Hi, I've had this problem for a while with my 5 year old crossbreed terrier where when I hand strip him (which I do twice a year) he keeps trying to bite me! He starts off by trying to bite when I go near certain areas, but then I think he just does it when he's had enough! I even went out and bought a stripping knife with blades to cut the hair (so it would not hurt in any way).
He has bit me four times tonight. He dosn't just try and tell me off, he actually gets quite agressive almost like he's trying to be pack leader! I can't understand it, iv'e tried everything. I encourage him when I strip him, tell him he's a good boy and bribe him with treats, if he turns to bite i tell him off, I don't stand any nonsense from him, but he continues... why??

Why does he behave like this?  Well it's unlikely to have anything to do with pack leadership but may everything to do with a dislike of being stripped. And he continues to bite you, I suspect, because he can. To be honest, it sounds like the whole process is a bit of a nightmare and if he was mine I suspect I'd get him stripped professionally if he only needs doing twice a year.

Have you tried just doing short sessions of stripping rather than trying to do it all at once?  It maybe that he has had enough.  Obviously you'd have to stop before he bites you (or tries to) otherwise he'll get the message that that's why you've stopped.  How about just doing it for two or three minutes at a time?
Debs

I'm not familiar with stripping but would imagine that it can be at the least uncomfortable and at the best a bit painful at times? :)
If so, he is probably anticipating this and becoming adrenalised and stressed, and so biting. It may be that, although you have now bought scissors, he still associates the whole process with discomfort and doesn't trust you not to hurt him. If you are also telling him off, he will associate the whole process with his "mum" being angry.

I agree with doing it for short periods at a time. Also, not being funny, but are you confident you are doing the stripping totally correctly? Does it hurt even if done extremely competently? I have no idea <g> but if he were my dog  I'd try to make things as easy as possible for him.

If you do take him to a groomers, be aware that if they are tough with him they could aggravate the problem so that he dislikes being touched by anyone. HOpefully this will not happen but I'm just pointing it out :)

A different problem but my dog hated being groomed - in her case, she was so ticklish, i had to try different brushes etc... what I also did was to train her that after a few seconds, she would get her fav. toy and that we would play for a minute, then back to grooming and so on. This would work with anything that your dog considers a great favourite, ie tasty liver or a toy, and your attitude should be one of great fun :P
Over time you can gradually lengthen the time between play/treat and grooming.

Hth, I know there are one or two groomers on here so they may have other thoughts, good luck

Lindsay
x

I ve got a wiry terrier that needs grooming every other day- ive stipped her once.
I started by just using my thumb and fore finger- very day just plucking a small amount out- 2/3 mins at a time, i did this for a week, then i bought a stripping comb and give her some yummy treats while i stripped the hair.
I brush and finely comb her every other day- which she adores the feeling of!

My advice is to get him used to you plucking a bit of hair then give a treat if he didnt react.

I got this advice from the groomer- she said that you shouldnt strip all hair for the first time as its like plucking your eyebrows for the first time- ouch!!

Are you stripping whilst the dog is warm, say after a run?

Stripping a cold dog could well be painful for it, and doing it all in one go could be too much, somedogs just wont tolerate it, especially if you arent very practised at it and it takes hours.

If you make sure you strip after a run, reward your dog in the presence of the grooming tools, do just a few minutes at a time, and keep on top of the stripping by doing it every few weeks or months rathr than twice a year, he should get better.

Em

Stripping is similar to pulling manes and tails, do it when the animal is warm and the pores are open and a little at a time, otherwise it must be the equivalent of having a full body wax if you have never had even your legs done!

Snip <I agree with doing it for short periods at a time. Also, not being funny, but are you confident you are doing the stripping totally correctly? Does it hurt even if done extremely competently? >

There are areas which are more sensative than others and ime the harder the coat the less the dog feels it, but if done slowly and gently then there really is little, if any discomfort.  But if you try to rush, pull too much at a time, allowing yourself to get stressed and careless with the stripping knife then yes, it could be painful.

I've got a border terrier (6 yr old) and when I got him the previous owner showed me how to strip him.  However, when I tried to do it it was obviously bothering him.  I now take him to a professional groomer and he is perfect pet.  Doesn't bother at all and has never tried to bite and he is a bitey dog in other circumstances.  Maybe you just haven't got the technique (no offence)?  I know I hadn't and its worth the £40 to let someone else do the job :)  Either that or muzzle him when you strip but that might just end up as more stressful for the dog.  If you do go for the groomer make very sure that they have done hand stripping before and aren't just going to do a No 1 all over with the clippers

CG

Perhaps instead of doing him twice a year, could you strip little and often as you would with a pup? 

Start off just raking his coat with the stripping knife and when you do start pulling the hair, just lift three or four hairs at a time.  I imagine the areas to which he's sensitive are the rear, front and chest?  Even dogs who are stripped often are a bit sensitive to those areas so its particularly important to go gently there,  perhaps you might invest in a good pair of scissors to use in those areas?   

>>>>>>>>idiot here :rolleyes:<<<<<<<<<

Erm....what is stripping? Sorry to sound dense lol. My pup is part Jack Russell...is it something I should be doing?? She has a smooth, short coat.
Thanks :-)

One of the grooming experts can tell you all about the precise techniques for stripping (at the most basic it's an alternative to clipping) but I certainly don't strip my short and smooth coated Jack Russell. I find that brushing and the very occasional bath when he's rolled in fox poo does nicely and since he isn't shown there's no need for more formal attentions!

Stripping is where the top coat is pulled out by hand.  I'm no expert and I think its only done where a dog has a wiry top coat and a soft undercoat - like a border terrier.  I wouldn't think a smooth haired dog would need it, they just naturally moult.  Copper's hair grows very thick and "woolly" although wiry, and he needs to have the top coat removed twice a year.  He doesn't really moult as such although it does pull out quite easily when he needs it done.  I think you're quite safe with your dog not to worry about it (and £80 a year better off :))

CG

Thank you Roz and Copper Girl......all I can say is PHEW. I had never even heard of it!!!

LOL!  Neither had I until I got a border!!  I think Its called hidden costs :rolleyes:  Only kidding - I pay willingly.  I would think the only reason you would need a groomer for your dog is for toenails or baths.  Easy peasy to do yourself :)

CG

Some terriers seem to be more sensitive than others and it is in their nature to say so!  I don't think he's trying to be pack leader - I think he just wants the discomfort to stop.

For the sake of your relationship with him, it would be worth changing your approach.  If there is a groomer that you can trust, then maybe you would want to try that though you will obviously want to be honest with them about what has happened so far.  Otherwise - and I hardly dare suggest this in front of so many strippers :-D - as this is not a show dog ... it wouldn't matter that much if he was clipped, would it?