Hi

Me again!  I visited the breeder who helpfully showed me the rudiments of handstripping and advised on stripping knives etc.  I have started gently doing a bit daily to Sophie's coat to get her used to it.  (Sophie being my 4 month old WFT).  It was all a bit manic with Sophie not  being particularly accommodating LOL and so I forgot to discuss puppy coat/adult coat etc.  Hopefully one of you can help - do I haveto  strip out all of the puppy coat before the adult coat comes in - or does it come in anyway?  I am finding this business of getting rid of one coat so another can grow rather confusing.  Can someone explain it to me?  At the moment Sophie has a soft curly coat not at  all wiry and her black patches are grey, not bright black.  Do you think this will change as she grows?

Would really appreciate some help here!  Thanks all.

I'm not a professional - so can only speak for stripping my own WT. You'll need to strip out the puppy coat to get the adult coat to grown though. These days exhibitors strip from 12 weeks (little at a time), but I went with my mums advice (she used to be a dog groomer back in 70's :P) and didn't start stripping mine until she was 6 months! Big error on my part as it meant she didn't have the coat for showing until she was 8 months - but you live and learn right? Haha

The more you strip - the more coarse the hair becomes, and the richer the colour. I left a patch on the back of my WTs neck for too long and it went grey, where as the back I was stripping once a week and it's jet black. An exhibitor friend laughted when he said he could tell I found the back easier to strip as it looked perfectly black compared to the neck which is harder to work! So the grey doesn't "grow out" you have to strip it off and alow the coarse black hairs to come though. I work on the rolling coat method - doing a little bit all over a few times a week (keeps her looking sensible all the time). Some strip completely bald in stages to achieve a correct coat. It's which ever you want to do :)

With a pup timing on the table is essential. Do 10 mins maximum, I got super strong setting out my table every day at the start :P They get bored easily - and the human gets fustrated! After 6 months of being stripped my WT finally stands nice on the table while I work on her.

So in essence. The puppy hair won't fall out - you have to strip it out. The adult coarse coat won't grown in until you strip the puppy hair. The more you strip the more rich the colours become. :D Hope that helped!

Thank you so much for that Squoofle, that is sooo helpful.  I have never had a wire haired breed before and didn't realise all the ins and outs!  If Sophie would stand still and not throw tantrums it would be a lot easier!!!  I seem to  be very slow at it,  not getting much out at a time but I guess I will improve.

No problem! It's nice not to be the only one that started from scratch and is self teaching! :D I can't recommend going along to shows enough tho - that where I met my breed friends that have taught me even! I think the WFT club have stripping seminars so keep your eye on them too. The tantrums are a pain, but she'll get used to it. I strip out in the garden, and pretty certain at the start my neighbours thought I was abusing my dog - but they get used to it (the dogs that is, not the neighbours!). Mine will even lie down on the table if she gets too comfortable now :P

LOL at the tantrums :-)

I find bribery works a treat with pups, but time it to just before they start to get the least little bit fed up ;-)

It will be seconds rather than minutes at first :-)

Definitely the way to a terriers heart is through its stomach! Hehe!!