What is hand stripping?
Hand stripping is a grooming technique done by hand to remove excess hair from a dog’s coat. By removing the hairs entirely, you are creating room for the new coat to grow in. Dogs with wiry coats go through a specific growing cycle in which the hair becomes thicker and darker as it grows. If you do not remove the dead hair from the top coat, it will have a negative impact on the overall appearance of the coat. That’s why this process is so important for dogs that have this very specific style of coat that is tricky to work with.
Does hand stripping hurt?
No. Wire hair is not attached like our own hair or like that of breeds with other coat types. They are very soft at the base and are only lightly anchored in the hair follicle which is why they will pull out so easily.
What are the benefits of hand stripping?
Hand stripping maintains a proper wire coat, clipping it will make it soft and ruin the texture. Without the wire coat, their coat will change colour and fade out.
Why does clipping ruin the coat?
Each time you clip a dog’s coat instead of hand stripping, you are just taking off the top layer of dead fur rather than removing it from the roots. As a result, the coat may become duller in texture and color with each clipping, which is why many people consider hand stripping to be preferable. If a coat has been previously clipped, it is likely that the coat texture has already changed and become softer. It is sometimes possible, with a lot of work, to bring these coats back to a hand strip coat but it will take a lot of time and effort and can be quite hard on the dog. It's important to ask yourself as the owner if it is worth it or fair on the dog.
What breeds can be hand stripped?
Not all dogs need to be hand stripped; it’s all about the type of coat rather than the breed of dog. Dog breeds have coat types, and certain breeds come with the coats that can be stripped. These coats have two types of hair - a soft and dense undercoat and a long and dense top coat.
Here are just a few breeds that have a coat in need of hand stripping:
Airedale Terrier
Border Terrier
Cairn Terrier
Cocker Spaniel
German Wirehaired Pointer
Irish Wolfhound
Schnauzer
Scottish Terrier
West Highland White Terrier
Wirehaired Dachshund
Along with other breeds, and more wire-haired breeds.
Can neutered dogs be hand stripped?
Neutering a dog will change its hormones and therefore over time it will affect the coat, which can mean the dog's coat may not be suitable for hand stripping. Although this is not always the case, most coats will eventually become softer and harder to strip out once they have been neutered.
How often do you need to hand strip?
Generally, a dog’s coat should be hand stripped every four to six weeks, but if your dog’s coat grows rather slowly, you can probably wait as long as eight weeks before hand stripping the coat again. It all depends on the dog and their coat. Essentially the coat needs enough time to renew itself, allowing the layers to grow in so that they are uniform. While that may sound difficult to identify, after a few rounds you’ll start to notice fairly easily when your dog’s coat is ready for another round of hand stripping.
If you are unsure if your dog's coat is suitable for hand stripping, then please do not hesitate to get in touch.
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