I've got a 10 month old Cairn who we've been attempting to strip in stages. Mostly we've been handstripping with varying degrees of success! But a month ago we moved house and were really busy and fell behind on her grooming so she started to look pretty blown. Anyway we have just started to catch up again and today I used a stripping stone on her. I initially only planned to use it on her chest and underneath but it was so effective I started to use it all over. I've never stripped so much in so little time!! Plus she actually looks pretty good esp her face.
What I wanted to ask is are there any reasons why people don't suggest using stripping stones, is there something I don't and should know cause it just seemed so much easier?
I'm also planning to show her (not at a serious level) am I wasting my time as my grooming is unlikely to look proffesionnal, will I be laughed out of the ring?

You won't be laughed out of the ring. I think the cairn people are quite good with novices as far as I am aware.

I personally wouldn't use the stone as it pulls both top and under coat out.  Best just to keep practicing finger and thumb stripping technique.

Try and get as many good pictures of Cairns in show trim if you can put them all on one wall where you trim and try and learn what bit to strip or what bit to go close with etc from the pics. That is how I learned to trim.   

Thanks for advice esp picture gallery idea. I don't think any undercoat came out yesterday, it all looked like long old hairs, she was pretty bad, but I know what you mean. I was advised to try using thornit powder to help strip her ears as the hair there is quite fine and silky and it did improve things a lot but I also read you can use chalk to help with the grip? What kind of chalk is it? and where can I buy it...I've looked a PAH but they don't have it.
Lastly I need a new pin brush how do you choose size and length of pins or is it not really important, her coat is prettty thick.

Hi,
I handstrip all my show girls, they have double coats. I have used a stone, but only on the head.

I have bought and discarded so many expensive stripping knives ,the latest knife I've bought is a magnet, quite like that for taking out old long hairs. Have always gone back to using Mikki knives. Red for the head and blue for the body. I used both to scrap under coat out, then I roll the top coat with fingers taking all the top coat long hairs out.

Go for the showing. :-)

Hi If you send me a PM with your e-mail address I will send you a list of essential tools chalk etc.

If you haven't been using chalk to strip then you are in for a nice suprise, once you use the chalk to grip your technique will be half the time.