Border Collie - Keeping the white, white

brookcove

It's actually not a good idea to use a silicone protectant on dog hair, unless very temporarily (use it for a particular look, then wash immediately afterwards).  It not only keeps the dirt off the hair, it also keeps the natural oils from getting to the hair shaft as well, and you'll get drying and breaking pretty quickly...

Aaa, that makes sense.  I didn't use it often on Mick, which is why the bottle lasted forever!  LOL 

...What most of us with BCs do when they just get really nasty muddy, is hose down, towel off legs and feet, and then crate for a few minutes until your dog is drip dried.  Or just do what I do and let the wet dogs run around the house - it's 80 year old wood floors in here, damp dogs aren't going to hurt them!  It's not water that strips the coat, it's soap, so there's no limit to how much rinsing you can do!

Then when your dog is dry, brush her out thoroughly if you don't want the dirt to fall all over the house.  Again, I just vacuum frequently.   

Sounds like BCs have a coat like a Lab- fairly easy to keep clean.  I hosed Mick off a few times when he got muddy.  Most time, tho, I just waited for it to dry, then brushed it out.