Hiya

One of my setter bitches since being spayed, as expected has got a more fluffy coat, what I didn't expect is for coat to grow fluffy where coat doesn't normally grow long (IE width of ham and shoulders)  Unfortantly this hair is making her look like she has a bad conformation (when she doesn't IMO!) so I was told by her breeder I must take it all off, however I don't know how to and guess handstripping is the way.  I did hand strip it a few weeks ago and it looked alot better (although my skills do need to improve to get a better finish I think!!!) So really I want advise on how to hand strip (I can only just use scissors! ;) ) and also with her coat being so soft a fluffy should I invest in some chalk or something to get a better grip? If at all I should be handstripping?

Any tips/advise would be welcome :)  I might get her looking ok for the club show this weekend....

could you not use stripping knives, it would be easier :)

See thats how little I know...I couldn;t even tell you what a stripping knife looks like let alone how to use it!!!!!!!!!!!

I use them on my setters ears, they work similar to a king comb :)

Aaahhh you see we have natural(ish) ears on the red and whites ;)  don't tell me coat kings, never held one of them before either!!!! see I've had a shelterd grooming life!!!!!! :D

Unless it is deliberately blunted, a stripping knife will cut the coat, as will Coat King.  If you just want to grip, chalk will help, but to will a small carpenter's file.  Hold it in your fingers, with your thumb along the 'blade'.  I don't know what a carpenter would call the rough bit!;)  Grasp a small tuft of the dead fluffy hair between your thumb and the blade and pull the way that the coat grows.  You'll feel awkward at first, but it's just another skill to be leared.:)

One of our dogs, a springer spaniel, got fuzzy on her liver patches while the white parts of her coat stayed smooth She looked like we'd stuck fur fabric patches to her :D - very strange :D :D

A Coat King would definately make taking the fuzzy stuff out an easier job, especially if it won't come out with pulling.  They only cut the top coat if they aren't used properly, You must comb through first, and you must follow the direction of the coat growth and the way it lies.  Strangely, the harsher/smoother top coat seems to glide through and the fuzzy undercoat gets caught.  Its up to you how many passes you use and how much you take out, as long as the one you're using isn't too fine for the coat it should work fine.  The ones I got came with easy to follow instructions.

Hiya Val, I'm not to botherd about an easy job.  ATM I have enough time to spend grooming as we only have two setters in the ring :)  The coat direction has gone funny on her width of ham where it goes in two directions (half going down and half going out covering the stifel!)  So maybe hand stripping is the answer, or maybe with an aid.

Dill.  It is only one layer of coat, it's not like I want to get rid of a fluffy undercoat (although thanks for the tips on the coat king as after I have been given a demonstration on how to use it I will be using it on another dog I groom!

I understand what you're saying :)

Remember,  there are loads of sizes of Coat King, so you'll need to get one or two that are appropriate for the breed/s and coat/s, I tend to err on the side of caution and use a wider 'set' of teeth than recomended, it takes a little longer to get the finish but there's far less chance of overdoing it ;)

Hand stripping will give you by far the best finish. 'Tools' like a knife will do a quick fix, but they cut coat rather than remove dead. Only aids I would use on the body - and I an used to hand striping my Field Spaniels would be a v v fine toothed comb - rather like a flea combe, or one of those stones you can by - but this will leave some scurf so allow time for a bath between use and final show trim.

Thanks everyone.  I think I may stick with the hand stripping and I'm looking into getting a chalk block to make life a little easier! :)  Last time I had ago I did hand strip and keep going though with a fine tooth comb!  The over all effect was ok, I just need to learn a little more and improve my skill.  I have a couple of terrier friends who I will hopefully see tonight at ringcraft so will ask them maybe for some lessons so I can learn the correct way and easist way of doing it!

Thanks for everyone's help....

ice_queen,

'rubber fingers' will help you to get a good grip for hand stripping :D :D  You know - the ones they use in post offices?

can i coment?
latex gloves are brilliant for handstripping they give you so much grip, also simpsons do a good stripping stone i have used that does a good job, i have never gone over the top with it. I do agree that handstripping will give you the best finish expecilly as the coat goes in two direstions you can guide the hair to where you want it and it also straightens the coat out.
hope that makes some sence!
Fiona