Does anyone know where I could learn to hand strip in or around South Yorkshire?
I could go to my breeder but it's about 150miles round trip

Your Breed Club may be putting on a seminar at some point.  This is how I learned to do my breed.  This is especially good as the lecturer will almost certainly be of particular renown in the grooming field.  Fail in that the Breed Club might be able to put you in touch with a breeder nearer to you who is willing to mentor you, perhaps in exchange for getting a couple of dogs done ;)

Not sure if my breed club do anything like that I will check as it would be really useful.
Also don't think there is a good breeder nearer to me than the one I used.

Just had a look through your posts to see what breed and I see you bought two West Highland Whites as pets and following a groomer (who presumably does not know enough about the breed to be able to teach you how to strip :rolleyes:) saying they were good enough to breed you have done so.  Now you want to learn about the breed starting with how to look after the coat.  I think you have put your cart well before the horse haven't you :rolleyes:

Isabel,
For you information you don't know enough about me to make snide comments.
My groomer does hand strip and also breeds westie's themselves which they hand strip it was my decision to have them clipped in the first place NOT THE GROOMERS.
I did buy 2 westies as pets and that is what they are not breeding machines and YES i did breed them just the once although i feel that has nothing to do with you at all.
Just get your facts straight before you reply to posts with that attitude you don't know me from adam and certainly don't know anything about me apart from the snippets you have read on my previous post's.
I have owned westies for the past 24 years and have alway's had them clipped as do many more westie owners, the breeder I got my dog's from and also who I used to breed my dog's is well known in the showing/breeding circle of westies and she see's no problem with having a westie clipped so why do YOU feel you have the right to condem people with your comments of putting the cart before the horse.
I have read loads of posts on here from people like you trying to shoot people down in flames with what I would call offensive posts.

Sadie, why don't you go to your groomer and ask her to teach you how to handstrip?  She does know the breed. 

P.S it's best to ignor those who don't give you the advise you want rather then starting an arguement.  Isabel just seemd to possibly be abit sarcastic in her reply but surely if this person can advise you on breeding she can advise you on hand stripping :)

Yes she will be able to help and I'm sure when she get's back from South Wales where she is at the moment showing her dog's she will try and help.
It's just that she lives so far from me that I posted originally but I'm sure if I was prepared to travel up there she would show me how it's done.
She is really helpful and nothing is too much trouble for her.
I'm not trying to start an argument but a post like that just wasn't called for.

Are you talking about your groomer or breeder?  Rox is suggesting the groomer as you say she knows about the breed.

Yup Groomer, the groomer breeder of westies, not the westie breeder of your dogs! :)

Sorry if the post was confusing.  Thanks isabel for making it clearer :)

Just to make myself clear my breeder lives about 100miles from me she is well known in the breeding, showing and hand stripping has been breeding for 25 years and what she doen't know isn't worth knowing. She IS a member of the breed club, writes a colomn in a monthly magazine etc.
My groomer lives local to me and also breeds westies has stud services and also has a kennels as well as grooming parlour.
I don't think they would be really too keen on mentoring me as they will lose a customer.

Have you asked the groomer?  The worse she can say is no? You want to learn anyway so she will loose you custom anyway.  Might aswell give you a couple of lessons at cost? ;)

>I don't think they would be really too keen on mentoring me as they will lose a customer.

Or they'll gain others when people admire your dogs and you can say you were taught how to get them looking so nice by xxxxx. :)

>I don't think they would be really too keen on mentoring me as they will lose a customer.

If she has an interest in mentoring people to become a breeder I am sure she would have an interest in helping you become a fully informed one.  Why don't you ask her?

I WILL ask her when my dogs are ready for grooming again but they have only just been done.
Nothing ventured nothing gained I suppose.
She didn't mentor me into breeding though, she just took an interest in my dogs and said what good show class dogs they were, she then asked me if I was going to breed them. I suppose as they see so many westies is their line of work Breeding and grooming then they should know a good dog when they see one. I would not use their stud dogs. When I decided to have a go a breeding it was my own decission.
My mentor was from the Breed club who I must say has been the most helpful person I have come across.

>they should know a good dog when they see one.

You could be right and your dogs are wonderful. But they're not likely to keep a customer if they don't praise the dog, are they?

I know what your saying they have to be nice.
Then why did they want one of my puppies?

In my experience at college a groomer doesn't necessarily know the breed, let alone whether it's a good specimen! Even the tutors were always getting it wrong, let alone my fellow students - I only knew the breeds because of my showing background. But I do agree they look better stripped - I have a Westie I strip and 2 Borders, and I think they look much better. Harder work though! :-D

I'm not being sarcastic at all.   I think I made my point very clearly.  When people have been so little involved with a breed, rather than merely owning them, that they do not know how to care for a coat correctly it seems to me they have no where near experienced enough to breed.  In addition if a dog has been clipped from puppy coat it does not seem possible to me that anyone could assess the coat for correctness and in this breed there is great scope for incorrect coats from what I have seen.  Having bred puppies I also think breeders should be capable of advising and mentoring in coat care.

I don't any problem at all in you having your dogs clipped.

You seem to be contradicting yourself as you say in one post I don't know enough about the breed if I don't know how to care for their coat then you give another reply saying you don't have a problem with clipping...........

Perfectly OK for a Pet owner to clip as they haven't the ability. 

someone who goes onto breed should have the knowledge to do the coat properly, as for a start you cannot assess your stock to see if they are good enough to breed from and have correct coats (one of the requirements in the breed standard).

To become a reputable breeder you should be knowledgeable enough to help new puppy owners and mentor them.

No-one is an expert over night, but you sure should be on the way to being one from being mentored by experienced people in your breed, and should have the answers to all the questions you may be asked.

Breeding properly isn't even just about intentions or whelping and rearing well, it is the in depth knowledge of the breed.

As someone that has bred I would have expected you to know most of the Westie breeders in your part of the country and number them among you Friends and advisors.

As you seem to be rather scornful of Dog shows and those who attend them I wonder how without attending shows you have been able to acquire an eye for the good and bad points of the breed and compare what different lines and studs are producing to bitches of similar breeding to your own.

All reputable breeders bitches are Pets and showdogs second, and breeding animals last.  anyone who considers a bitch a breeding machine is not a breeder but a commercial puppy producer, whose only interest in their dogs and bitches is that they are entire and can reproduce, this is not caring for a breed.

Bitches an dogs of only 'Pet Quality' should not be bred from.  A novice or even experienced owner is rarely in a position to assess their own dogs quality as it relates to breed standard, especially a Pet owner whose view will be coloured by their perfectly natural feelings, and are rarely objective.

My mentor knows all about my dogs line and the background of their pedigree going back years, she knows the stock as she bred them herself that is why I went back to her to breed them she certainly knows what she is doing.and I took all her information on board.
I don't class myself as a breeder as I never intend to breed my dog's again, once is enough and they have now both been spayed as that was my intention when I first made the decission to have a litter.
I will help the new puppy owners and give them as much information as I can I am not stupid and did my homework on the breed before I got my 2 dog's. I do know most of the good westie breeders in my part of the country but they are all miles away.
I am not scornful of dog show or those that attend them and don't know why you think that. I have known the breed for 25 years having owned them for that length of time.
If I was such a novice then why would an experience breeder offer stud services?
Wouldn't that be asking for trouble?
Would they really want their bloodlines showing imperfections if my dogs were such a bad example of the breed?
There are 2 sides to the coin look at it which way you want.

why would an experience breeder offer stud services?

M u n eeeeeeeeeee! ;)   If they don't take it from you then you'll give it to someone else. :(

I wouldn't allow my dog (I've only kept bitches until this year!) to mate a pet bitch but it happens all the time in all breeds. :(

Not forgetting that there are breeders of long standing who have produced many litters - but no good dogs among them. :(

Why has she so many champions then one of the sire's to my puppies was a champion taking awards from Crufts for 4 years running plus endless other award at shows.

Then she has a lot of dogs to feed. ;)  Winning at Crufts for 4 years running doesn't bring in any money unfortunately, but showing dogs is expensive these days.  Best In Show at Crufts used to only win £100, I don't know what it is these days? :)

But if both of your bitches are now spayed, it might be easier to find an experienced hand stripper to correct their coats and then you maintain them in a year or so's times. :)  Neutering definitely changes the coat texture and makes it more difficult, but not impossible to strip the coat.  You may need to use thinners on difficult areas but the finish will still be better than clipping. :)

If the breeder is so highly regarded in the breed then I don't think they would be keen on offering stud services to just any dog.
This breeder won't let her stud dog's sire any litter until she know's the full background of the bitch.
If you have spent years building a reputation your not going to risk that for the price of stud fee.

What you are saying is logical but shows that you haven't spent time around the show ring. ;) :)

Can't understand why this post asking for grooming advice has slipped off to breeding comments/advice, which certainly wasnt asked for

GOOD POST

Sorry to say, but you are a breeder if your bitch has puppies, (whether it is your first or 40th litter) and ergo you are responsible for them for life and have a responsibility to the breed and to the new owners, which means you should be knowledgeable enough to breed in the first place.  I am sure your puppy owners view you as their pups breeder?  Also sure they expect you to be a breed expert having undertaken such a serious step as producing another generation of the breed.

>you give another reply saying you don't have a problem with clipping...........

Clipping itself is fine and not a problem for a pet owner but for a breeder...............well, Brainless has said just as I would.

the breeder I got my dog's from and also who I used to breed my dog's is well known in the showing/breeding circle of westies and she see's no problem with having a westie clipped so why do YOU feel you have the right to condem people with your comments of putting the cart before the horse.

Sadie have I got this all wrong? I thought if I remember right, you bought 2 bitches from someone who had a pet litter that was sired by the show person's dogs.  It wasn't the show person you bought you dogs from was it? or do I have you muddled up with someone else?

Did you then take the bitches back to the sire of your bitches other stud dogs?  Not that is matters to me I am just trying to get it straight in my head.

Most show people will happily teach someone to hand strip. Even if they take a modest fee for doing it.   I know a few people who do it regularly for about £25 per hour.

The video marguerite mentioned is WEST HIGHLAND WHITE TERRIER GROOMING - Hand Stripping for Show DVD
Presented by Sue Thomson avaliable here http://www.ourdogs.co.uk/acatalog/Main_Menu_GROOMING_DVDS_291.html

I think the video is OK but think it is more benificial for someone to spend an hour with you showing you the technique. I think on a white breed you have to get the technique right more so than a coloured breed as over stripping or pulling the wrong hairs often causes coat colour.

The video is good to watch through but still get someone to show you.. It may be worth investing £50 go for a couple hours to someone and see that has a little investment. When you get it right you will save on the grooming bills anyway .  Not sure of anyone in Yorkshire but i know someone is Cheshire that trains people.

I would certainly be interested in learning from someone as actally being there and able to ask questions is far better than watching a video really.
Nothing like the real thing.
No you don't have me muddled up with someone else I did buy my dog's from a person who as you say had a pet litter but her dog's were originally from the show person and she took them back for mating as did I

The girl in Cheshire is very good if you want her number PM me and I will give you it.. :-)

Hi, If you contact www.westhighlandwhiteterrierclubof england.co.uk they would be able to advise if any seminars are planned, and it would be advisable to join the breed club, you do not need to show to join the club. I am sure, if your breeder is a member of the club they will nominate you and can organise someone to second you as a member. I do know of a breeder inYorkshire that handstrips and shows, maybe this is who you got your dogs from?

Hi
I would be interested too!!! I can remember getting in touch with them last year to ask if there was a breeder that could help but there wasn't. I take mine to a groomer who hand strips mine, but I would dearly like to be able to do it myself. So if anyone knows of any breeders who are willing to give lessons could they please pm me. I am in E.Yorkshire by the way. Thanks. Wendy

I had to teach myself...with a bit of advice and he looks okay on it, well I can't do the scissor bits only the hand stripping as it's the easy bit!
I put on a pair of surgical gloves (the type I put on loads of times a day at work).
And just pinch out the hair in the places he needs stripping, groomers dont like it as it's time consuming and really demanding on the hands and fingers.
I have to say if I can do it any one can truly.
Karen

Bit of a longshot Sadie, but....do you have a college near you that does animal courses? It maybe that they do a dog grooming course, might be worth an enq?

Sadie, found this link, may be of use?

http://www.hotcourses.com/uk-courses/Dog-Grooming-courses/hc2_browse.pg_loc_tree/16180339//p_type_id/1/p_bcat_id/2553/page.htm

Thanks for your reply Calmstorm,
I did enquire when I first got my 2 westies at colleges in my area but there isn't one I think the nearest is in North Yorkshire.

Maybe try here

Sent an e mail (fingers crossed)

Yup fingers crossed :)  Also have you thought about getting a video on how to hand strip a westie?  Might be the next best thing incase you can't find anyone to help you learn.  Then you can just practise practise practise! :D  It will never matter if you make a mistake as hair grows back! :D  Couple of weeks ago I managed to put a huge hole in the coat of a friends parson I was grooming!   Luckily the dog didn't have a show for afew weeks and the owners is really nice if I ever make a mistake.  Well she did say she wanted the whole lot off!!!!!!!!

Yes I have thought of getting a video or book I have seen a book advertised called "Westie's Head to Tail"
I can have plenty of practise with two.

Invest in the book! :D go on! :D (Though maybe check with breeder of your dogs if she knows if it's good or not and worth the money.

Also a little tip I learn't once is to know what your aiming for by putting a picture next to where you are grooming te dogs as to how you want them to look when finished (I.e a picture of a show westie if this is the style your aiming for :)  Will help your eye know where to tug! :D

Anyway must go as grooming my setters at the moment....2 down 1 to go! 

I think you're absolutely right wanting to strip them. They look infinitely more attractive with their stripped, crisp, harsh, sparkling white coats than when they're clipped like dull shaven sausages. If the breeder or the groomer can't or won't teach you then videos are certainly the next best thing! :)

Sue Thomson (Ashgate) produced a video showing how to handstrip.
.