Hi, I am looking forward to bringing home my very first Border Terrier puppy in a couple of weeks and although I am sure I will get lots of advice from the very experienced breeder, I just wondered at what age is it normal to start hand stripping a puppy and how often. I do intend to take a class on this so that I can keep my puppy comfortable and looking great.

Your breeder of the puppy should be able to help with when to strip your puppy, usually I strip Borders for the first time at 6mths, then twice a year after that, if the breeder shows you how to keep the coat, its quite easy then to keep the coat tidy.

Absolutely the breeder should be able to show you and advise. if you feel you cant or dont want to do it yourself then please make sure you go to a groomer who knows how to handstrip. DO NOT let them clip your dog.

Thanks for that, it's not as daunting as I expected.

How do pups usually react the first time? do they find it at all painful or just strange?

As the dead hair is ready to come out they shouldn't don't feel any pain.

If the coat is ready to come out, it shouldnt be painful, just the delicate areas, you have to be a bit more sensitive too.

Mine usually go to sleep while i strip them :)

I love stripping pups, it comes out like butter. 6 months should be good; the coat will be dead and come out easily. My girl was hand stripped when shown (Mini Schnauzer) and is now clipped, she used to fall asleep as I stripped her in front of the telly. I hand stripped a Border cross at work once, she was about 9 months old, and she too fell asleep on the table, my hand under her bum to keep it up!