I am after a someone to strip my Wire Haired Fox Terrier, I am struggling to find a reputable one near to me, can any one help, I am in Stoke on Trent. Also is it difficult to learn to do myself?

My parents have their Cocker clipped by a lady in Trentham Gardens. They were given the option of having her handstripped but they opted for clipping.

If you'd like her details email me and I'll let you have them.

Thanks,

Fiona
x x x

Hi Jessie..Anybody can learn to hand strip a dog..It takes practice to produce a really well finished dog but that's half the fun. Try asking the breeder of your dog for a contact near you..If this isn't an option you may need to pay a groomer to show you, but the money you'll save will be worth the outlay in the end.

please excuse my appalling ignorance, but what is hand stripping?

Theresa :)

Yes, I'd like to know, too!

How often does it have to be done?

xjulie

i think it depends on what dog you have wether you hand strip or clip, i know with show westies they must never be clipped, but pet westies can be cliped, it means exactly what is says, you hand strip the dog by removing soft hairs and leaving only the couse hairs, im just learning how to hand strip my westie, cos i would like to show her. sheryl

sorry i forgot to say its an on going thing is hand striping, the show dog is regually hand stripped in time for showing

Handstripping is where using your thumb and forefinger you pull out the unwanted hair of the dog usually to reveal a short glossy undercoat that lies flat on the dog. It sounds brutal but provided it's done in the right way and when the coat is ready it doesn't hurt. Frequency will depend not only on the breed but also on individual dogs. My breed - Cockers - can almost be done every day as there is always something to come out - but as a proper grooming session it needs to be done about every 8 weeks. For showing - more regularly, the head needs to be done when ever it looks a little unruly on top :D My older boy needs doing far more regularly than my younger boy. It can be influenced by colour too as that affects the type of coat your dog may have.

hth

Pam n the boys

Excellent! Thank you..

So a little border terrier with a fair bit of coat on him is going to need doing what? Every six weeks?

Hi Julie

Not sure for a BT it also depends if he's had his "bits" removed - if so you can't hand strip. It changes the coat and the way it works etc. You will learn to judge the frequency when you get to know your dog. He may well have a bit of coat on him now but it depends when he was last done. Have you done a good interent search through Google on BT's to see if you can find any good breeder pages. They sometimes give you tips on trimming etc. Also go to your local library and find a good breed specific book. That'll tell you what to do. The best thing though is to find someone to show you.

You can also buy some tools that take a lot of the hard work out of handstripping. If your dog is not for show then you can use a coat king and/or stripping knives. The knives take a bit of learning how to use. The coat-king is a doddle. You just need to get the right one for your breed. HUB International do them. www.hubint.co.uk

hth

Pam n the boys who have been bathed and handstripped today - phew I'm kn*****ed

Aha... excellent. I'll have a look : )

Did the boys have a rubber ducky to play with?

Squeaky clean paws!!

x

Pam,

As you have Cockers, can you advise me on the best grooming tips for them. We are getting a male Golden Cocker and we won't be getting his bits taken away!

Is it straight forward enough for me to do myself? If not, how do I locate a groomer who will do the job properly?

At what age should you start grooming?

I have ordered the book 'Pet Owners Guide to the Cocker Spaniel' by Frank Kane, so I hope this will help.

Thanks very much

Nicky xx

Hi Nicky

Frank Kane's book is a very good starter. It shows you how to trim a cocker and about the tools you will need. Have word with your pup's breeder - they should be willing to show you what to do.

You start at around five months or so trimming the feet and then pulling the head. Later, anything between about 7 and 12 months the puppy coat on the back will be ready to pull out. It's all fluffy and comes out quite easily as long as it's ready.

Trimming golden/red cockers is quite hard as they show scissor marks very easily - just like my Orange boy does - so you have to be careful. But it's a question of practice practice practice, you'll make mistakes and learn from them.

The main thing I would advise on a Cocker coat is keeping on top of it - it is so easy to let it go and then it's a much harder job getting it back again.

Start by brushing your puppy every day to get him used the being brushed. He may try to bite and chew the brush at first but be firm and tell him no - give him a treat when he does let you brush him and start with just a minute a couple of times a day - gradually buidling up as the coat needs it.

My boys come running when I have a slcker brush in my hand - they push each other out of the way to be first and fall asleep while I do their tummies - great softies that they are. I find grooming and trimming myself very rewarding and satisfying - it's real quality time with the boys.

Let me know where you are based - I may know some one who may be able to help if for some reason your breeder can't.

hth

Pam n the boys

Pam,

I am based in Horsham, West Sussex.

Nicky xx

Nicky - have you asked the breeder?

Pam n the boys

Nicky,have a look at Pam's Grooming Tips ;-)

Cheers Leigh:D

Pam n the boys

No I haven't yet.

I will have a good chat to her when I next speak to her.

Thanks for all your help.

Nicky

You're very welcome - do come back and ask if there's anything else at all we cab help with

Pam n the boys

Hi Juliet.
I keep my Borders very neat and strip them every 4weeks, some people leave it untill the coat is literally hanging out, making it very easy, but I can't bare scruffy, untidy dogs. I use a stripping knife aswell, much easier on the fingers!!
Dawn.

OK.... I can just see it now.

I manage to find my little dog, reassure him that I love him and then start yanking at his fur over a book....

I'll go and watch it being done by a pro and then ask loads of questions.....

Thank you for the info!
x

With manyterrier breeds the idea is to end up with a tidy , rather coarse coated dog with face furniture in the right place and any fringes usual to the breed left in place! Using a stripping knife the first time to get a dogs coat out is usually best, once the coat is managable just finger and thumb plucking of the longer , softer hairs will keep your dog smart.A rubber thumb and finger guard , like thimbles are really good...protects your dainty fingers! Most specialist dog equipment stores sell them. First time you use a stripping knife just comb through the main body hair..you'll be amazed a the amount of loose hair that comes away. To use a knife to actually strip the hair... comb into the coat , about an inch , then bring your thumb under the top layer and hold against the blade ..with a sharp movement , going still with the lay of the coat let the serrated edge of the knife cut into the long hair. The movement should be brisk..too slow and you'll pull at the coat..For a border only use finger and thumb around the face...the ears will need to be tidied to help them lie flat. A good carrot tail can be achieved with careful use of the knife , but only combing out the under coat...don't be tempted to cut through the hair..you'll end up with tram lines!
Wire Fox Terriers are quite sculptured in shape...you need to look at the faults and good points of the dog..(only if you intend to show him of course) by careful blending of the stripped harsh coat and the softer coat into the legs you can offer a different shape than the one he was born with!..This isn't cheating...this is doing the best for your dog in the ring..that's why someone who is experienced in the breed would be of the greatest help..If you don't intend to show I would suggest getting a book about the breed .library maybe?..and practising with a stripping knife on the long hair on his back..as above, just comb through to begin with.Some people use clippers on the face for speed..others use hand stripping and thinning scissors...with straight edge scissors to get the final finish. It's not a good idea to start by giving your dog a bath..it makes the coat difficult to handle...bathe the dog after you've finished so you can fluff up the leg hair before you finally snip a little to finish.Only use a shampoo made for dogs..one recommended for harsh coats is certainly the best.

Hey.. thank you!

That's one stripping knife going down on the shopping list!

Does it feel like having your eyebrows plucked?

ooch!
: S