Hi all,
I have a westie puppy - 3.5 mts old.  I would like to handstrip her coat myself. The breeder just clipped her dogs so can't ask her.  I am getting her used to regular grooming now and when I comb her some hairs do come out.  If Anyone can recommend a good detailed website or book would be most grateful.  Would you need to use a knife or just fingers?  If knife needed could someone reccommend a good one and where to buy please.  I have already done a search on here and google but couldn't find enough detail.  Thanks in advance.

I tried to hand strip my border myself and made a complete mess of it   Could you not find a groomer to strip the coat once and just ask if you could watch the technique?  You can buy stripping knives on the internet for about 5 or 6 pounds once you've seen how to use it.  My groomer did let me watch but I messed it up and ended taking the dog back to her to get it done properly.  I think my problem might have been my dog isn't as keen to stand still for me for 2 hours as he is for the groomer. 

http://www.geocities.com/westiez/show.htm

There's a bit of information about it all on the above site that you may not have seen.

CG

I have Cairn terriers which I handstrip.  I buy the rubber fingertip protectors that you can find in most stationary stores.  They have little bumps on them which really help to grip the hair, as well as keep my finger from getting sore.  I use the protector on my thumb and grip the hair between my thumb and the finger next to it.   I have various stripping knives, chalk and other implements of torture :rolleyes:- but I've found the fingertip protectors the easiest of all.  I'd recommend that unil you find someone who can teach you how to use it that you forgo buying a stripping knife.  If it's used improperly it will cut hair, which defeats the purpose of hand stripping.

Handstripping means that you pull out the longest hairs of the top coat.   In Cairns once the outer (course) hair has reached about two inches long it has stopped growing.   For pet Cairns people either wait until all the coat has reached two inches and strip it all out at the same time.  I roll my dogs' coats, which means a couple of times a month I pull all the longest hairs so the coat is always different lengths. 

If you search the web I'm sure you can find a site dedicated to Westies for some breed-specific help (or Westie owners here) so that you "style" the hair correctly for the breed, especially the head, tail and skirt.  At 3.5 months your puppy should just have lost her outer coat and will start growing her adult coat, so you have plenty of time if handstripping is for you.

The absolute best stripping knife I've ever found is made by an american company called Pearson, absolutely brilliant and doesn't cut the coat.  You can order from their website www.strippingknives.com, they're very comfortable to grip and they have great customer service.  Check the site out.

When learning to handstrip I personally would avoid all stripping knifes etc till you have learned how to do it.

Where about are you as occasionally the breed clubs run grooming seminars ?

I just handstripped a border terrier and found it fairly easy, though my fingers did get a bit sore! Might have to invest in these finger protectors! :-) I also have a stripping knife which I use on my Yankee as I don't show him, but I'm not sure if I'm using the right technique for the knife - is it the same plucking action, or are you just running the knife through the hair?

The stripping knife should be used just to grip the hair, not cut it. :)  A small carpenter's wood file (as you can imagine a terrier man using in the shed!) also helps grip.

Thanks for replies
I am in bedfordshire.  The seminars would be a great idea.  How would i find out about these?