When I took my westie pup to be hand stripped his hair wasn't ready but he was very untidy so he was clipped. He has been clipped 3 times now is it too late to start hand stripping as I heard you can't after clipping. Also is clipping just as good? His hair seems to grow really fast don't know if that is his winter coat coming in.

Hi Guest,

Its surprising how many people will tell you that once a dog has been clipped then it can never be stripped. This is not true. It IS possible to hand strip after a dog has been clipped but it can take a few months before the coat is ready to hand strip properly and to get a 'rolling coat' . If you start as soon as the coat begins to look scruffy then it won't take quite as long. The type of coat can have some influence on the effect though and dogs with very soft coats won't strip as easily as those with a harsher coat. In my opinion (and it is only my opinion) a hand stripped coat is always better as the texture of the fur is preserved, but it is a commitment many owners (and grooming salons) are unable to make. If you really want to hand strip you could either contact the breeder or a show breeder who lives locally (if you're lucky enough to find one) who might be able to either do it for you or teach you to do it yourself. Alternatively you may find someone at an open show or champ show who would be willing to show you how.

Regards
Dill

If a Westie has been clipped 3 times you will be VERY lucky if you can have him successfully stripped now. Most pet Westies have soft coats anyway, and would be unsuitable for stripping in the first place. Ask an experienced hand stripper, or if the breeder of your dog shows them, ask them for advice.
Dawn.

I would love to find someone who could do my dog but cant find anyone in this area

Mattie - what area are you in?

It really depends on the coat in the first place. It the dog did have a good double coat with time and regular stripping it can come right but it will take a bit of time as much as a year or 2.

If the coat was orignially a soft coat sometimes it won't. It is important to remember that dogs that have not been stripped require short regular grooming sessions as hours of stripping on a table would be a bit cruel. An experienced hand stripper would be able to tell by looking and feeling the coat if it is suitable to pull/strip and should know when the dog has had enough.

I have over the last 8 months been stripping a 7 year old westie for a local couple. The dog was stripped for the first year or 2 but due to circumstances could not make the journey to the breeder any longer, between 2-3 years and 6.5 years of age it had been clippered. The owners although got the dog clippered, they were not 100% happy with this. The breeder asked me if I would have a bash at it for them and it has now had 3 grooming sessions and the coat is coming back in quite well in fact very well.

I really do not have much expereince of clippered dogs but I am told it is important if that is your chosen route, is that they are not clippered too short as to avoid skin irritation. Clipping as good as stripping? , opinions vary and I can only give my opinion , if you can get the dog stripped even if it costs a few extra pounds then that is what I would do but I do appricate it is hard to find someone close by sometimes.

It really at the end of the day is down to your own preference. Hand stripping tends to cost a bit more as it is time consuming but for most the final result makes it worth it.
It may be worth contacting one of the breed clubs in your area or a local good breeder and asking if they know anyone who could help you.

Some Grooming parlours will do it and a lot won't mostly due to time understandably. Quite a few exhibitors will do the odd one or 2 on a regular basis.

There are a few groomers on the list maybe they would know somebody in your area.

Good luck whatever you decide.

Pam

It is possible to return to hand stripping after clipping but it really does depend on the type of coat and it can take quite a few hand strip sessions before the coat "comes back". I returned to hand stripping my dog after clipping for a couple of years, its not perfect but its getting there and I've been at it for over a year - mind you my dogs coat doesn't seem to grow very fast!!