment at the start of the shedding season, not at the end.
- Blow-drying thoroughly after a bath, because damp undercoat clumps together in the fur.
For a dense undercoat, the American breed club recommends working with a powerful dryer and line combing, which means combing through line by line. This is exactly how we work at the table. You can find more background info in the article proper deshedding and coat change.
How much does grooming cost for an Australian Shepherd?
For an Aussie, you usually book a Full Groom which includes bathing, drying, brushing out, nails, eyes, paws, ears, and sanitary trim. It starts at 79 €, and for dogs from 18 to 25 kilograms at 209 € for 180 minutes. If you don't want a trim on the paws and pants, book a Mini Groom starting at 59 €. If there is matting, we charge for dematting at 15 € per started 15 minutes. All starting prices are on the Prices page.
Between two Full Groom appointments, a quick visit is enough for some owners. Nail clipping starts at 15 €, paw trimming at 18 €, ear cleaning at 18 € and eye cleaning at 15 €. The combo package of nails, paws, eyes and sanitary trim starts at 45 €. You can find these services under Individual Services.
We will give you the final, binding price before the appointment, once we have seen your dog. If you cancel less than 24 hours in advance, we will invoice you for 70 percent of the price. You pay on collection, in cash or by card.
How often should an Aussie visit the salon?
Every 8 to 12 weeks is a good interval for a double coat, or closer to every 8 weeks during shedding season. If your dog comes in after a long break, we schedule more time for brushing out and discuss beforehand how much matting there is.
Here in Charlottenburg, your dog gets their own time slot with no waiting around in the room. We are open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 to 18, and the salon is closed on Monday and Sunday. The address is Giesebrechtstraße 2, 10629 Berlin, you can reach us via U7 Adenauerplatz (5-minute walk), U1 and U9 Kurfürstendamm (10 minutes), and you'll find parking on Giesebrechtstraße and Brandenburgische Straße. You can watch from the outside through our large shop window.
Large breeds are handled by Alina, our Senior Groomer, while dematting and Full Grooms are done by Nata, our Master Groomer. If your dog is nervous in the salon, Kristina will take the appointment. You can always book an appointment online or call us at 0152 5452 4113.
Case studies from the salon
Real appointments from GroomRoom, prices as charged (as of September 2026). The final price depends on the coat condition and will be confirmed before we start.
Pomeranian
- Before
- Pomeranian after six months without a salon visit, undercoat matted in places.
- Treatment
- Full Grooming with dematting and Pomeranian surcharge: brushing out the undercoat, bath, blow-dry, styling without clippers.
- Duration
- 2.5 hours
- Price
- 165 to 180 €
- Groomer
- Team GroomRoom
Example imageGolden Retriever
- Before
- Very anxious Golden Retriever, first salon visit, lots of loose undercoat.
- Treatment
- Full groom with breaks and a second person: bath, long blow-dry with deshedding of the undercoat, paws, nails, ears; no clipping of the double coat.
- Duration
- around 3 hours
- Price
- 209 to 240 €
- Groomer
- Team GroomRoom
Our Toffee (Pomeranian) visited GroomRoom Berlin for the first time today, and we are absolutely thrilled. We booked the Full Grooming package and our little darling looked like a real fashion model afterwards. Very friendly, we will definitely be coming back.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you shave an Australian Shepherd?
We only clip an Aussie if advised by a vet or in cases of severe matting that can no longer be gently brushed out. The topcoat and undercoat grow back at different rates, so the coat can come back unevenly afterwards. Instead of clipping, we remove the undercoat with a bath, blow-dry, and comb.
How often should an Australian Shepherd go to the dog groomer?
Every 8 to 12 weeks is a good interval, leaning towards every 8 weeks during the spring and autumn shedding seasons. Between appointments, you should brush them at home two to three times a week. If your dog comes in after a long break, we will schedule more time for brushing out.
How much does grooming an Australian Shepherd cost in Berlin?
A full groom starts at 79 €, and for dogs between 18 and 25 kilograms, it's 209 €. If there's matting, dematting adds 15 € for every 15 minutes started. We'll give you the final price before the appointment, once we've seen your dog.
How long does an appointment with deshedding take?
We schedule 90 to 180 minutes, depending on size and coat condition. Blow-drying alone takes 30 to 45 minutes because the airflow drives the loose undercoat out of the topcoat. We take breaks for restless dogs, which extends the appointment.
Which areas of an Aussie mat the quickest?
Mats form first behind the ears, in the armpits, on the trousers of the hind legs and under the collar. Check these four areas once a week with your fingers. If a knot is tight against the skin, have it removed in the salon instead of using scissors.
Does an Australian Shepherd need to be bathed often?
Brushing is more important than bathing for a double coat. The Msd Veterinary Manual suggests about one bath a month with dog shampoo, depending on the season and how dirty they get. After a muddy walk, warm water on the tummy and legs is usually enough.
Sources and professional context
- Is the Australian Shepherd the Right Dog Breed for You? · accessed on 2026-11-02
- Double-Coated Dog Breeds: Care, Grooming, and Shedding · accessed on 2026-11-02
- Routine Health Care of Dogs - Dog Owners - MSD Veterinary Manual · accessed on 2026-11-02
- How often should you groom your pet? - PDSA · accessed on 2026-11-02
