Hi All
I am wanting to show my 1 yr old cairn bitch . I wanted some advice on how her coat should be. Stripped back or left ?

Thanks For your time

Emma5673

I am testing my own post on how to reply new to this site!

Sorry I'm no expert, but if you can get someone who can show you how to handstrip your dog that would be great.  One of our top Pomeranian experts used to handstrip many a dog around this area years ago.

I have someone who can do it, just wanted to get an idea of what a cairn should look like?

I have done it before on my other dog but i am not going to show

Thanks for your reply

Emma

Why not get in touch with the breeder? they will be able to guide you as to correct grooming and also help you with the showing side of things, makes it a lot easier if you have someone to act as a mentor when getting into showing :-)  I used to get very confused about the different classes to enter and what to do when I got there :-D

Hi Emma,

You can find advice about grooming a Cairn here: http://www.cairnrescue.com/general/groom.htm.   I'd also suggest the book, The Cairn Terrier, by Christine Carter. 

If you truly want to show your Cairn advice from your dog's breeder or from someone who shows Cairns is invaluable.  First, to help you determine if your Cairn is of show quality.  Second, to help you understand how to groom for the show ring. 

If you show your Cairn you MUST hand strip the coat - there is no other option.  Plus, you will need to do a bit of stripping at least once a week while you are showing - it's called "rolling" the coat - which means that there is always outercoat at different lengths.   You cannot show the dog after it has been completely stripped and you cannot show your dog when the coat is blown (meaning it is dead, too long and needs to be stripped).  It really does get very fiddly to get the head and the tail looking right until you've been taught; so some expert assistance is essential.

Hi Thanks Cairnmania

I am not looking to do it myself as i have no expe in this.

Just needed to no how there coat should be

Thanks for your time

Emma5673

Thanks to you all about your advice

emma5673

Just coming back to this post, had an enquiry re handstripping a Cairn, don't think she wants to show him but does want a really good quality styling. I know how to handstrip, but the link a few posts above here doesn't seem to work, just want to check how the stripping line and rest of the trimming differ from the Westie pet trim which is what most clients want. I would normally strip the back and sides with the side line from top of front leg coming gradually up towards the tail. Trim under pads and round feet. Then I would scissor into a V shape at the back of back legs, scissor straight line at front of back legs, blend in sides. Scissor feathering at back of front legs and blend in sides, scissor skirt. Would the head be the same as the Westie head with tipped ears and chrysanthemum head? And does that body trimming sound ok? She might not come back (is phoning round) but others have said it's hard to find handstrippers in my area so want to be prepared if she does!

HERE is a link to the grooming chart

What are your past expe of a Cairn being clipped----How does the coat grow back------

after one off clip?

Gosh thanks, I didn't realise it was ALL stripped like that - presumably it would be ok to use thinning scissors on the lower legs and tummy as it's not a show dog? She hasn't called back alas, but at least I know where to look if I get another one some time!

Emma,

Even after only one clip it will take many months for the coat to grow back to a state where you can strip it :(   It's well worth the wait tho, because then the dog should have a weather-proof coat rather than going about in it's underwear ;)  and believe it or not stripping a Cairn is not difficult, nor is the coat difficult to maintain :)  Show stripping is more demanding tho ;)

I didn't want her clipped, i took her to be stripped aparently she " went mad" and the groomer clip her! I have been told many stories about clipping them that some don't grow back the same ever? I have seen one Cairn who was clipped out due to the state the person got her in ie mates, not looked after at all. Hers has grown back ok!

I have spoken to anther gromer and she says mine ( the dogs)  will grow back ok, Hope so!  I will then go to this recomended groomer to be stripped! When ready!

I strip my petit as she isn't shown and loves it, I only booked in to a groomer as i want to show her and wanted it done properly though i got that wrong by what the groomer done to her!

There is no excuse for clipping a dog when asked to strip, if the dog "went mad" why didn't the groomer either ring you immediately or tell you she wasn't able to complete it on this occasion and why, and offer a return visit so that the dog could get used to it/her, or simply give the dog some time out and then try again ?   

I can't believe that a professional groomer, taking money for their services didn't know how to handle a scared/stroppy Cairn   it isn't as if it's a huge dog to handle :rolleyes:  some quiet time and patient handling would be the least you should expect ;)

In my experience a dog is more amenable to hand stripping than clipping (which can be very scary if the dog hasn't ever been near a clipper) if they are new to the groomer - providing the groomer knows what they're doing ;)  

As for growing it out, if the dog had a good harsh coat then in time it should return, but how long it will take can vary.    If you are already stripping a Petit (PBGV ?) then I'm sure you'd be able to strip your Cairn to show standards ;)   Go to some open shows, approach the Cairn people and they'll help, if your breeder is unavailable, or maybe your breeder/breed club could put you in touch with someone local who could help you?   ;)

Her coat is growing back course thank god, i have spoken to another who i have spent alot of time talking to . We have arranged once she is nearly ready taking down to her to spend some time.

your cairns coat should grow back normally as she was only clipped once make, hope u have found a good groomer to do ur cairn

Gosh, how annoying! I've had a couple of dogs who don't like being stripped, but nothing completely unmanageable, and I would NEVER clip the coat off without ringing the owner and asking if it was ok to do so. But then a lot of groomers just don't understand the important of stripping a show coat. :-(