OK folks, here's an easy one. How do you know when its time to get your border terrier groomed. I've looked on the net for info about this and I know they get the hair pulled rather than cut. But how do you know when its time? I've had mine 2 months and he has got a bit "woolly" but is this just his winter coat coming in? I would hate to get him de-haired and then for him to be cold in winter (I thought about a coat - do dogs like wearing them?). He's not shedding hair any more than the usual hairs on the carpet so should I just leave him til the spring? Someone told me I could do this hair pulling myself but I think a groomer would be best as I have no experience and he's so gorgeous I'd hate to spoil his looks! - does it cost a lot? Advice gratefully received.

CG

If he doesn't look too woolly then i would leave him, but if you did decide to have him stripped then you should take him to a groomer, it doesn't cost much (about £10) but that depends where u live i suppose. He wouldn't get cold by having his coat stripped because not much is taken off.....as for dog coats, yes they like them once they get used to them :)

Well if yesterday and today is anything to go by he would be glad of a coat!! We live in Scotland and its baltic. But thanks! I don't think I'll do anything until I think he's really unkempt and then I'll ship him off to the hairdressers. £10!!! I pay 4 times that for myself!! If only I were a dog - and no smart replies please :0)

CG

lol :D

How much for a haircut? Is that the going rate?

My hair is totally worse than my dogs - so yes!!! that is the going rate! If only my mother had been Cher :0(

CG

I keep promising myself a professional cut. Then I hear how much it costs (£8 cut and blow-dry last time I went) and put it off a little longer .....!
:)

i'll do it for you JG for free :D

Come on you guys - you know I'm angling for a free haircut - for copper of course :)

i would do him for you but i live too far away...sorry :)

LOL - Settle -

Hi CG.
He should be hand stripped, everything past his eyebrows comes off!. You should get yourself a stripping knife to help you and a pair of scissors to trim round his feet etc.. If its ready to strip it will pull out easily. If he has been neutered, his coat may of changed which means the texture will be too soft to strip and you will have to resort to clipping (SAD). £10.00 is a real bargain, here in the Midlands its more like £30.00!!
Dawn.

Thanks Dawn. I'm not going to attempt it myself, I shall take him to a groomer after christmas I think. I thought £10 was a bit of a bargain, I live in Edinburgh where it will probably be a huge amount more but he's worth it.

CG

Hi Dawn,

Have you had a lot of experience with spayed BTs to know that the coat turns soft? I have a hard coated terrier and it is not the case with my breed. Curious why some breeds coats do change and others do not.

Stacey

When you strip out a border everything comes off. Only the undercoat is left (that is if they have that type of double coat.....some dont) So I think a coat would be advisable. As for £10 ???? can I possibly have a contact number of someone who will strip out a dog for that price?. I have stripped out 2 borders this week and the owners sent coats with them to be put on when they were finished. I didnt charge £10 either!!!!

hi Stacey.
I think I strip about10 Borders for different people and one is a spayed bitch, her coat has remained the same, my friend also has a spayed bitch and her coat too is still the same texture as it was before. Saying that, I CLIP 2 neutered males and 1 spayed female, the coat texture on the female did not alter, but her undercoat disappeared! consequently she had to be clipped otherwise she would have been bald. Both the males coats are very soft and impossible to strip, clipping is then the only option.

Freddie.
COATS!!!!!! I bought one for my oldie last year, he wouldn't have a pee in it! mind you it did come complete with a little compass so he knew which way he was walking!
Dawn.

I hand strip borders for friends & a few folk who have had pups from me over the years.....£10... :( wow...I wouldnt get out of bed for that!!!!!!
Please please please make sure that if you take it to a grooming parlour they really are going to strip it....many say "oh yes we strip terriers" then put clippers over them & totally ruin the coat :(
My suggestion is to find a bT breeder near you & ask if they will do it or if they can suggest someone who actually KNOWS how to hand strip a border.....most groomers dont unfortunately.